The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1895-03-14
CHAPTER XIV.

TRIED.
When Corporal Ratigan left Miss
Baggs with tho general. to whom he
had unwillingly conducted her, no was
in such condition Of mind that he for.
got oil about his horae and started to
walk toward his Damp. When cavalry
man shows suoh evidence Of absence Of
mind, it is sure sign thai ho is in q
condition bordering on insanity. Rati.
gan walked some distance before 1t 90.
ourred to him that he was pursuing an
unusual means Of locomotion; thon he
turned back to get his horse. When he
arrived at the place from which ho had
departed, Miss Baggs had gone. Mount
ing, he rode to his own camp, and upon
reaching there ho first went directly to
his tent; then, stunning his comrades,
stolo away to wood and threw himself
Oh his face in the shade Of largo tree
and gave himself up to grief.
80 Lord, O Lord" he moaned, "if
they'd organized corps Of lovely women
to bo attached to each division Of tho
army and tho enemy, there'd bo no moro
5ightln for either cause. Each would
fight the othor about the women and tho
cause would hev to tako care Of ITSELF"
Corporal Ratigan''
The corporal put his hands to his ears
and groaned.
Corporal Ratigan. say
Still the corporal would not hoar. He
knew that some one was approaching,
for whether he would Or not he could
not help hearing his name oalled, each
time moro distinctly. Presently SOL
dier stood looking down at him.
Corporal Ratigan, " he said, 'yor
wanted at tho headquarters Of Colonel
Maynard, commanding tho It'll bri-
gade.'
"What's that for7" asked tho COR
poral without changing his position.
WITNESS for court martial"
Why will people ask questions OK
planatory Of disagreeable events or mis-
fortunes, tho answers to which thoy
know we'll enough alreadyp And why,
when tho information comes, will they
deny its truth?
''If ye say that again, Conover, Oil
break every bone in yer body"
whats the mather wild ye, COR
poral?"
Ratigan by this time had got up from
the ground, where he was lying, and
approached his tormentor.
Don't ask me, Conover, mo boy"
"Why, Rats, yer lookin as if yo were
goin to be tried yersolf"
'Tried2 Oi'm to suffer on tho rack
as one Of mo ancestors did once in the
old Tower in Lunnon.
Flows that?''
ooh, don't ask mo. don't ask mo. Oh
can piver endure this trial. Oil dol,
| Oi'll dol"
Como, brace yerself, mo boy. Yor
in no condition to be goin boforo n
court. What is it all anyway"
"What is it all2 A woman to be tried
for her lifo. And caught her. Oi'm
to bear witness against her. o God,
If they'd let me OFF by tyin mo up by
the thumbs, buokin and gaggin, car
ryin log OH me shoulders, drummed
out Of camp with shaved head and feath-
ers behind me ears. O Lord, o Lord.
Oil dol, Oi'll doll"
The corporal mounted his horse and
was soon jogging along at snail 8 pace
toward Colonel Maynards hoadquar-
tors. There ho was directed to where
tho court was sitting.
Corporal Ratigan, you re late, i" said
tho president sternly.
Tho corporal saluted, but said moth
ing. He was directed to wait till some
proliminarics had been disposed Of, and
he took position in corner. 1t needed
all tho strength of which he was pos.
sossed to maintain himself ON his logs,
and he tried to koop his oyos from look
ing about tho courtroom. He feared
that if thoy rostod on tho prisoner, even
for a momont, ho would sink down on
the floor, heap Of blue uniform and
boots. Nevertheless tho eyes will rot NJ
ways bo controlled. Despite his efforts,
Ratigan' 8 gave involuntary glances horo
and there until suddenly they rested
OH tho object they woro expected to
avoid, sitting opposite, surrounded by
guards, pale, but self possessed, and q
pair Of glorious eyes looking at him
with such sympathy and encouragement
that tho poor man felt as II tho Win
dows OF hcayon had boon opened and an
angel was looking out to givo him
strongth. Onco his eyes wore rivotcd on
hers thcro was no gotting thom away
until no was suddenly aroused by q
voice.
Corporal Ratiganl"
Mechanically ho staggered to plaoo
designated rs witness stand, and hold.
ing on to tho back of q chair steadiod
himself to give his testimony.
estate how you first saw tho prisoner
tampering with the telegraph limo on
yesterday morning, Sept. -" said tho
judge advocate, on officer very tall, very
slender and very serious looking.
"Oi didn't 500 her at ALL"
"What2"
ut was too dark to 500 anything"
"Woll, state what you did SEQ.
"I only thought saw something"
"Come, come" said tho president
sternly, eve have no time to waste.
Toll the story Of tho capture"
Thus commanded, tho corporal ,braced
himself to give the desired account.
ITO DR. CONTINUED