The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-01-31
months in a Richmond hospital. He was
now. as he said, just beginning to feel his

now. as he said, just beginning to feel his
oats again.
"ComeH' said Mr.. Deometari, I'VE must
go to my room. 1t is the same old room.
in the same old tavern" he remarked.
placing his arm around Joe's shoulders.
angel in black marble to which you used to
talk when you thought I was asleep"
When the two men and Joe Maxwell
reached the room, which was one of q series
opening on the long veranda Of the old
tavern, Mr.. Deometari carefully closed the
enounh-it was the early fall of 1864.
CIV, then" said he drawing his chair
in f1cnt of Joe, and placing his hands on
his knees. II heard o mention a name
out yonder where you first spoke to me.
What was iii"
"Pruitt," said Joe.
Precisely So" said Mr.. Deometari,
smiling in a satisfied way, John Pruitt.
Now what did you say about John
Pruitt?'
Late Of said country, deceased" dryly
remarked Mr.. Blandford, quoting from the
form Of a legal advertisement.
II said I saw him last night" said Joe.
Very good said Mr.. Deometari, still
smiling. and now what did you hear me
say about Pruitt?"
you said that he would be caught and
not Punished because he belonged to tho
relief committee"
"Hear thatn,' exclaimed Mr.. Deometari.
IF any but these friendly ears had heard
all that we'd have boon put on Johnson's
black list, and maybe we'd nave been trans
ferred from the black list to the guard
house. Now. then" continued Mr.. Deome-
tart, you don't know anything about the
relief committee, of course, and as you
Tllrhf ha inrr1r1r0 ornnrN nhonf IL and
asking what John Prultt, the dessrter, has
to do with the relief committee, 1'l tell
you. But, my dear boy, you must remem-
Der this: It's not a matter to be joked
about or talked Of anywhere outside Of this
room. Now, don't forget. 1t isn't much
of a secret; it Is simply a piece of business
that concerns only a few people.
d you remember reading or hearing
about the retreat from Laurel hill?" asked
Mr.. Deometari, moving his chair back and
unwinding the stem of his Turkish pipe.
THAT was in the early part of the war, and
it will never cut much of a figure in history,
but some of thoss who were in the retreat
will never forget. In the confusion of get
ting away a little squad of us, belonging
mostly to the First Georgia regiment, were
cut off from the main body. When we
halted to get our bearings there was moi
moro than a dozen Of u.s."
Seventeen, all told" said MIR. Bland
ford.
"Yes,' said Mr.. Deometari, "%seyenteen,
We were worse than lost. Wa were on the
mountains in a strange country. Behind
us was the enemy and before us WAS q for
est OF laurel that stretched away as far al
the eye could rencb. To the right or to The
left was the same uncertainty. We couic
hear nothing of the rest of the command
10 fire a gun WAS to invite capture, anc
there Was nothing for US to do but push
ahead through the scrubby growth
The commissary was absent on a fur
longh,' remarked Mr.. Blendford.
Yes said Mr.. Deometari, laughing
1.-The .ommlssary was missing and rationl
were scanty. Some of the men had none a
all. Some had II little hard tack, and other,
had a handful or snow of meal. Though
the weather was bitter cold, we built M
fire the first night for fear of ATTRACTING
the attention of the enemy. The next da,
and the next We struggled on. We sayec
our rations the best we could, but the,
gave out after n while, and there was moth
ing left but a little meal, which John PruIt
was saving up for Tom Henderson, VIII,
was i'll and weak with fever. Every day
when we'd stop to breathe awhile, Pruis
would mako Henderson a little cupful oi
Cruel, while the rest of us ate corn or root
or ohewed the inside bark of the trees"
And nobody begrudged Tom his grnel,'
said Mr.. Blandford, Though PHI swear til,
sight of it gave me the all-overs."
oh, yes!' exclaimed Mr.. Deometarj
Somebody did beRrudge Tom tho cruej
One night this Captain Johnson, who i
lording it around here now, thought PRINT
and the rest OF rs were asleep, and he mad