The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1892-11-16

approaching the old mill The regularity
of their gray uniforms made it easy to dis
tinguish them from guerrillas.
Luke had little hope of their being able
to release him, for they were outnumbered
by the guerrlllas five to one 1t might be
even possible that they would not care to
interfere with these partisan freebooters.
1t was too dark for HIM to distinguish
faces, and when they had dismounted and
dispersed among the buildings about the old
mill he forgot all about them.
Others were coming and going, and the
subdued buzz of voices constantly reached
his ears. HIS room was dark, as neither
lamp nor candle had been lighted, and the
guards ct the doors and windows looked
like silent statues.
"Where is he9' voice ct last asked.
There was something peculiarly familiar in
that voice; but Luke was unable TO tell to
whom it belonged
The sound Of footsteps approaching his
prison door reached his ears, and next
moment the same strangely familiar voice
was heard speaking to the guard Some
one entered the apartment and coming to
Luke's side asked
CAR ye tho pris'nera"
1t was too dark for features to be recog-
nized at even foot
~ am" the prisoner answered.
Hain't ye Captain Mason
"Iam."
"Don't We know me, Captain" the voice
asked in an undortone.
"No, though have certainly heard your
voice before"
"Don't We remember Dick Snecd, the
wounded reb at Fort Donelson, who told
ye bout Captain Ncff gittin' away?"
"Of course remember you, butI thought
you badly-wounded prisoner
81 warn't so bad hurt ez let on. / only
did that ter git away an done it, an I'm
here 1 was at the house last night when
you'uns charged it,"
Sand you got away"
eyes, run at the first, an wasn't seen,
except by cussed niger who run me three
mile inter swamp, and shot OF Inc dozen
times l laid fur him an knocked him
down wi tn butt o. my gun"
Luke at once knew. that the negro al
luded to was Blackhawk, their mysterious
guide, and this accounted for his absence
which had caused their recent disaster.
"Did you kill him! !" he asked.
"Dun know for sartin, but hope did," the
Confederate growled, "fur never saw q
devil so hungry ter kill anybody as he was
me. 1t war SO internal dark that couldn't
see his face, but half believe he war some
o them black devils ! use ter wallup when
war overseer.n
A few moments silence ensued, and then
Luke said
"Well, Sneed, did you expect to find me
here9"
YES" the Confederate answered, and
lowering his voice little SO that the guard
might not overhcar him, he adlcd: "Cap-
tain Netf sent Inc ter find yen
"What! is Captain Neff heres'
"Hush! not so loud r it'll DO all I'D with
cur plans We see these follcrs can't be
managed like soiers. They're set o. blamed
thieves N murderers, III wouldn't miss
hangin' yer fur any thing. We couldn't
begin ter save ye Moss twas done by STRAIT
ergy an sarcumvention, We know" All the
while he was talking in mere whisper,
and the stupid guard at the door, who was
draining the brandy flask Snecd had given
him to allow him to enter, heard not u word
We've got 1t bout fixed upn Eneed con.
tinued. SIN bout an hour boy'n come
fur We. Don't yer AK him any questions
don't yer speak word, nor even loob
around, but foller the boy. Now, d. "
mark what Pm say'nf
Every word"
, "Will We carry u outm
eyes,
"Good bye.n
And he was gore. Gone as suddenly ant
silently as if he had melted away into dark
ness. Luke half believed he was still there
and put out his hand to feel for him, but hi.
hand found only darkness and the cmpt,
air An hour passed and the silence wa.
broken only by tho drunken. naudible MUIR
muring ofthe guard at the door. Occasion
ally he mumbled snatches of song in
hoarse, drunken voice, and Luke, who begal
to see through the plans of Albert NoR an,
Dick Sneed, trem5lcd lest they had carrie,
it too far.
At last, however, the guard became quiet
and his heavy breathing told that he ha
succumbed. Some one cano In, and con
to his side motioned him to rise. He did 81
A small, soft hand, which he at one knew {
be the hand of the boy, was placed in hi
and he was led from the room. In the ha
near the doorway he stumbled over som
one, and half-smothered curse came fror
the drunken guard.
! He was warned by gentle pressure o
his hand to be silent and careful Anothe
person Joined them, and the three wer
softly from the house.
1t was so dark that Luke could no NOR
see than if he had been totally blind. The
't were gong through the mud, and Slow
making their way somewhere The
. crossed afence and were in the woods
7, Not q word had yet been spoken, and b.
L youd an Inclination that he was anon
l. friends. he knew not whether be was bein
10 led to liberty or death. At last they can
to horses.
'Mount this one,n said a low, deep, ear
est voice which he recognized as Abe
Neff's
ALBERT, is it you!"
"Yes, hush--nount; we have not a m
nent to lose, " was the whispered answer
:" There were four of them. and the
mounted horses and started on, Albert an
Dick IL frcnt, himself and the boy bringiu
= up the rear. Their horses were soon elm
% ing muddy hill.