Waterbury evening Democrat., 1895-01-15
CHAPTER II.


 WAR OF WITS.
 Corporal Ratigan rode gallantly be- side Miss Bags, the two keeping up constant picket firing, which occasional ly warmed to the dignity of a skirmish. Miss Baggs was ill an excellent humor and the corporal quite delighted at the role he was playing. He pretended to watch her carefully whenever anything belonging to the army was passed on the road, while he was secretly forming his plans for getting far enough on the way to determine the proximity of the enemy He felt no suspicion as to Miss Baggs carrying information. Being on The flank of the army, she would not be likely to have much information to carry. The country people were con- stantly passing between the lines. and considering their narrowing excuses no one except with heart of stone could we'll prevent them.
 Whats in the box ye have with ye?" asked Ratigan, looking at square little box on the seat beside her. It had been covered with a shawl. which had fallen from over it, exposing it to view. ''Thet? Thct's philosophy machine. You see, my friend, Sal Glassick, she knows a heap O things. She's tryin ter beat some on 'em inter my pore noddle. Reckon she won't hev no easy time"
 What branch does she teach ye with that?'
 "Waal, you see, mOthcr, she sufferin with palsy, and this hyar box is a--waal. Sal, she calls it q gal-gal''-
 "Galvanic battery?"
 "Thct's it. You hit it right thar. A r..lvanic battery. Wo uns Ire goin ter tl.at:"
 Sho directed his attention from the bt, to a cloud of smoke hanging over thA gaps i'll the hills far to the west. Tney were crossing q mountain spur and could sec it quito plainly.
 "Thero's foiGhtin goin on there, re- marked tho corporal
 And you uns air Gittin licked" ob- served the rebellious Miss Bags.
 "How dye know that?" asked Rati- gan, surprised that she should know anything about it.
 "Oh, I reckon!'
 ''It's a quare thing-the reckonin ot gurrels. '
 "Waal, you see, women hain t got the big heads men hcv. They can't reason things out. They hev ter jump at em .nebbe, like ants. Ants is powerful small, but they'ro most times right when they reckon"
 Ratigan made no reply. He was thinking that Miss Baggs did not appear to be so plain n parsonage as he at first thought her. He looked at her hands, incased in coarse gloves, and noticed that they were small for ''poor white trash. .''
 Her attire was very cheap, and her cowhide shoes did not betoken refine. ment, but somehow he began to gather a notion that Miss Baggs was not SC dreadfully common as she appeared. The corporal came of an excellent fam. fly in his native land, and under ordi' Eary circumstances could detect refine. ment. He looked for Miss Baggs to use some expression beyond the ken of 6 "poor white'' girl, but she did not. Sc he dismissed the matter from his mind and began to wonder what excuse ht could make to go on with her under flag of truce when she should pass the Union pickets.
 "We uns air goin slow enough tel worrit a snail" remarked Miss Baggs. And why should we be goin faster?'
 "Whar you steal thet critter?'' sht asked, instead of replying, looking side wise at the corporaPs mount. Its likely huff fo' Tennessee blood.
 "Oh! That's United States. Don't ye see the U. s. branded on him?" i "Can he trot?" "ae can beat anything in the bri gade.
 "D'you think he can trot with thi hyar critter O mine"
 Ratigan looked at her rawboned brut, and burst into laugh.
 "Waal, now, you needn't take on so Reckon cd give you brush eff yoI was minded
 "All right, me dear. Here's straigh bit of road
 "Fo' what stakes?"
 "A $5 greenback. v l "Agin Confederate money?'
 With pleasure.
 The corporal drew forth 0 crisp $ bill And Miss Baggs put the thum and finger of one hand in the palm o the other under her glove and drev out a Confederate shinplaster.
 "Who holds the stakes?" asked tn corporal gleefully.
 "You uns."
 'Divil a bit. The lady shall hol 'em.''
 She took the bill he handed her an gave the lines 8 jerk with "Git alon tharl Remember, it's trottin race" 7"
 Ratigan was at disadvantage fror the first He did not dare to use hi spurs lest his horse should break from trot. Miss Baggs' animal began to reac his lank legs out, triangulating in numbering fashion that put him owe the ground at no inoonsiderable speed The corporal did his best and kept pac pretty well.
 Reckon my Bob Lee kin knock tn stufin outen your critter. Mir. Sojer Git up, Bob' With that Bob increased the lengt of his triangulations, increasing thei frequency at the same time. The resul was that he carried the old buggy wit Betsy Baggs in 1t right away from tn