The Delta independent., 1896-03-04


we have of obtaining information"
Miss Endicott, in spite Of her trepi-
dation, appeared to understand the sit
uation, and when Calicot asked her il
she could put herself en- rapport with
Mrs. Hendricks, she answered prompt
ly: Eyes. 1t requires no effort what
o moment as if collecting horself and
then said: "She is packing her trunk
she is attired in a riding habit; there
are four men with her; they look as if
they had been travelling; now she goes
to the instrument; she is reading its
message to the men. I cannot hear
what she says. They are all listening
to her eagerly. They are disputing;
the man who was with her before
writes something and reads it to them:
the woman shakes her head; she does
not approve of it. Yes, can read it.
we start at three o'clock. Miss Frank
lin must come back with Mrs. H."
Here Miss Laport made an ejacula-
tion. 81 am lost" she said. "They
are coming to take me-"
Lieut.. Stocking ground his teeth in
an impulse of helpless indignation.
Calicot held his hand up deprecat-
ingly; Miss Endicott went on: "She
has gone to the telegraph; the man is
waiting for her with paper and pen
Gil in his hand"
"The man." Calicot explained to
Stocking, sis Fenning. He will write
down the dispatch that comes from
Hendricks Listen"
''She is speaking" said Miss Endi-
colt. s'He is writing; they are all
listening"
Eyes, yes" said calicot, 'you must
read the writing"
Don't move until you get orders
from me. Bloody work here before
morning"
what does that meana" asked
Stocking.
SIT is Hendricks dispatch. He does
not want them to start for the Laran
until he has driven off the forces that
are here. 1t is plain enough. We Mt
least have gained time by the arrange
ment and must profit by it."
"How are we to profit by it?" asked
Stocking.
Calicot held up his hand as q warn
ing not to interrupt Miss Endicott.
"They are gone" said that young
"Thcy have gone," said Calicot, ''to
the telegraph station"
But, oh dear" exclaimed Miss La
port, "how is all this to our advan-
tagc?"
"Yes," said Stocking. That's what
we want you tell u.s."
Calicot addressed himself to Miss
Laport.
L.
flushed with victory, self-confidence,
and more likely to grant any request
you make of him. If your father were
to ask him now to let him take you
away, pending these dreadful scenes,
he would probably consent. l believe
he would let the lieutenant go with
him if he gave his word to return"
(Which l never would do" said
Stocking.
"Yes, you would" said Calicot, "if
Miss Franklin and I insisted upon it,
and it were to our advantage. He has an
idea that your interest in Miss Frank
lin will close your mouth; that you can
not betray him without betraying her
father-besides, 1 will remain us a hos
tage for you. When we have got the
women out, the rest is easy, and l will
disclose it to you when you come back.
The moment the issue of the fight is
decided, you must take the women
out ut the bayou entrance and get
them across the Mississippi or to Mem
phis. Bear in mind that Hendricks is
making ready TO abandon this place
and take the field openly. He cares
less for exposure now that his plans
are completed, and you are encum-
branccs."
Neither Stocking or Miss Laport
evinced any enthusiasm at this project,
but they yielded to Calicots urgency
and, for want Of any other plan, final
ly agreed to do as he bade them.
1t was nearly morning before the
noise of preparation and departure
subsidized, but Calicot felt sure that,
whatever the issue overhead, lien
bricks would be at his telegraph wire
and that was the only hope of obtain
ing definite information.
What is now known as the battle Of
Laran began just before dnybrcak.
Lieut.. Saxton, commanding the two
companies Of the Sixth regiment,
United States infantry, was in camp
on the hill, where there were still
bloody evidences Of Gen. Luscomb's
unfortunate bivouac. The four guns
of Battery A were on the crest with
hastily-thrown-up abbatis, and the
two companies Of cavalry, amount
ing to hundred and fifty men, were
in the woods covering o radius of sew
eral miles as pickets and scouts. Lieut..
Saxton had taken every military pre-
caution against surprise and had
planted himself as securely Us possible
for defense, but IL was not conceivable
to him that force Of four hundred
men would rise out Of the ground in
the dark under his very nose, and Hen
bricks succeeded in getting that force
through the portal quietly and dispos-
ing them in solid order under the pro-