Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1893-11-09

Eyes; they struck. and pretty hard
too. But the general cut his way
through, rather crippled. No, there /.
no blame attaching to you. Fitzhugh
The fault lies with Maj. Conyer's
scout He is under arrest You seen
70 have done your full duty"
81 tried to do my full duty, SIR" The
reply was unwonted in its meekness
and the spy's eyes were downcast, as he
queried: where did the general ge,
out? Has he made the river again?"
/. Eyes; but some regiments scattered
and the stragglers come in slowly"
| "They should be struck in detail
scattered along the river" Fitzhugh
said. slowly, half absently.
| damn, it, sir, you'd better give your
views to Gen. Sheridan" the infantry
major retorted, abruptly. 81 am not
commanding the cavalry of the army OF
the Potomac"
BEG pardon, sir" the spy answered,
not raising his eyes, in which the CLEAN
| still fingered. Am to go over? Any
| orders for me?"
mo; you are to remain here-proba-
bly, accompany Gen. Baldwin on a
prison-inspection that has been de-
manded by these newspaper meddlers.
Goodnight, Caspar." The major rose,
sorting his papers, the spy turning
slowly to the door, as though regret:ing
! something, when the officer added:
''By the way, what is this young fell
low McKee?"
Nothing, SIR" was the prompt an
swer, as Fitzhugh glanced quickly at
the questioner. "a society butterfly,
| without brains. He is not suspected, 1
presumed"
''Oh, no. Only, he's always so devil
ish polite to me, for sake of getting
passes where none are needed. that it
amounts to q bore. He talked two
hours and wasted two bottles of wine
tonight to get permits to hunt in Prince
Georges. Good night"
Good night, SIR" the spy answered,
quickly leaving the room and descend
ing to the street.
Meanwhile, Mr.. Willie Mckee had
left the musicale and let himself quiet
ly into the darkened home of his wild
owed mother. Passing softly through
to the stables, he walked his groom,
gave special instructions about feeding
his best horse, and ordered his hunting
trap to be in readiness at two o'clock.
Then, mounting to his own suite, he
laid out his corduroys and boots, Sc
lected a Winchester rifle from the sew
cral cases, and, carefully inspecting the
tested the lock.
Next he unlocked q cupboard. taking
thence and slowing in his bird-bag q
strange outfit for 4 ducl-hunt. There
were carefully tied parcels from the
druggist, hanks Of silk and strong flax,
papers of needles, postage-stamps, and,
last, three large, fiat TASKS of brandy
labeled ''1S4O," as though to equalizc
the outfit. Packing finished, Mckee re-
read the passes the federal had lately SO
condemned, made some careful memor.
anda in finest writing upon thin sheets
of paper, and drew an old pipe of briar-
wood from his pocket. Carefully clean
ing the tube, he rolled the papers tight
ly, forced them in, and smeared little
of the nicotine on top, to color the edges
from recognition.
Lastly, the youth arrayed himself in
hunting-rig as carefully as though pre-
pairing for his wedding, humming, dur
ing the process, snatches of melody
from late opera bouffes. Then, as the
cuckoo clock on his wall cooed out the
half-hour past one, he descended softly
to the stable-yard.
The hunting-trap was already rolled
out; and, packing gun and bird-bag
carefully under the heavy fur robes, the
master turned, to find his ebcn groom
close at his elbow.
Mass Will, ent yo' gwine ter read da
note?"
''What note, Elijah?'
"Da note da viii man dun lef'. WV
yo' doan' read it?" And, for the first
time, the negro extended dingy en-
velope.
''Who left this? Did you tell anyone
Twas going gunning?" the master asked,
anxiously.
''How rs gwine tell UNI, wen amt
lsnowed it? an, sides, e amt AK
nuthin'," the man replied, with the ne
gro's usual indirection.
"WAo left it, sir? Hold your lantern"
'How know who lef' it, wen he I'M
belsnownst to me an amt yeered his
entitle? Wen e ak is yo' in, I amt tell
him is yo'; only ax i'm is yo' in? Den
he say, gle IN dis note, sho! Da's de
note"
Tearing open the envelope, on which
the gum was still moist. Mckee began
to read by light of the stable lantern
curiously at first, then eagerly, at last
with anazenent stamped on every fea-
ture.
"Wait to hitch up till I come back.
Lock this gate after me-" he ordered,
rapidly. Then he passed into the street;
and the negro, hearing his rapid foot
falls ring along the stones, showed his
white teeth as he turned the key, and
muttered:
''Reck'n e ent comm back! Dis yere
hunt dun gone up. Da note cum frum
q gal, sho' huff"
CHAPTER VII.
!TANGLING THE SKEIN.
The musicale had broken up early,
and the GilrnOr GRAY mansion was