The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1889-07-19

while he was talking in mere whisper
and the stupid guard at the door, who wa
draining the brandy-hask Sneed had givel
him to allow him to enter, heard not a word
We've got 1t bout fixed up" Sneed con
tinued. SIN bout an hour a boy'n COM
fur We. Don't yer az him any questions
don't yer speak word, nor even lool
around, but foller the boy. Now, d. y,
mark what I'm say'ns'
every word"
xviii We carry It outP'
"Yes."
"Good bye"
And he was gone. Gone as suddenly ant
silently as if he had melted away into dark
ness. Luke half believed he was still there
and put out his hand to feel for him, but hi.
hand found only darkness and the empty
air. An hour passed and the silence wa.
broken only by the drunke., lnaud;ble muir
muring of the guard at the door. Occasion
ally he mumbled snatches of song in 6
hoarse, drunken voice, and Luke, who began
to see through the plans of Albert Neff and
Dick Sneed, trembled lest they had carried
it too far.
At last, however, the guard became quiet
and his heavy breathing told that he had
succumbed. Some one came In, and going
to his side motioned him to rise. He did so
| Asmall, soft hand, which he at once knew tc
be the hand of the boy, was placed in his
and he was led from the room. In the hall
near the doorway he stumbled over some
one, and a half-smothered curse came from
the drunken guard.
He was warned by gentle pressure on
his hand to be silent and careful. Another
person joined them, and the three went
softly from the house.
II was so dark that Luke could no more
see than if ne had been totally blind. They
were gong through the mud. and slowly
making their way somewhere. They
crossed fence and were in the woods.
Not word had yet been spoken, and be-
yond an intimation that he was among
friends, he knew not whether he was being
led to liberty or death At last they came
to horses.
"Mount this one" said a low, deep, earn
est voice which he recognized as Albert
Neff's
'sAlbert, is it you?"
"Yes, hush-mount; we have not mo-
ment to lose," was the whispered answer.
There were four Of them, and they
mounted horses and started on, Albert and
Dick in front, himself and the boy bringing
ing muddy hill
cautious undertone. A few rods further
and voice from the darkness called:
'.Haltr'
The two refined in their horses.
"Who goes there2n
ga friend with the countersign.''
advance and give it,
hS fnr,,ar5 ll>a,%
"Stone River" and they were told to
pass.
Reaching the top of the hill they found
the ground little more level, and put their
horses to a gallop, for Luke's rescuers
knew that long ride was before them.
Two or three miles away they met body of
guerrillas returning.
'sHalt, tharl Who be you'uns an whar ye
gwine!" their leader cried, when they were
within few rods of them.
Il am Major Neff, on my way to my COM
mand," Albert promptly answered.
I'VE ar! Wall, tell yer, Major, ye'd bet
ter look leetle out, kase tn roads ar
swarmln' with Yanks, pourin' by tn
millions down on ter Nashville. We've been
a runnin' from them till we're Almost tuck
cred out"
II must join my command, and we've got
fast horses, so don't think there's much
danger of the Yanks catching US. Did you
meet any of my mens"
mo-
That is strange. They We're to meet me
on the GAINESVILLE road. Wen hurry on, for
we can't afford to miss Them
The friendly cloak of night concealed
Captain Mason's uniform from view, and
the guerrillas could not see whether II was
blue or gray.
A mile further on they came upon part of
Major Neff's men, remnant from the attack
of the night before, and they all travelled
along with the man who had led the attack
against them, until it was nearly daylight,
and Albert, sending all the men, save the
boy, back out of earskot, turned to the pris-
oner and said:
''This boy will go with you to the house,
and just beyond it is camped the advance Of
the Union army. Goodbye, Luke!"
Goodbye, Albert, and may God bless
you" Their hands met, and for a moment
neither moved nor spoke. Then they sep
arated, and, accompanied by the boy, who
had been dumb ever since he came into
Luke's presence, he rode on.
Just as the early dawn began to crimson
the eastern sky the house was reached.
Here l must leave your said his
guide.
Had bomb exploded Luke would not
have been more astounded. That voice he
would know among ten thousand A mo-
ment more and his horse was alongside the