The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1895-03-21
be able to save me-
cit will avail nothing"

"It will avail nothing"
'"Try it. Fate, luok, Providence works
strangely at times. Lot us push OH and
leave the rost to a higher powor.
The colonel looked at his watch. "It
is now half past 8. We arc but few
miles from tho Confederate lines. Your
brother is"--
"In --'s cavalry division and OH
tho Confederate right. I hoard from
him only few days ago. He was thon
at Ringold."
''That is not far from hore."
'"There may be time," sho said hope
fully.
"Somo ono must steal through tho
lines. If not shot, he may accomplish
something. In half Oh hour 1 shall be''-
"You?"
eyes, II will not trust this only
thread OH which your life hangs to any
ono else, though I Confess he added
gloomily, II have no confidence in it, :"
mo, colonel, I cannot accept this
from you. You are the commander horo
and arc all that stands between mo and
doath. You must remain hore and send
a messenger. -
"Who would dare intrust with such
n message?"
"Sond for tho man who captured mo,
Corporal Ratigan. Let him bear tho
message"
"He?"
The colonel looked at her moment,
as if to question why this man should
be SO trusted, but her eyes wore lower
cd. Ho knew thore was secret which
it did not become him to pry into.
II will send him, if ho can DO found
at once. If not, I will go myself. And if
tho mission fails'-
The words were not finished, for no
woll knew how precious time was, and
turning from the room and the house
strode rapidly toward his tont
Ho had gone but dozen paces before
he heard somo ono GALL
"Colonell"
Ho did not hear The call was re-
peated.
"Colonel!"
A man approached him, whom in the
darkness he did not recognize.
is there no hope, oolonel?" tho man
asked in choked voice.
"Who are you?"
"The man who captured her," point
ing to the house. "Oi'll mover draw sa-
ber again."
Corporal Ratigan?''
"The same. p"
This is fortunate. Come with mo. 1"
Tho two started together to thioket
wherein thoy would neither be observed
nor heard.
'Ol'm hangin round, yo see, colonel.
| O1'm away from camp without leayo. Oi
hope they'll shoot mo for desortor." {"
Colonel Maynard did not speak til
they reached tho thic1et Then, turn
ing and facing Ratigan, ho said car
nestly:
"You would like to save her, woul,
you not;"
"God knows would"
"Thon 90 to the picket limo and ge
through unobserved if possible Go tt
Ringold and find Confederate Officer
! Cameron Fitz Hugh, if no is there
Tell him that his sister is condemned tt
! DO shot at sunrise tomorrow morning
Say that Colonel Mark Maynard send.
him this information, that ho may use
whatevor influence he posscsses--tak(
any measures he may consider honor
able--to save her. Tell him." tho colo
mel lowered his voice, "that 1 offered
to attempt to do So taking ruin upon
nysolf, but she would not accept tho
sacrifice 60; there is no timo to lose
When the sun rises. it will be too late. /"
ooh, colonel" cried tho man IN
agony, "there is so littlo timel"
"Gol 1t is not yet 10 O'Clock. We
have six hours. -
The corporal was moving away when
tho colonel stopped him.
"You will need the countersign. "
Ratigan returned, and tho colonel
whispered it in his ear, "Carnifax
Ferry"