The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1890-06-06
CHATTER TX.

horse, and some or them were search
ing my saddle-bags, in which was the
evidence had SO far obtained in favor
of Frank Brent.
was about to tell the Confederate
Captain the condemned mans story,
when tall, slender man, with the stars
Of Maior-Genoral on his gray collar,
strobe into the group surrounding me.
The reddish hair and beard, tho high,
thin and much frecklcd nose, and above
all, the keen, stecly-gray eyes, told mo
that the newcomer was no ordinary
person.
General Wharton, this is Captain
Watt" said Jones, by way Of introduce
ton.
The leader of the Texan Rangers
bowed stiffly, and acknowledged the sal
utation in the samc way. He was about
to question me when his keen eyes fell
on tho papers the man had taken from
my saddle-bags, and in an instant they
were in his hands.
/ could see from tho expression of
Wharton's faco that no was becoming
excited as he read. Suddenly he strobe
up and said, fiercely:
81 see Captain Brent is prisoner and
condemned to death by your people!'
/ tried to explain the unfortunate
mans situation and my connection with
it; but Wharton would not hear me out.
He ground his hccls into the earth, and
Missed:
'.By G., sir, hanging is game
two can play at! Burnside hung two of
our people up thcro in Kentucky, and
two Yankee Captains are now awaiting
death in Libby Prison. I'll take this
thing in charge myself, and I'll SEQ to
it that your neck is stretched If they
execute Captain Brent"
Burning with Indignation at this
treatment, tried to explain what / had
done to save Frank Brent, but, with an
insulting sheer, the Texan turned and
left me.
tits bit tough, I'll allow" said
Jones, "but wars war, and the man that
expects to find any kid-glove etiquette
or ballroom manners in the field Is
bound to be badly disappointed.
With this bit of philosophy, Captain
Jones left me, but not till another Of
Rcer, who told me he was ''acting
division provost marshal" appeared.
The provost marshal took my name,
rank and regiment and then asked for
the United States property in my pos
session when i was captured. pointed
to the dead horse, to the sword and bolt
lying on the ground, and said
Captain Jones thoughtfully took
charge of all my personal property, and
left mo his boots and hat as an evidence
of his affection"
/ had put on Jones dilapidated foot
gear in the meantime, and was ready
for any disposition they chose to make
of me.
1--WE are moving rapidly" explained
the provost marshal, land you'll find it
mighty hard keeping up on foot Now,
If you'll give me your parole not to at
tempt to escape while you're in my
charge, III mount you and let you stay
back with the wagons. What do you
say?"
said Eyes," signed the parole and
was at once led over the hill to where a
dozen or moro army wagons were
drawn up on the road. Hero was given
a horse that had boon ridden by one Of
my mon that morning, and soon after
the wagons started off in a hurry.
Straight for the purple line Of noun
tains looming up through the clouds to
the east we marched. New and then,
when the road wound over hill, 1
could see the dark figures of swarming
borsemen, and it needed no field glass
to assu-o me that they wore my own
people.
Here and there silvery puffs of smoke
indicated skirmishing and told how
close the opposing lines were at points,
while during the day and at irregular
intervals, the deep booming Of guns
came up from the direction Of Knox
Vile.
Asnight came on the rain poured down
in torrents, no unusual experience with
me, but as had no overcoat and was de-
pressed by what / felt to be the humili-
alton OF my situation, suffered from
the cold and discomfort as never before.
It was an hour after dark before we
went into camp and another hour before
fires were lit. The old sergeant who
acted as my guard was an Irishman,
and had been in the regular army in
Texas when the war broke out. had
talked with Phelin during the day anu
was not little surprised to find him an
out and out Confederate, with un-
bounded faith in the outcome Of the
cause with which no was associated and
the profoundest contempt for the YAM
kee.
But Phelin, like many of his COM
patriots ito tho manor born" had
warm heart under rough exterior.