The Dickinson press., 1889-04-20


rascals. There's my boys a comm back
now. Don't hurt none of us, mister We
ain't never done nothin' to you"
"Arrest me! Do you hearl' commanded
the stranger, threateningly. ARREST HE
and tell those men that you have arrested a
Yankee"
Tho tone of command and the gesture that
accompanied it We're not to be resisted. AS
Jim and John turned the bend in tho road
the old man sung out in II quivering falsetto:
"Oh, boys boys como here quick; I've ar
rested Yankee.
The boys came running, and were wild
eyed with astonishmcnt at ::bchoding their
father with his trembling hand grasping the
collar of n stalwurt young fellow in blue uni
form.
why, how did it happen. fatherf Are
there any more of thcm!'
"Thcrc are two OF us, " replied the stranger,
but we got separated, yesterday | was
shouting to try and call him, when you heard
me. suppose you will send me up to Mans
field. There's a crowd of prisoners to tie
taken to Shreveport i'll a day or two"
y long and painful silence fell upon the
group. This singular prisoner carried Il mus
ket. Jim and John had no weapon more
formidable than their torches, and their
father was destitute of even Il penknite.
Come on. boys" said the old man, turn
ing toward home. The prisoner walked
along beside him, and the four took their
painful way along the road and up to the
farm house.
The prisoner leaned his mllskct up against
the wall and ate the corn bread and bacon
which We're given him, his captors standing
around helplcsSly Then lie asked for blan-
kct, and, having obtained it, wrapped him
self in it and lay down Oh the gallery floor,
monarch of all he surveyed. There was no
limit to the calm self possession of this priS.
oner, who had come ;hrusting himself where
he wasn't wanted.
I'll set up and guard him. boys" said the
old man. ''luu all 'ud be jes' rs like as not
to 80 to sleep and let i'm git away"
So he sat and nodded and snorcd, und
nearly fell forward on his nose n hundred
times, and groancd dismally Oil every such
occasion, to lind that terrible Yankee sleep.
Ing sercncly, as though llo werc child in his
trlndle bed back at home If ever thero
was a veritable white elephant on the hands
of any unfortunate and misguided man this
prisoner was that quadrupcd.
About daylight the watchers tired frame
gave way, and he sank back into his arm
chair and slept tho sleep Of the just, ''out-
saorin a camp mcetin'," as Jim said irrever-
emily, when he canie out and witnessed tho
performance The sun was half way up the
eastern sky when the old man awokc. The
different members of the family were all at
their work Away down in tho farthcst field
Jim and John were pulling fodder, and the
iubilant strains of "Dixie" came floating up
from that direction, softened by distance.
Almost ut his feet the stranger was sitting
on the top step, cheerfully whiting out a
piece of white pine.
You here YETI exclaimed the old man in
n tone of unmitigatcd disgust.
OF course I'm here. You don't expect me
to leave when lin under arrest, do you!"
II wisht I'D kilt ye when first found
ye.' rctortcd tho captor, grimly "Blamcd
if hadn't a done it, if I'd a thought l was
II saldin' myself with u drafted Yankee that
couldn't be got rid Of"
IAN you havc to do is to take me over to
Mansiield,' said the unconcerncd prisoner
loltling the point of the sword up to one eye
and looking down it to see if tho blade was
straight.
lin not n goin' to do it, by Ned" ex-
claimed the jailer savagely. 81 can't go no.
where and Jim and John has got to work in
that fodder while they arc ut home. We may
all have to eat fodder if this beastly war
goes on much longer"
Ile was still growing and grumbling when
the tramp of horses feet was heard and di-
rcctly several young men and one old one
rode up to the gate, The news had miracu-
lorsly reached the ncighbors how old man
Boonc had captured the Yankee.
ttIl IoI,, D,,1,
Come in, SAM" he cried with great anima-
ton. "Yes, there lie is: | caught him last
night" and hc placed his hand on the Yam
back with great difficulty wild and savage
dog. The young fellow laughed good natur
cdly and went on with his whiting.
What you going to do with himf" in
quired Mr.. johnson
81 dunno" said tho old man, obviously.
"Hc ought to be took to Mansfield, rcckil,
but can't take him. and my folders !,
spilin' so that Jim and John can't leave, an
it amt safe to keep him around here"
"I'm goin' out to Mansfield today S'posc
| tako HING suggested Mr.. johnson.
| II hate to bother you" said this arch hypo.
critic, 'but reckin done my part a-ketchin
i'm, an if you could take him out there, it
'ud be IL great favor to me-" And drawing
Mr.. johnson aside, he whispered in his ear
"Be shore and make him ride ahead of yc
an keep yer gun ready, or fust thing you
know he'll mako u break an git apast ye into
| the woods"
y few minutes later two horses went down
the road i'll single file, and tho rider of tho
first horse whistlcd Yankee Doodle" SC
softly and sweetly that bis escort forgot te
keep his gun ready.
Old man Boone and his 1Iuns visitors stoot
in tho gallery and watched tho PROCESSION
out of sight. AS the last glimpse Of then
died away, he said, with u sigh;
"Well, pore feller, | hated to capture him
but it makes pore ole man like me, ham
pered at home us ! am, mighty proud te
think he can do even that much for his coun
try"
'You bet!' said his admirins auditors
Julia Trutt Bishop iii The American.