Waterbury evening Democrat., 1891-03-19

balanced mind and land him headlong
In RUM" superstition the younger man
had not the courage to controvert.
1t can readily be imagined, then, how
his heart beat with renewed hope when
ON the afternoon of the Sd, while a
fearful storm was raging, which will
never be forgotten by those who
shivered meath its blasts, an old colored
man crept into camp, anXiously in
quiring for him. He bore a letter
written on crumpled leaf of paper
and inclosed in an empty rifle cartridge
shell, which the wary messenger had
carried in his mouth for security's sake
and which he gravely assured Frank he
would have swallowed if he had been
caught by the enemy.
Hastily unfolding it, Besant read the
penciled lines:
FRIEND FRANK: l have been for some
weeks prisoner. This morning they moved
mo from Murfrccsboru to mill four miles
down the river from your camp. We are only
under guard of eight men and a sergeant
besides some invalds, who won't count in
scrimmage. You and n dozen boys OF tho
Fourth might readily effect rescue If you
think me worth the risk. Bragg has given or
ders for n retreat at daybreak, so If you don't
hurry it will be all up with your unfortunate
friend, CHARLIE FULTON"
Rewarding the faithful negro beyond
his widest expectations, Frank hurried
to the Major with his glad tidings, but
TO his surprise his senior evinced no
especial signs of qualification.
You are little too sanguine, Frank,
my boy" he said, gravely, but though
we are relieved of the pain of believing
the young man is voluntarily absent
from our ranks, the onus yet remains
on him to prove how innocently he fell
into captivity. You see, now the Colonel
is wounded, the command of the regi-
ment dcvolvcs on me for the time being.
and, considering the responsibilities of
my position, do not for the life of me
see how, if you brought him back,
knowing what l do know, have any
other alternative than to place him
under arrest and court-martial him."
''Oh, sir, surely you would not pro-
coed to such extreme measures
Il am afraid l should, Frank, and, if
I did, it would go far to kill his poor
father, who now lies in a very critical
condition. l guess we had better let
this young fellow paddle his own canoe
for timc-a dose of Libby prison will
60 long way to ameliorate his high
flown sentiments on Southern chivalry."
llins.''
/ Nor is it spoken by Major Hopkins,
but by the acting-Colonel of regiment,
whose fair fame shall never be stained
while command. If my own dead
son were here alive to-day, and he had
done what Charles Fulton has, would
order him under arrest without an in
stant's hesitation"
E1.orly xyoS aT%a6 n silence nv the
Majors earncstness.
! "You see, Hesant," the older man
continued, II am in possession of facts
concerning which you know nothing"
A spark of intelligence flashed in
Franks brain.
And your informant, sir, was James
Lawson?" he asked eagerly.
-" If so, what then?"
''Only, sir, that you are condemning
man of honor on the word of as base
scoundrel as ever lied to forward his
miserable ends" was the hot reply.
THAT may be, but even an inveterate
liar may speak the truth, If it suits his
purpose"
Granted, Major; but are you quite
sure that the truth did suit his purpose
in this instance?"
For reply the Major took from his
poclxct-book n torn piece of paper, on
which was some writing in pencil, and
handed it to his subordinate, with the
remark:
II am committing no breach of conf
dence in showing you this. Do you
recognize the hand that penned this
treacherous scrawl?''
Frank read the lines eagerly; they
contained brief but succinct descrip-
ton of Buells position at Nashville,
were addressed to Miss Lascelles, and
were signed, your devoted friend,
CT"
Franks eyes blazed with triumph.
do l recognize the handwriting,
Maior?'' he cried cxcitedly. Indeed,
do! l see James Lawson's ear-marks
on every up-strolze and down-strolze of
this villainous composition. Why, the
pitiful rascal has not even taken the
trouble to disguise the characters.
You are sure of this?"
We'll, you shall judge for yourself,
SIR Frank declared, taking letter
from his pocket which contained an
Enclosure. Here is a note Lawson
wrote to lady friend of mine at Mel
tonburg, containing such a libelous ac-
count of my conduct that in sheer dis
gust she sent it to me, as she says, to
put me on my guard against the fell
lows vindictiveness."
1t was study to watch the Majors
face as he compared the two docu-
ments.
Turning to an orderly he said, stern
II: go to company f and tell the off,
Ger on duty to send Private Lawson I'M
der guard to me ut once"
In a few minutes, during which both
officers maintained moody silence, the
messenger returned.
Private Lawson, SIR he said, salut-
ing. ais reported missing. He was fired
on this morning by the sentry as he was
! seen making for the enemy's lines, but
! escaped unhurt."
The cloud of doubt cleared from the
Majors brow as he clasped Franks
!