Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1889-06-20
copyrighted, 1881

i
"Whati is Captain Neff herep'
"Hushl not SO loud II t'l be all up with
our plans. Ye SEQ these fellers can't be
managed like sojers They're a set o. blamed
thieves n murdercrs, N wouldn't miss
hangin' yer fur any thing We couldn't
begin ter save We Mess twas done by STRAIT
ergy an sarcumvention, We known All the
while he was talking in 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 a word
We've got 1t bout fixed up" Sneed con-
tinued. "In bout IN hour a boy,ll come
fur We. Don't yer AK him any questions.
don't yer speak q word, nor even Iool,
around, but foller the boy. Now, a. We
mark what Pm sayn~
EVERY word.n,
win We carry It outg
"Yes.n
"Good-byen
And he was gone. Gone as suddenly and
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 his
nand found only darkness and the empty
air. An hour passed and the silence was
broken only by the drunken, inaudible mur.
muring ofthe guard at the door. Occasion
hoarse, drunken voice, and Luke. who began
to see through the plans of Albert Neff and
Dick Sneed, tremblcd 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
A small, soft hand, which he at one ltnew Ia
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 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.
1t was so dark that Luke could no more
see than If he had been totally blind, They
were going through the mud, and slowly
making their way somewhere. Thev
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 low, deep, earn
est voice which he recognized as Albert
Neffs.
"Albert, is it your
eyes, hush--mount; we have not a 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
up the rear. Their horses were soon climb
ing muddy hill.
Don't say word % said Major Neff in q
cautious undertone A few rods further
and voice from the darkness called;
"Haltp'
The two reined in their horses.
'Who goes therel"
"a friend with the countersign."
advance and give it,"
AS they rode forward Albert whispered;
"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 n gallop, for Lule's rescuers
knew that 4 long ride was before them.
Two or three miles away they met body of
guerrillas returning.
"Halt, thar Who be youuns an whar We
gwine.n their leader cried, when they were
within few rods of them.
II am Major Neff, on my way to my COM
mand," Albert promptly answered.
eye arr Wall, tell yer, Major, yed bet
ter look leetlo out, kase tn roads ar
swarmin' with Yanks, pourin' by tn
millions down on ter Nashville. We've been
o runnin' from them till were Almost tuck
cred out"