Daily tobacco leaf-chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1890-1895, 1890-04-22

and it was Tom who knew deeper
and more dangerous secret Of the
hazel ticket when Dick, pining for
glimpse of the Colonel and his fair
young bride, slipped home on fur
Tough. There was price On his head,
but Tom hid him safely for week,
and then, through whose treachery
was never known, Dicks hiding place
was discovered and the young master
was to be betrayed by one of his own
men. But Tom, whose senses were
as acute as fox's, discovered the plot.
A party of soldiers were to be led to
Marse Dicks hiding place that night,
were they Well, let them catch him
if they can.
Already it is growing dusk, there is
but time to whisper word of warning
in Alice's ear, and then Tom is slip
ping cautiously to the thicket where
Dick lay hidden.
"Marse Dick, 'he whispered, "dey've
found you out and lot of sojers is
comm tonight to git you. Not
that he broke off as Dick laid his
hand on his pistols-'not that--what's
one man ginst twenty? Me and you is
jest the same size, give nae yo' cap and
jacket and you take mine. You go
down by de mill road an Tll fix dem
sOjers.n
The exchange was quickly made,
and in few minutes Dick was on his
way to the Southern lines, and Tom,
looking in the gray uniform like a
dark shadow of his young master, was
creeping through the underbrush to
where one of the roam fillies, saddled
and bridled, was tied. 1t would have
taken keen judge of horse flesh to
see in the ill-kept beast the favorite
who had won many a hot race, but
Tom laid his hand lovingly upon her.
"You'se got some of the best TO mile
race blood in de worP in you, ole gal 4"
he said, land you'se won many race
but you'se got To kiver yo' record dis
time, for tonight we ride for Marse
Dicks life !"
Already he could hear the heavy
tramp of squad of horsemen coming
down the road, and the sharp com.
mand of the officer as he posted his
men so as to guard every outlet to the
woods. Tom pulled the visor of his
cap down over his face and urged his
mare into a sharp trot. He was SO
close he could hear the heavy breath.
ing of the horses the moon was com
ing up full and radiant from behind
the orchard. Now, now was his OPP
portunity! He dug his heels into the
mares TANKS, and with bound she
: responded to the we'll known signal
something flashed like the wind be-
tween the scattered soldiers, and Tom
was on the high road, the gray JACKIE
cleaning in the moonlight. "By God
he has escaped ~ With a wild impre
; cation, they turned to follow. A bull
let whistled by Tom as he flatteneC
himself against the mare and urgeC
her forward. 1t was wild race. The
mare sped onward like bird; bu
close, close behind her came the heavy
tramp of the cavalry horses, strainins
every nerve to overtake her. Fly fast
; o gallant steed; stop not for brake
stay not for stone, make thy sineW
of iron and thy nerves of steel, 70
tonight the stakes are life and death
At last the pursuit slackened, ant
Toms experienced ears noted tn
horses as they fell from the race unit
the silence told him that his ruse hat
} been successful and that Dick wa
saved. 1t was almost morning when
wearied and travelled stained, he rod
J into the Colonel's gate, but Alice wa
, waiting for him. He told her simpl
enough what he had done, and whel
| he finished she took from the bosom c
| her gown golden cross, and pinned
on his ragged breast. IF | was
Queen" she said, ait should be tn
cross of the Legion of Honor"
| 1t was not long after this till thos
, who watched Toms honest face saw
+ deeper shadow there than care o
) anxiety for others should have brought
, Somehow all at once life had a neN
= meaning, and responsibility for him
J he had come to know that beyon