The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-01-17


they can bring what influence they may
DO able to save me-
"It will avail nothing"
"Try il. Fate. luck. Providence works
strangely at times. Let US push on and
leave the rest to higher power.
The colonel looked at his watch. "It
is now half past o. We are but few
miles from tho Confederate lines. Your
brother isl
I'm -----'s cavalry division and on
the Confederate right. heard from
him only few days ago. He was then
ut Ringold.
That is not far from here"
There may be time. she said hope
fully
Some one must steal through the
lines Ii rot shot, he may accomplish
something. In half al hour shall be-
"You?''
Eyes. I! I will not trust this only
thread on which your life hangs to any
one else, though l confess. he added
gloomily, II have TO confidence In it, "
mo, colonel. cannot accept this
from you. You are the commander here
and are all that stands between me and
death. Yon must remain here and send
messenger
''Who would dare intrust with such
message?"
''Send for the man who captured me,
Corporal Ratigan. Let him bear the
message"
"He?'
The colonel looked at her a moment,
as IL to question why this man should
be SO trusted, but her eyes were lower
ed. He knew there was a secret which
it did not become him to pry into
II will send him. il he can be found
at once. II not. Twill 60 myself. And il
the mission falls
Tho words were not finished, for he
well knew how precious time was, aud
turning from the room and the house
strobe rapidly toward his tent
He had gone but dozen PAGES before
he heard some one call.
"Colonelr"
He did not hear. The call was re.
peated.
"Colonel"
A man approached him. whom in tho
darkness he did not recognize.
Is there no hope colonel?" the man
asked in choked voice.
"Who are you?"
''The man who captured her." point
ing TO the house. "Oi'll never draw sa-
Der again
Corporal Ratigan?"
"The same. I"
"This is fortunate. Come with ne. "
The two started together to tbickot
wherein they would neither be observed
nor heard
"Oi'm hangin round, yc see colonel
Dim away from camp without leave. Oi
hope they'll shoot mo for deserter."
Colonel Maynard did not speak till
they reached the thicket. Then, turn
ing and facing Ratigan, he said ear
nestly:
'You would like to save her, would
ypu noti''
God knows would"
"Then goto the picket line and gas
through unobserved If possible GO to
Ringold ard find Confederate officer
Cameron Fits Hugh, if he is there
Tell him that his sister is condemned to
be shot at sunrise tomorrow morning.
Say that Coloncl Mark Maynard sends
him this information. that he may use
whatever influence he possesses--takc
any measures he may consider honor
able---te save her Tell him. the colo
mel lowered his voice. THAT I offered
to attempt to do SO, taking ruin upon
myself, but she would not accept the
sacrifice. 60; there is no time to lose.
When the sun rises, it will be too late. ;"
"Oh, colonel" cried the man in
agony, "there is so little time''
go! 1t is not yet 10 o'clock. We
have six hours. y
The corporal was moving away when
the colonel stopped him.
"You will need the countersign.
Ratigan returned, and tho colonel
whispered it in his ear. "Carnifax
Ferry