Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1896-11-05
The ramrod YVES bending, the line sway

I The ramrod was bending, the line sway
ing heavily in the current.
It's o'clock, Connor," said Alden,
keeping a wary eye on Craig.
That's all right" called Craig; the
times extended till yewr friend lands that
] there fish"
Pulls ike a porpoise, grunted Conner.
| I'll bet it busts my ramrod."
Does It pull?" grinned Craig.
Yes a dead weight
Don't it jerk kinder this way an that"
asked Craig, much interested.
Nav" said Conner; the bloody thing
jest pulls steady
Then it amt no red horse; it's cat
fish,
"Huhr" sneered Conner; don't I-know
a catfish? This amt no catfish, femme
tell yer!"
Then it's a log" laughed Alden.
"By gum! Here it comes" painted Con-
nor; here, Alden, jest you ketch it with
my knife; hook the blade, blame ye!'
Alden cautiously descended the red
bank of mud, holding on to the roots and
branches. and bent over the water. He
hooked the big clasp knife like a scythe,
set the spring and leaned out over the
water.
"Noww muttered Conner.
An oily circle appeared upon the surface
Of the turbid watcr-another and another
A few bubbles arose and foated upon the
tide
Then something black appeared just be-
meath the bubbles and Alden hooked it
with his knife and dragged 1t shoreward.
1t was the sleeve of mans coax.
Conner dropped his r-mrod and CAPPED at
the thing. Allen would have loosed IL,
but the knife blade was tangled in the
sleeve.
He turned a sick face up to Conner.
pull It in" said the older man. Here,
give it to me, lad
When at last the silent visitor lay upon
the bank, they saw it was the body oil Il
Union cavalryman. Alden stared at the
dead face. fascinated; Conner mechanical
IN, counted the yellow chevrons upon the
blue sleeve. now soaked black. The mud
d,, wafer ran over the bake soil, spreading
out in dust-covered pools; 'the spurred
boots trickled slime After while Doth
men turned their heads and looked at
Craig. The southerner stood silent ana
grave. his battered cap in his hand. Ihey
eyed each other quietly for a monment
then. with a vague gesture, the southern
or walked back into his pit and presently
reappeared trailing his rifle
Conner had already begun to dig with
his bavonet. but he glanced up sharply at
t,o rido in Craig's hands. Then he looked
soarcbingly into the eyes of The southern
er Presently he bent his head and quietly
continued digging
If was after sunset before he and Alden
finished the shallow grave. Craig watch
ing them in silence, his rifle between his
knees. When they were ready they rolled
The bodv into the hole and stood up.
craig also rose, raising his rifle to a
..,-osent." He held it there while the two
Union soldiers shoveled the earth into
the grave. Then Alden went back and
lifted the two rites from the pit, handed
Conner one. and waited.
Ready" growled Conner. "Aim"
Fire"
Three times the three shots rang out in
the wilderness. over the unknown grave
After a moment or two Alden nodded
q-ood-niebt to Craia across the river, and
walked slowly toward his rifle pit. Con-
nor shamblcd after him. As he turned to
lower himself into the pit he called across
the river: Goodnight Crains.'
Goodnight. Connor. said Craig.