Evening journal., 1892-09-12


eeon the boats cabin was still standing
amid the decayed timbers of the hull,
and VIII noticed with surprise that there
were traces Of something like footprints
leading to it.
Nevertheless he stepped quite unsus-
piciously over the doorway Once fairly
within he felt himself roughly grasped
by the arms from behind
"You make noise to call that boy"
said voice close to his ears, "and I'll
kiln you'll l tell you viii never be taken
prisoner~
The person who had seized him now
faced him. still holding him by the
arms. win saw a youth scarcely older
than himself dressed in a worn gray uni
form. His grip was like steel, but his
face was so pinched and drawn and his
eyes so desperately miserable that the
heart of his captive warmed to him.
Recovering his composure a little,
after his first establishment and alarm,
Will said, with an effort to laugh: LET
me gol I'm tho only prisoner there's
likely to be. I'm not after you. was
only looking for a ghost"
"Who are you? / know all tho boys
over there, and know you are a Yankee
by your cap and your voice. / tell you
l can't be taken"
"See here" said Win, "Tm only boy
like you, and though I'm a soldiers son,
and don't deny either my voice or my
cap, don't want to harm you at all.
What is up, anyway, and why are you
playing spook on this strip Of sandy
ut is all up now, l suppose. and may
as well tell you all about it. Have you
got a mother? see by your face You
haven't; so perhaps you will be sorry for
poor fellow who is going to lose his.
My name IS John Prescott, ana over
there in that white house below your
fort my mother is dying, and am try
ing to see her once more if she isn't gone
already.
81 got a two weeks furlough-you
needn't stare, I've been in the army
nearly a year-and slipped down the
river two days ago. Unfortunately for
me / made this point too near daylight
yesterday morning to venture any far
Their. | knew the reputation this place
has among the negroes, and / thought it
safe to wait here until night. Ireckon
was too tired and sleepy and didn't
make it fast, and the boat managed to
slip away while was looking for q good
place to drag it up among the bushes.
Here l have been ever since, like q
rat in a trap. have watched the house
over there for two days, and have even
seen the family on the terraces and dared
not make q signal Now, sir, what are
you going to do cbout itg'
I'm going to do this" said VIII, hold
ing out his hand. "Tm going to say
believe every word you say, and want
you to trust me to help you out Of this
scrape. lost my mother not six months
ago, and do know how TO feel for you.
IL we are on opposite sides. happened
to hear today that your mother is no
worse. Maybe you'll see her more than
this once"
"But how can get over2"
II don't see quite clearly how TO do 1t,
but I'll get you over thore before day
break somehow. You must give me
youi word to go away when the time il
up. Now must go, or that boys curl
osity viii be enough to overcome his
fears, and hen come to look me up. ]
know you're hungry, so take my lunch.
Keep a sharp lookout after dark
The numbering skiff carried o very
silent passenger back across the river.
George ventured to inquire if VIII had
"seed do ghos', and was answered sc
gravely IN the affirmative that he then
and there laid the foundations Cor sew.
eral marvellous tales with which to as
tonish future audiences.
Win knew quito well that the thing be
had in mind to do was q very delicate
and difficult thing to undertake. That
he, the trusted son of the commander
should attempt to smuggle an enemy
inside the lines was no light matter
The thought of 1t rested not lightly OF
his conscience, but a refusal to aid tn,
poor fellow on the island to see his dy
ing mother would have rested more
heavily STILL
At any rate he meant to do It, ant
by the time the skiff touched bottom al
her landing his plan was formed Max
ing a careful survey of the landing, ant
noting the shortest route out to thu
open water, he dismissed his companion
without ceremony. A few minutes
walk brought him to the big white gat'
of "The Garden" He summoned up al
his courage and dignity and marched
through the magnolia avenue
His Appearance was greeted with (
CONSERVATION that was far from pleas
ing. His request to see Miss Prescott
in private for a few moments seemed {,
freeze with terror the black maid n
waiting, but after brief delay he wa
shown into a bright, Aowery little room
which had a delightfully."- feminine anl
welcome look to eyes long used to CAM
life.
But the slender girl who met him will
the air of an offended duchess had n,
welcome in her look. Her manner wa
Iadly chilling Ten minutes later, how
ever, sho was holding his hand at tn
door and saying: mr.. Denning, never
never can thank you enough if you vii
do thisl Mamma is a little better, anC
if she can see John for one hour
would do her more good than medicine
| will wait at the side gate for him, anS