Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1891-07-09

neatly-rOunded grave looked by the
lantern light, Frank thought that many
a grand mausoleum would bear but poor
comparison beside that humble tribute
to brave mans memory, even though
the first blasts of winter would destroy
the rough mcmento.
That night they slept upon the battle
field
Now, it must not be supposed that
Charlie Fulton's absence from his post
had not caused CONSERVATION among his
comrades and intense distress to his
father. None, however, but Major
Hopkins and Frank Besant had attrib-
uted suspicious motives to his disap-
pearance, and you may be assured that
| they kept their own counsel, jealous of
their comrades honor and mindful of
| their Colonel, whose heart they knew
would be broken if his boy fell into dis
grace, so it was generally accepted that
he had ridden farther than was prudent
and had fallen into the tolls of the en-
envy. But the Major and Frank had
drawn the worst conclusions, especially
when the latter learned from the pick
cts the direction the absentee had taken
when he started on the journey from
which he had never returned. Besant
that he had sold himself body and soul
| for pretty face, and had gone over to
the enemy.
of Southern chivalry," the Major said.
land it only wanted the witchery of
this woman to tip the scale of his I'M
balanced mind and land him headlong
in ruin" supposition 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
never be forgotten by those who
man crept into camp, anxiously in
quiring for him. He bore letter
written on a 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:
! weeks q prisoner. This morning they moved
| me from MurfreesborU to a mill four miles
down the river from your camp We are only
under guard Of eight men and a sergeant.
besides some invalids, who won't count in q
scrimmage. You and a dozen boys of the
Fourth might readily effect rescue II yod
think me worth the risk. Bragg has given or
ders for retreat at daybreak. so if you don't
hurry 1t 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 nc
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 absen:
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 devolves 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 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
81 am afraid / should, Frank, and, il
I did, it would go far to kill his poor
father, who now lies in a very critical
condition. I guess we had better lei
this young fellow paddle his own canoe
for time-a dose of Libby prison will
go long way to ameliOrate his high
flown sentiments on Southern chivalry.
THAT is not spoken like Major Hop
kins."
''Nor is it spoken by Major Hopkins
but by the acting Colonel Of regiment
whose fair fame shall never be stained
while I command. If my own dead
son were here alive to-day, and he ha6
done what Charles Fulton has, I would
order him under arrest without an in
stant's hesitation
Frank was awed to silence by the
Majors earneStneSS.
You see, Besant," the older mar
continued, Il am in possession of fact
concerning which you know nothing"
spark of intelligence flashed il
Franks brain.
''And your informant, sir, was james
Lawson?" he asked eagerly.
6 If so, what then?"
''Only, sir, that you are condemninl
a man of honor on the word Of as bas,
scoundrel as ever lied to forward hi
miserable ends" was the hot reply.
''That may be, but even an inveterat'
liar may speak the truth, if it suits hi
purpose"
''Granted, Major; but are you quit
sure that the truth did suit his purpos,
in this instance?"
For reply the Major took from hi
pocket-book a torn piece of paper, o,
which was some writing in pencil. an.
handed it to his subordinate, with tn,
remark:
81 am committing no breach Of conf
dence in showing you this. Do 20,
recognize the hand that penned thi
treacherous scrawl?"
Frank read the lines eagerly; the,
contained brief but succinct descrip
ton of Buell's position at Nashville
were addressed to Miss Lascelles, an.
were signed, your devoted friend
C. F."
Franks eyes blazed with triumph.
do 1 recognize the handwriting
Major?' he cried excitedly. Indeed.
do! I see James Lawson's ear-mark
: on every up-stroke and down-stroke o
| this villainOuS composition. WHY, tn,