Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1892-12-15

pen. "How will you have it written?'
"'Pass Private Mark Malone'-that
name will do as well as any-'beyond
our lines at will"
The general wrote the pass and hand
ing it TO Private Malone, Go, and God
bless you" he said He took his ennis
sary's hand and pressed it heartily.
As the words, go, and God bless
you!" rang again in memory the soldier
touched tho tanks Of his horse lightly
with his great brass spurs and began to
descend the mountain.
An hour later he entered the little
town of Jasper. Riding up to the tavern
he refined in his horse and let him drink
at the rough wooden trough in front.
A number of country people were sit
ting on the veranda, and every one fixed
his eyes on the soldier who sat on his
horse looking about him with as much
apparent indifference as if he were with
in the Union lines. When the animal
had drunk his fill his rider cast the reins
to negro and dismounted. Then, de-
taching his carbine from where he had
hooked it to his saddle, he took it in his
hand and tramped into the house to the
jingle of his spurs.
Not a word was spoken by those watch
ing in admiration the strapping young
fellow with SO young a face set on so
stalwart frame. He paid no attention
to them, but walked into the dining room
and called for supper. After devoting
himself to a plate of bacon and corn
bread, with a cup of chicory in lien of
coffee for the blockade of the southern
ports had stopped the flow of the coffee
bean from foreign countries), he walked
out on the gallery, and seating himself
on wooden bench took brierwood
pipe and tobacco pouch out of his
pocket and began to smoke.
Jasper was mo mans land" The peo-
pie living there and thereabout were
nearly all Confederate sympathizers,
but had learned to look for Union or
Confederate troops with an equal chance
of either. From the moment of the sol
dier's arrival they had discussed his
coming in whispers. Soldiers of either
side usually came in numbers. 1t was
seldom that single trooper had the
hardihood to enter the town of Jasper
alone, especially one wearing the blue.
Presently an old man dressed in "but-
ternut' got up from his seat among the
loungers and approached the stranger
for the purpose of reconnoiter:
Reckon y come from Decherd,
Yank?'
"Therea bout"
cover the mountains"
eyes"
"You ms got many sojers over thar"
"Where:"
"At Sparty."
"No."
"Murfreesboro?"
81 don't know"
"Reckon thar's a powerful sight at
McMinnville:"
"A division perhaps"
The man paused moment and then
went on:
"Thet's an all fired pert rifle o yourn.
Wouldn't mind letten me handle it,
would ""
Mark cooked the piece, took off the
cap aud handed it to his interrogation.
He still had his revolver, while the man
had weapon which could not be fired
without percussion cap.
"Waal. now, thet's quar-"
The man looked from the rifle to the
soldier. not knowing which TO admire
most-tho mechanism Of the former or
the GOODNESS of the latter. Then he
handed it back.
lyon amt no Yank."
"Why not:'
"YQnks don't come down hyar all
alone. Besides Yankee foicr wouldn't
ride blooded marc like that acne.
Morgan's men rides them kind o critters
and wears them uniforms sometimes"
Mark smiled knowingly.
you think I'm one of Colonel Nor
gan's men, do your
''Rrckon Yer one o ourn anyway"
And the man walked away well salts
fed with his penetration.
The soldier got up, went into the tav-
ern and paid for his supper with one Of
the postal shinplasters used at the time
III lie,. Of silver; then he came out and
called for his horse. Whio waiting he
stood leaning against Il post Of the gal
lery, maintaining the same easy conf
dence that had characterized him since
his arrival. Presently a negro came
around from the barn, leading the slen-
der legged mare, and the soldier, saun-
tering up to her leisurely, stroked her
neck; then mounting, without once
looking at his observers, he rode away.
But private Malone's confidence was
all assumed. He did not start on the
road he designed to follow; he trotted
off up the valley, intending later to find
path or crossroad which would take
him southwark to the Chattanooga pike.
lie suspected that the group he was
leaving would not suffer him to ride
that night in safety, and he did not care
to let them know his true route,
Mark trotted on up the road while the
sylSht was fading. He was musing
upon the difficult the hazardous task
before him. The road was deserted en-
cept by himself the evening was still,
and his horses hoofs beat loud ON the
stones beneath him. When he was rid
ing in the open he felt comparatiyely