The Springdale news., 1889-07-05

while he was talking In a mere whisper, and the stupid guard at the door, who was draining the brandy-flask Sneed had given him to allow him to enter, heard not word sWe've got It bout fixed up" Sneed con- tinued. 'In bout an hour a boy'll come fur ye. Don't yer ax him any questions, don't yer speak word, nor even look around, but foller the boy. Now, d ye mark W Fm say'nF'
 "Eva sword"
 "Will ye carry t outp
 "Yes'
 "Good -byep
 And he was gone. Gone as suddenly and silently as fl he had melted away into dark ness. Luke half believed he was still there, and put out his hand to feel for him, but his hand found only darkness and the empty air. An hour passed and the silence was broken only by the drunken, lnaudible mur- muring of the guard at the door. Occasion ally he mumbed snatches of a song in a hoarse, drunken voice, and Luke, who began 10 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 5uccumbed. Some one came in, and going to his side motioned hm to rise. He did so. A small, soft haud, which he at once knew to 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 halfsmothered 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.
 It was so dark that Luke could no more see than if he 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" sad low, deep earn est voice which he recognized as Albert Neff's
 'Albert, is it youaa
 "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
 
 up the rear. Their horses were soon climb ing a muddy hill.
 "Don't say a wordr said Major Neff, in a cautious undertone. A few rods further and voice from the darkness called;
 "Haltr'
 The two reined i'll their horses.
 "Who goes thereff
 "A friend with the countersign."
 UAdvance and give it T
 As they rode forward Albert whispered ::
 "Stone River,n and they were told to pass.
 Reaching the top Of the hill they found the ground a 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.
 Halt, tharl Who be you'uns an whar ye gwineF" their leader cried, when they were within a few rods of them.
 Il am Major Neff, on my way to my com mand, :" Albert promptly answered.
 "Ye ar! Wall, tell yer, Major, ye'd bet ter look a leete out, kase tn roads ar swarmrn' with Tanks, pourin' by tn millions down on ter Nashville. We've been runnin' from them till we're almost tuck cred out.n
 II must join my command, and we've got fast horses, so don't think there's much danger of the Tanks catching us. Did you meet any of my mene
 'No.n
 That is strange. They were to meet me on the Clarksyille road. We'll 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 1t was blue or gray.
 mile further on they came upon a part of Major Neff' s men, remnant from the attack of the Il ght befere and they all travelled along with the man who had led the attack against them, until 1t was nearly daylight, and Albert, sending all the men, save the boy, back out of earshot, turned to the pris- oner and said:
 This boy wlll go with you to the house, and just beyond it IS camped the advance oi the Union army. Goodbye, Luke " Goodbye, Albert, and may God bless 1 you" Their hands met, and for a moment l neither moved nor spoke Then they sep sarated, 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' sald his guide.
 ho,,o hoa,h bomb exploded Luke would not haNC ONNh AAA-<~ 4a=-ss N+ s- --S would know amons ten thousand A mo- ment more and his herse was alongside the