Waterbury evening Democrat., 1894-04-12
n, if you think two might do better than


 | have been detailed
 As Kenton left headquarters he fel that something was wrong. Just wha it was he could not determine, but i | seemed as if there were mistrust anC suspicion. He had been thoroughly loyal in making his previous observa tions and reports, but an enemy was al work to discredit him. He was fully satisfied of this as he left camp on his scout. After reporting to Captain Wyle. who treated him with strict military etiquette, he went to his tent to make few preparations. He had left it and was making his way out of camp when he was overhauled by Steve Brayton, who said:
 "The gineral is sendin yo' off on an other scout? Yo' think yo' ar goi1 alone, but yo' hain't. I've follered along to tell yo' that the captain has put Reube Parker on yo'r track. Yo' know Reube? He hain t bin abusin yo' with his mouth as much as some others, but he's down on yo' and playin into the hands of the captain. l tell yo' to look out fur hin!"
 
 started to retrace his steps.
 "No, yo' don't" said Steve as he barred the way. II fust took to yo' on account of yo'r sense, and hope you won t lose it HOW. Thar's game bei1l played, and yo' wanter come out on top!'
 "Is it possible that after what has passed they still continue to look upon me as t1aitor?' demanded Kenton in a voice broken with emotion.
 They do, but it's fur an object, yo' see, " replied Steve. Its all on ac- count of the gal. If thar was no gal, yo'd be the first lieutenant or mebbe captain of the company today. If thar was a gal and no war, yo' and Wyle would hev fit duel over her befo' this. One would hev challenged t'other'
 But, but stammered Kenton, boiling over to say something and yet not wishing to drag Marian Percy's name into the case.
 Its jest this way" interrupted Steve: "Yo' un's got the inside track, and thar's but one way to keep it-play to win. Beat the captain at his own game. GO right along about yo'r biz ness, but keep an eye out fur Reube. He's put on yo'r track to sell yo' out, and he'll do his purtiest to please tho captain.
 It was true that Banks was moving up the valley. He had an army five times as strong as Jackson's, and he meant to annihilate the latter before re-enforcements could reach him. Ken ton had set out in good time. It takes an hour to move regiment of men as- signed to a certain place on a march. It takes three hours for a brigade to march and countermarch and file out of its camp onto the highway. Divisions ordered to move at o'clock a. m. are halting and lingering at noon. An army of 0,000 men with its artillery, bag gage trains, ambulances, camp follow CTS and beef cattle is a gigantic sloth. It must open its eyes. It must wink and blink and nap again. It must stretch and yawn and complain. It is as if huge tortoise was trying to work loose from its shell.
 Banks was getting ready for his move. Every report which Kenton received as he neared the front went to assure him of the fact He was on foot, lodging from forest to forest and from field to field and betraying himself only to a few whom he knew could be trusted. After the first day out he became satis- fled that he was being dogged by Reube Parker. The latter must also have been provided with a pass to take him through all Confederate lines, but though he hung to Kenton's trail he did not betray his presence except by accident. Everywhere along Banks front were evidences that forward move was on the tapis, and before Ken ton work was finished he had secured a pretty fair estimate of the Federal strength. Banks knew that Confederate scouts and spies would be seeking in formation, and he was guarding against them as much as possible by covering his front with scouting parties of cav airy.
 Just before sundown on the second day of his scouting along the front Ken ton came very near crossing a highway up which d Federal scouting party were quietly riding in hopes to come upon game of some sort. The rattle of a troopers saber put him on his guard, and he had just tune to sink down in the bushes to escape observation. Not