Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1889-06-06
COMMANDER OF THE POST,

COMMANDER u IHE PUSI.
1t was very dull at Cottonboro dur
ing the summer of '64. The village
was situated on small river in Florida
leading to the gulf, and it was sup
posed to be place of some strategic
importance. For four years small
force of federals had been endeavoring
at odd times to capture CottonbOro,
and a small force of confedcrates had
succeeded in keeping them back. A
hot July sun was blazing down on
Cottonboro, and the streets were de-
serted. Here and there in some shady
nook might have been seen a few
soldiers playing cards and telling
stories, but there was no other sign of
life. Col. Melton was pacing the side
walk in front of bis headquarters. He
was the commander of the post, but he
had very little to do. There was no
fighting in prospect, and it was not
necessary to keep the men under very
strict discipline. The commander of
the post surveyed the situation. He
felt the deadeniug influence of the
sultry summer heat and gasped for
breath.
81 must take a nap" he said "there
is nothing 10 be done here just then
he saw cloud OF dust i'm the distance,
a mile or so away. II will watt he
remarked; there may be trouble in
that quarter" The commander was
right In a few minutes a number of
cavalrymen rode in with captured
spy.
"Shall we hang him or try him?"
asked the leader Of the party, Col.
Melton was about to give an oiI-hand
reply, when his eyes fell upon, the face
of the prisoner He saw a handsome
youth, covered with dust, and bearing
the marks Of travel and exposure.
Leave him to me- said the colonel,
quickly. Il will question him pri-
yately.'
When the prisoner was alone with
the commander of the post the latter
said: Clara, I penetrated your dis
guise at glance. How is it that you
are ncre?'
The prisoner gave q captious nod,
such as only "a woman could give.
John Melton" she replied, II am
sorry to look upon your hated face
again"
But YOU are in trouble answered
the commander grayely, land l must
see you out of IT..
IL scorn your help" cried the dis
guscd spy. You deserted me after l
had been a faithful wife for years, and
YOU left me to face the world and earn
my own living. My talents found em-
ploymeut down this way as a spy, and
| went into the business with full
knowledge of the consequences. You
may tell your men TO take me out and
shoot me.
IL cannot do that replied the com.
mander. NOR can ! allow You to be
tried If YOU are held for trial YOU viii
be searched by a crowd Of rude
soldiers, My wife must not be sub
jected to such indignities.
Your wifew sueered the spy. What
did yuu care for her when You ran
away from hor?'
The colonel shivered and then he
looked straight into the woman's eyes
IL had my reasons, - he said, land |
have never regretted my action. l
wish YOU were dead. but do not pro-
pose To have a hand in heaping dis
grace upon YOU"
The womau's eyes fell, but in q mo-
ment she recovered herself.
Then, John Melton, she said, Il
am safe.
you are, answered the comman-
der Ct the post; mot a hair Of your
head will be armed"
He spoke with an air of authority
and the woman looked at him with
newly kiudled interest in her eyes.
John, she said softly.
None OF that" responded the coll
ouel. "When left you. it was for
good and ALL / must get YOU out Of
this scrape. but You must never cross
my path again
"But what are You going TO doP'
asked the spy.
leave it to me. said the colonel
Then he called i'm couple Of soldiers
and told them to bind the spy's hands.
Leave his feet unbound, I said the
colonel IL am going to make the
fellow take a walk with me.
"How is thar, col0nel.' inquired
Capt. Dallas.
IA secret Of state, : whispered the
colonel: Tit is the only way o. get il. l
will walk with him to the place where
he has buried his papers
Good" cried the captain. We'll,
as his hands are tied, il is safe
In the course of few moments the
commander Of the post started 70 the
woods with his prisoner.