The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1891-04-25
g If so. what then2,'

! miserable ends,'' was the hot reply.
':That may be, but even an inveterate
! liar may speak the truth, if it suits his
| purpose"
s:Granted, Major; but are you quite
| sure that the truth did suit his purpose
in this instance?
For reply the Major took from his
| pocket-book a torn piece Of paper, on
which was some writing in pencil, and
| handed it to his subordinate, with the
! remark:
| 81 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 a brief but succinct descrip-
ton of Buell's position at Nashville,
were addressed to Miss Lascelles, and
| were signed, ''your devoted friend,
C.F.''
| Franks eyes blazed with triumph.
ssDo I recognize the handwriting,
Major?'' he cried excitedly. Indeed, l
do! | see James La1vson's ear-marks
on every up-stroke and down-stroke Of
this villainous composition. Why, the
pitiful rascal has not even taken the
trouble to disguise the characters"
! ''You are sure Of this?''
! ''Well, you shall judge for yourself
Sir" Frank declared, taking a letter
from his pocket which contained an
| Enclosure. "Here is a note Lawson
wrote to a lady friend Of mine at Mel
tonburg, containing such a ibelous &C.
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."
It was a study to watch the Majors
face as he compared the two docu-
! ments.
| Turning to ali orderly he said, stern
! ly: 600 to company Z and tell the Off
Ger on duty to send Private Lawson I'M
der guard to me at once"
In few minutes, during which both
officers maintained moody silence, the
messenger returned.
''Private Law son, sir" he said, salut-
ing, sis reported missing. He was fired
on this morning by the sentry as he was
seen making for the eneny's lines, but
escaped unhurt.''
The cloud Of doubt cleared from the
! Majors brow us he clasped Frank s
| hand, and said heartily: Inlay be was
wrong in Judging Fulton, and he will
perhaps be able to clear himself Of any
| charge more serious than a breach of
discipline. Any how, Frank, you shall
| fetch the lad back and give him a chance
! of explanation. Take as many men of
your own company as you lilxe-volun-
teers mintl-and manage The affair just
| how YOU please. It could not be in bet
| ter hands.
So, in accordance with this liberal
| order. dozen men, heavily armed,
with Hesant at their head, stole out of
camp that night under shadow of the
cedar brakes that lined the river.
TO return to the object Of all this So
icitude, Charlie Fulton's condition after
the battle of Murfreesboro was strong
| contrast to the gentle treatment he had
received during his confinement at the
recruiting station, and he was now be-
ginning to learn that THE lot of a pris-
oner of war WAS not q. very enviable
| one. Torn from his associates, who, be-
ing gentlemen, had accorded him many
little kindnesses, he found himself in
the hands of d rough soldiery, who
! seemed to take delight in covering with
indignities their luckless prisoner. One
snatched the cap from his head with the
brutal declaration that it was too good
| to cover d YanlSs brainless scalp; an-
other requisitioned his boots and gave
him in return a pair Of soleless shoes a
tramp would scorn to wear; third ap-
prop1iated his watch; and a fourth took
! fancy to a ring he wore. Thus de-
spoiled he was hustled into the loft OF
an unoccupied mill, where he was cheer
fully told to make himself at home till
morning, when he would be taken lin
the rucl1 OF captured Yanks to the pen. y
But sharp as the eyes of his captors
| were they were not sufficiently on the
alert tc prevent stolen interview with
the old colored man they had deputed
to carry him few noldy rolls and a
cup of villainous coffee they called his
dinner. $780,.
How anxious]y the slow hours rolled
along. Would midnight never come?
IernapS Glle dHclGnC UttIhy Aitu loo1So
him, or failed in his attempt to reach
the Union lines; or, worst thought of
all, was the probability that his folly
had been discovered and his comrades
might not think him worth the rescue.
Below the men who had pulloined a
small lzeg of whisky were getting quar-
relsome over their cups. Now was the
time to strike: if only Frank and his
gallant boys would come; but, though
he pressed his ear against crack IN
the wooden wall and listened with
breathless anxiety, there was no sound
without save the moan Of the wind and
the fierce pattering Of the sleety rain
But what is that? The hoarse chal-
lenge of the sentry, followed by
groan-and all is still again. The rev
elers below had never even heard the
sound, for their oaths and shouts were
louder than ever. Then the crash OF
wood, and stamping and scuf1ing, and
again the painful silence. He rushed
to the door and beat upon it with his
naked hand, fearful that after all they
might not find him.
s.Nb orIior,