The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1893-03-16


After it's perusal Mrs. Fain determined
to set out ne next day. taking with her
her daughter and the maid Alice Daniel
would drive them.
"You shall go with us. said Laura to
Lark. ''Tliis is fortunate. In our com
lany you will be far safer than trying
to make y-ur. way alone"
It occurred to Mark that since he was
being hunted as half starved creature
i'll the disguise of a negro girl he would
he less liable to suspicion AS well
dressed man travelling with Il party Of
southern ladies than in any other char
acter. At any rate he took this view of
it, and when Mrs. Fain announced her
intention to go he offered to escort the
party to the Union lines.
The offec was accepted, and prepara-
tions were made to leave the next morn
ing. Mrs. Fain wrote note to the officer
in command at Chattanooga Ito send with
the letter she had received from her h1ls-
band for his perusaD asking for pass
for herself, her daughter and two serv-
ants. Mark took the missives and went
out to find Daniel, who had just re-
turned from Chattanooga.
"Well, Daniel?'
81 ben dar."
"What did you learn:''
81 hearn cherry one talken bout soiers
goen to de norf, and dey sayd day was
goen to Knoxville. Dey was marchen n
marchen all de same way. I follered n
dey brung up at de depot, n 1 sor one
train after anudder go out full O sojers
inside and hangen on to de platform and
on de roofs"
elbow many trains did you see go out:'
"'Bout forty hundred"
s'Daniel," said Mark, smiling at the
figures, you're smart as a whip. But
you'll have to go right back to Chatta-
, nooga, and take this note to the COM
manding officer with this letter from
your sick master to show him. The note
is a request for a pass for the party to
the Union lines. Keep your wits about
you, and if he is an easy going sort Of
man, you might try to get him to put in
three servants instead of two. At any
rate try to ring Inc in if you can. Do
you understands
'Reckon do, sah.''
"Can you read:''
IA leetle. Missie Laura learned me-"
"Well, read the pass he may give you
and ask him to fix it so that it will in
clude me as servant. But you must use
your judgment"
Daniel drove again to Chattanooga.
Mark waited anxiously for his return.
Indeed so impatient was he that he
thought the negro had been gone twice
as long as he had when he saw him drive
into the yard. He at once went out to
the barn to meet him.
s'Any luck?" he asked anxiously.
Il got de pass for misses and de res,
but didn't get what yo' wanted. got
paper hyar. Mebbe it'll do"
Mark took the paper. It was a pass
for Thomas Green and wife from Chat
| tanooga to the Union lines.
Chow did you get this" asked Mark,
surprised.
Il hab to wait while folks was getten
passes. De officer go out to de udder
room fur a moment. Dis was layen on
de desk n ! TUX hit up and brung hit
away"
"Well," said Mark, 'sit's not exactly
what want, but ingenuity will have to
help me through. You're a trump,
Daniel"
! In the morning when all was ready
for the departure two vehicles were
brought around to the door, the one, a
two horse carriage, the other Laura's
phaeton, drawn by her pony. Mrs. Fain
entered the former with Alice, Daniel
being in the drivers seat Laura and
Mark got into the phaeton.
| Mark took the lead, designing to make
for Battle Creek. The distance was not
twenty miles, and he knew that they
could make it in few hours. It was a
bold game he was playing, but the
| proximity of the halter was wearing on
him, and he desired to get rid of sus-
pense. Besides his presence, connected
with his critical situation, was wearing
on Laura. He therefore felt an exhil-
| arating pleasure when they drove out of
the gate and trotted along the pike
westward. Hope cheered him.
All went well during the first ten or
| twelve miles, when Mark received a
piece of information which seriously in
terfered with his plan. Meeting a
courier riding toward Chattanooga,
who looked as if he might be the bearer
OF some important news, Mark hailed
him and asked If he had anything from
| the front.
1.-The Yankees air getten moth right
smart, the man replied. Reckon tn
| air left Battle Creek
Mark argued that if this were true
there would be confusion on that route.
and it would be better to take another.
Thew were not far. from the road laaain0
Fifth page.