The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1895-06-06
CHAPTER XIV.


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CHAPTER XIV.
TRIED.
When Corporal Ratigan left Miss
Baggs with the general, to whom he
had unwillingly conducted her, he was
in such condition Of mind that he for
got all about his horse and started to
walk toward his camp. When cavalry
man shows such evidence Of absence of
mind, it is a sure sign that he is in
condition bordering on insanity. Rati-
gan walked some distance before it &C.
CURED to him that he was pursuing an
unusual means of locomotion; then he
turned back to get his horse. When he
arrived at the place from which he had
departed, Miss Baggs had gone. Mount
ing, he rode to his own camp, and upon
reaching there he first went directly to
his tent; then, stunning his comrades,
stole away to wood and threw himself
on his face in the shade of large tree
and gave himself up to grief.
20 Lord, o Lord" he moaned, eff
they'd organized corps of lovely women
to be attached to each division of the
army and the enemy, there'd be no more
fightin for either cause. Each would
fight the other about the women and the
cause would hev to take care Of itself. I"
Corporal Ratigan!''
The corporal put his hands to his ears
and groaned.
Corporal Ratigan, say"
Still the corporal would not hear. He.
knew that some one was approaching,
for whether he would or not he could
not help hearing his name called, each
time more distinctly. Presently SOL
der stood looking down at him.
Corporal Ratigan," he said, Eyer
wanted at the headquarters of Colonel
Maynard, commanding the -th bri-
gade.
whats that for?'' asked the cor
poral without changing his position.
Witness for court martial"
Why will people ask questions ex-
planatory of disagreeable events or mis-
fortunes. TIA answers to which they
know we'll enough already? And why,
when the information comes, will they
deny its truth?
IF ye say that again, Conover, Oi'll
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
aDprOached his tOrmentOr
Don't ask me, Conover, me boy"
''Why, Rats, yer lookin as if ye were
goin to be tried yerself.
''Tried? Dim to suffer on the rack
az one of me ancestors did once in the
old Tower in Lunnon."
Flows that?"
"Oh, don't ask me, don't ask me. Oh
can niver endure this trial. Oil dol,
Oill dol"
"Come, brace yerself, me boy. Yer
in no condition to be goin before a
court What is it all anyway"
"What is it all? A woman to be tried
for her life. And I caught her. Ohm
to bear witness against her. o God,
if they'd let me off by tyin me up by
the thumbs, buckin and gaggin, car
ryin log on me shoulders, drummed
out of camp with shaved head and feath-
ers behind me ears. o Lord, o Lord,
DILL dol, Oi'll doi''
The corporal mounted his horse and
was soon jogging along at snail's pace
toward Colonel Maynard's headquar-
tiers. There he was directed to where
the court was sitting.
Corporal Ratigan, you're late, said
the president sternly.
| The corporal saluted, but said moth
ing. He was directed to wait till some
preliminaries had been disposed of, and
he took position in corner. 1t needed
all the strength of which he was pos
sessed to maintain himself on his legs,
and he tried to keep his eyes from look
ing about the courtroom. He feared
that if they rested on the prisoner, even
for moment, he would sink down on
the floor, heap Of blue uniform and
boots. Nevertheless the eyes will not al
ways be controlled. Despite his efforts.
Ratigan's gave involuntary glances here
and there until suddenly they rested
on the object they were expected to
avoid, sitting opposite, surrounded by
guards, pale, but self possessed, and
pair of glorious eyes looking at him
with such sympathy and encouragement
that the poor man felt as if the win
dows of heaven had been opened and an
angel was looking out to give him
strength. Once his eyes were riveted on
hers there was no getting them away
until he was suddenly aroused by a
voice.
Corporal Ratigan"
Mechanically he staggered to place
designated as witness stand, and hold.
ing on to the back of a chair steadled
himself to give his testimony.
Estate how you first saw the prisoner
tampering with the telegraph line on
yesterday morning, Sept. -" said the
Judge advocate, an officer very tall, very
slender and very serious looking.
"Oi didn't see her at all. "
| 'What?''
''It was too dark to see anything"