The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-01-21

Perhaps / could defeat you and force
you to recross the creek. While you
were doing so would, knock you to
pieces. II You succeeded in crossing
you would find my troops In your rear
between you and Chattanooga. "
Jakey neither understood nor even
heard word his opponent said. but he
Looked as seriously studious over the
problem as IL he Were the general COM
manding.
"Are you whipped, general?" asked
Maynard.
"Waal, mebbe eff I air whipped l
don't know nothin bout it, N I'll jest
go on fightin till ] make you uns think
thet you uns air whipped" y
Like Grant at Pittsburg Landing"
The reference was lost on Jakey, but
1t led him to think that he had made a
point. He looked very wise and said
nothing. He was thinking on line
which he feared might be of some prac-
tical Importance to bis individual self.
He was not certain but that it would be
necessary for him to make the connect
ing link in person between his friend
and his friends wife. So he turned the
conversation ON lines OF retreat.
"Now. supposin, he said, 'just sup
posin l war busted right hyar. how'd
git away?"
THAT would depend ON the condition
of things If were the general oppos-
ing you, you'd never get away safely.
I'd never stop till had driven you into
the Tennessee river. "
How could get thar from hyarY"
This part Of your army where we
are now could only fall back on Ross
Vile. There the tanks would be better
protected for q stand. You could go
from Rossville to Chattanooga by this
road" (pointing to it on the map). IF
you should be successful in keeping
your enemy far enough from you and
long enough, you might cross the river
there and save your army. You might
perhaps stay there if not too reduced in
numbers and if you could keep your
line of supply open.
''This air tn bridge I'd cross tn
creek on, reckon, pointing to Reeds
bridge on the. map
That's the nearest from where we
are"
"Waal, general" said Jakey in
tone TO indicate that the discussion OF
the campaign was ended, 'ef you uns
bust me, I'll retreat thet away"
Nothing more was said about the i'm
aginary campaign by either. Maynard's
eye was fixed on his water map, and he
was lost in study. Jakey let him alone
till he saw that he was drifting back to
Ills trouble Then he endeavored to lead
him into war again At last, seizing a
favorable opportunity, the boy suggest
ed the propriety of sending some mes
sage to his wife.
thine enough for that after the
fight" was all Maynard would say.
Jakey was discouraged. He knew that
ii his friend lived after the fight it
would not be his own fault.
Jakey considered himself bound in
honor to report to Mrs. Maynard her
husbands condition, not only oil ac-
count Of his promise made her on the
evening of his departure for the front,
but because he had vague unformu-
lated notion that there are certain ext
gencies where only women can "do
somep'n," and he knew that "the gen.
eral' required his wife's attention.
Mounting Tom, he set Off toward Ross
vile, remembering by the water map
that the right hand road led there
1t was about / ! o'clock at night when
he reached Rossville. He determined
to rest there few hours, and making
for cavalry camp got on the soft
side" of sergeant and turned in with
his natural associates, the soldiers. Ja-
key asked the guard to walzen him at 2
o'clock, at which time, after bite fur.
nished by his friend, the sergeant, and
a feed for Tom, he set off toward Chat
tanooga. AT daylight he crossed the
Tennessee river and was soon on his
way across tho neck of Moccasin point
toward his destination.
As Jakay approached the plantation
it occurred to him for the first time that
the information he bore was not pleas
amt for him. 10 give to any one, espe-
cially woman, and that woman ''the
generals" wife.
Reckon she uns'll be skeered when
she secs me-, he muttered to himself
81 don like this business nohow. Won
der didn't think o. this befo'. Wish
they wor some un ter tell her. Mebbe
I'll see Souri, first. IF do, I'll let her
tell.
But Jakey was not so lucky. He
reached the plantation just before break
fast time, and rs Laura Maynard cast
glance from her chamber window she
saw him ride up to the veranda. She
remembered we'll the promise she had
extracted from Jskey and knew in
moment that he was the bearer of some
bad news. Putting her hand on her
heart to stop it's humping, she ran
down stairs and out on to the veranda.
The boy dismounted and came up the
steps.
"Oh, Jakey, what is it?"
Now, Jakey had his own methods Of
carrying his points, and whether or no