The Irish standard., 1889-05-18

LIZ 1hADn - ~ AMMAN
did not know why he did 80, but realized
that his fate was deferred to future time.
The arrival of a country boy with some
alarming intelligence threw the guerrillas
into confusion, and preparations were made
for q hasty departure Luke was placed
upon q horse, and under strong guard
hurried off down the road into wild,
broken country, where the hills were so
high that they looked like IN ountain peaks,
and the forests were so dense as to form q
safe hiding place from the invading army.
They halted at an old mill on creek, and
the prisoner was given breakfast, which,
poor as it was, was heartily relished by the
half-starved soldier Luke was the only
prisoner, and, as he had seen but two
Union soldiers dead, he concluded that the
others had made their escape.
It seemed that the guerrillas were not
quite sure Of their own safety even here.
The officers held whispered consultations,
and nodded and gesticulated in an excited
manner.
elf they intend to murder me, why don t
they do it and have it oyer with?' said the
prisoner, watching their strange 1naneu-
! vers.
The day wore slowly by, night came, and
the prisoner grew nervous. he reasoned
that these men would choose darkness for
their diabolical work. Mnrderers are usu-
ally Too cowardly to perpetrate their helm
GUS crimes in daylight
AT dusk the sound OF horses feet COM
ing down the hill reached tbs sars Of the
captive, who was sitting ct window Of
the house that formed his prison, and he
saw small party OF Confederate cavalry
approaching the old MILL TIE regularity
OF their gray uniforms made it easy to dis
tinguish them from guerrillas.
Luke had little hope Of their being abs
to release him: Cor they we're outnumbered
by the grerrllss five to one. 1t might be
even possible that they would not care to
interfere with these partisan freebooters.
It was too dark for him to distinguish
faces, and when shey had disrnounted and
dispersed among the buildings about the old
mill he forgot all about Them.
Others were coming snd going, and the
| subdued buzz OF voices constantly reached
| his ears. Els ROOM WAS dark, az neither
| lamp nor candle had been lighted, and the
guards at the doors aud windows looked
| like silent statues.
"Where is he7" q voice ut Last asked.
There was something peculiarly familiar in
| that voice; but Luke WAC unable to tell TO
| whom it belonged.
| The sound Of footsteps approaching his
prison door reached his ears. and next
moment the same strangely familiar voice
was heard speaking 20 the guard. Some
one entered the apartment, and, coming to
Luke's side, asked:
cart ye the psis'ner?"
| II was TOO dark for features 10 BIO recog-
nized at even q foot.
~ ain, the prisoner answered.
"Kain't ye Captain Mason"
| LAM
"Don't ye know ms, Captain" the voice
asked in an undertone.
"No, though have certainly heard your
| voice BEFORE"
Don't ye remember Dick Sneed, the
wounded reb at Fort Done,son. who told
ys 'oout Captain Neft gittin' awsy?"
cot course remember YOU, butI thought
you a badly-wounded prisoner"
II warn't SO bad hurt ez let tn. only
| did that ter git away an dona "a, an Pm
here. was at the house last night when
you'uns charged it''
"And you got away"
Eyes, run at the first, an wasn't seen,
| except by a cussed niger who run nae three
AAAA1S - ssAAvV ~ AAS AVAIL
! times. laid fur him an knocked him
down VII tn butt o. my gun.''
! Luke at once knew that the negro al
| luded to was Blackhawk, their mysterious
! guide, and this accounted for his absence
| which had caused their recent disaster.
"Did you kill himl" he asked.
ssDun know fer sartin, but hope die, )" the
! Confederate growled, fur never saw a
| devil so hungry ter kill anybody as he was
E1e. It war 80 internal dark that couldn't
see his face, but half believe he war some
o. them black devils use ter wallup when
war overseer.''
& few moments silence ensued, and then
Luke said:
"Well, sneed, did you expect 70 find me
heres''
eyes," the Confederate answered, and
lowering his voice q little 50 that the guard
| might not orerhear him, he added: "Cap-
! tain Nen sent me Tar find ye"
"Whati is Captain Nef heres"
"Hushl not so loud r it'll be- all up with
our plans. Ye see these fellers can't be
managed like sojers. They're set o. blamed
! thieves n murderers, N wouldn't miss
hangin' yer fur any thing. We couldn't
begin ter save ye 'nless twas done by STRAIT
ergy en- sarcumvention, ye know" All the
while he was talking in mere whisper,
and the stupid guard at the door, who was
draining the brandy-dask Sneed had given
him to allow him to enter, heard not word.
"We've got it bout fixed up" Sneed con-
tinued. SIN bout an hour boy'n come
fur ye. Don't yer az him any questions,
don't yer speak word, nor even look
around, but foller the boy. Now, d. 70
mark what I'm saysn?'
"Every word"
"Will ye carry Il outl''
"Yes.o
"Good-bye"
and he was gone. Gone as suddenly and
silently as If be had melted away into dark
uess. Luke half believed he was still there,
and put out his hand to feel for him, but his
hand found OILY DARKNESS and the empty
cir. An hour passed and the silence was
broken only by the drunken, inaudihle muir.
muring of the guard at the door. Occasion
ally he mumbled snatches Of song in q
hoarse, drunken voice, and Luke, who began
70 see through the plans Of Albert Nen and
Dick Sneed, trembled lest they had carried
it too far.
A. last. however. tina o1,ard he,carna o,,;at