The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1891-07-30

ant, said Bell ''It's for the Yankee.
It's chicken, Mostly
well, well! you girls beat my time"
said the lieutenant ''Chicken for a
Yankee spy tonight and a rope in the
morning." 1f,
"That's the reason I brought it.
What's his name, ieutenant?" she
asked. -
"He says it's Arthur Corwin,, . replied
Sanders ss@f
Can give him the chicken?''
eyes, let the poor fellow have it if he
wants it, but why not give it to George
and let him pass It in?''
'Oh, because want to see what
spy looks like" said Bell. Sand the
poor boy may have mother or sister
he'd like me to write to about it when
the war is over.''
''Well, let her in, George. 1t don't
make any difference. The boy has but
a few hours to live"
| unlocked and opened the guard
house door. He sat there on the bench
writing the letter to his mother.
"Yank," said I, ''here's my sister;
she's brought you something to eat,
and as your times short the orders is
to let you have it. Knock on the door,
Bell, when he gets through and I'll
turn you OUT
She was in there so long that be-
gan to get uneasy. However, thought,
he probably can't eat very fast now;
but | knocked on the door with the
butt of nv musket.
''In minute said Bell. @
Soon she raped on the door. un-
locked and opened it part way, but
could see neither the prisonerno nor Bell.
"Why, Yanlz," said 1, your candies
gone out"
"Yes," he replied, sit fell off the
bench, and 1 didn't have another
match" ="
"I'll give you one, /" said I.
"Never mind" he replied. 81 have
finished writing"
Good -by," said Bell
'Good-by, and God bless you" said
the prisoner.
Bell passed out, her handkerchief to
her eyes, and her sunbonnet drawn
well over her face. thought heard
sob, and said:
There, Bell, run home now. You
have done all you can for the Yank.
Don't be soft-hearted. Remember, our
boys often go the same way. Good
night and Bell hurried away with the
handkerchief still to her eyes.
At twelve o'clock I was relieved.
unlocked the door and the sergeant
held up his lantern. The prisoner lay
on the bench asleep.
''All right" said the sergeant. mo
use waking him. He'll wake soon
enough
Early in the morning we put up a
scaffold under the limb of a tree, and
just as the sun was showing its face a
squad of us under Lieut.. Sanders
marched to the guard house for the
prisoner. ~
The sentry unlocked and opened the
door.
Come out, youngster,' said the
Lieutenant; ''time's up"
He arose from the bench, and with
his hat pulled well down over his eyes,
walked out.
''What's the matter. boy? Weaken
ing?" And the lifted his hat
from his head to get a good look at
him. mass of long, black, curly hair
fell to the shoulders. The hands few
up to the face.
~Thunder Bellr' exclaimed the
lieutenant.
"Bellr' resounded from the lips OF
the squad, and Bell it was, in the uni
form of the Yankee spy.
"Well, Bel,'s said the lieutenant,
'the Yankee got the chicken, didn't
hep"
"Reclzon he did," said Bell; land he's
got back to the union lines if he's had
| good luck"
Perhaps; but do you know the con-
sequence to you?"
NO, and don't care, said Bell
Hes gone. l wasn't going to see a
boy like that hanged if could help it. :
Most of our force had gone off on q
raid during the night and left the lieu
tenant and one squad there to execute
the spy. He pledged each man in the
squad to secrecy and let Bell go.
I 81 know you're all right, Bell, saic
he, ''but your hearts too soft toward
the Yankees.
NO, it isn't, said Bell, ''but he was
such boy, and just my size, too.
i In the fall of 1864 several hundred o.
us were captured and were being
marched from Winchester to stephen
son station, from where we were to- bC
sent north to Yankee prison. Ayoune
lieutenant came riding down the line
As soon as he came opposite me knew
him.
s'Hello!" I called out. Il see you'v'
got your straps.
He was off his horse in minute ant
had me by the hand.
s'George!' said he. BELL Avery
brother"
s'The same, said |.
. Don't be uneasy" he said III
look after you when we get to the sta
ton.
"Don't forget Lieut.. Sanders, said ]
He gave me orders to admit Bell witt
the chicken"
"Is he a prisoner, too?''