The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1894-05-23

81 don't know yet whether I am or
not" replied Kenton. SIN a Virgin
ian and in the Confederate army, and
whether we are rebels or patriots is a
question I haven't settled. Keep to the
left:
"And you may be the very rebel scout
we were hoping to %capture!"
"You are pretty near right about
that. Keep right on-I'm coming! Now
halt and keep your hands still up'
"What are you going to do with me:"
asked the man as he was disarmed and
permitted to face about.
GLOW far is it to the nearest Confed-
crate outpost?"
"About two miles down this road"
"How many videttes between us and
the post::"
"Three or four. You are not going
to kill me out here in cold blood?"
you may rest easy on that score"
replied Kenton. "a year hence wal
will mean devastation, destruction,
murder and assassination, but mems
hearts are not brutalized yet. l must
reach the Confederate outpost, but l
can't do it by the road"
81 don't think you could fool all the
others as you did me-" said the cavalry
man, with a sickly smile.
1.-The question is what to do with you?
If I set you at liberty, you'll raise an
ALARM"
"Guess I would-in fact, I know l
would"
"And 1 have nothing to tie you up
with until I car get safely away"
"Tbat's 80. You remind me of the
chap who caught the bear and dasn't
let CO."
81 must take you along with me to
the Confederate outpost. We shall cut
across the fields and woods to reach it.
You go ahead, and I will follow. 1t is
needless
"I'm no FOOL" bluntly interrupted
the Federal. when I'm down and the
other Teller has got his thumbs in my
eye and my nose in his jaws, I know
enough to cave. You won't have to
shoot me, and I want to ask a favor of
you"
"Well?"
Don't walk me in a prisoner"
cru see about that. Let's go on"
They struck through the woods, cross
ed an old field, skirted a meadow and
entered another piece Of woods. AS they
were traversing this they came upon a
negro cutting 6rewocd. and he informed
them that the Confederate outpost was
only 90 rods below them on the high
way.
Sat this stage of the game M pris-
oner more or less is of no earthly cen
sequence" said Kenton as he looked at
the cavalryman. "I'm going to let you
return"
And I've concluded to be taken pris-
oner and sent to Richmond, replied the
man.
"For what r~eason?'
"Plain as a pumpkin on a gatepost.
If I 80 back without my arms, what
can I say. I'd just have to admit that
a Johnny reb came along and played
me for a sucker and got the best of me.
That would mean 1idicule and disgrace
forever. If I don't 60 back until ez-
changed as a prisoner, I'll be all righk.
I'll sort o. give out that ] was tackled
by about six of you, you know
81 am sorry that I was obliged to de-
ceive you to save myself" said Kenton
after a moment Of thought, land there
is no need to disgrace you. Here are
your weapons, and you are free to re-
turn to your post. The war has not fair
~ begun yet. There will be hate and
bitterness and rancor after awhile, and
there will be few opportunities to extend
courtesies."
"Say, Johnny, that's a square dealt"
joyfully exclaimed the Federal as he
received his weapons, land I want to
shake hands with you! Put it there!
Can't tell but what we may meet again
before this row is over, and If we do
hope it'll come my way to do the talr
thing. So long to you!"
Kenton watched him out Of sight and
then walked down to the highway to
find himself at the post of a vidette. He
was directed back to the reserve, his
pass examined, and he was then within
the Confederate lines and ready to push
on to Manassas and Jackson's head
quarters. When his information had
been laid before the stern faced man,
whose title of professor" had been
changed to that of general within a
few brief months, he quietly said:
"You have done excellently. My
command is ordered into the valley. l
shall have further need of your services
in this line, but you may return to your
company at present"
CHAPTER x.
No part of the south witnessed so
much of the wreck anu misery of wal
as the Shenandoah valley. Its high
ways, fields and forests, its houses, barns