Evening star., 1898-02-19

his chest was very sore, and the laugh
ended In groan.
Don't try to laugh. and don't talk" said
the surgeon in professional tone. You
are out OF danger now, and you ought to
be forever grateful to your Eurse."
You mean old Aunt Candace?" sug-
gested jack, with dry humor. 9=F TH'T7
Or. Pruden stared at his patient with
jarvis he said, in a tone of rebuke. II
mean Miss Fitzpatrick, of course. Go to
sleep now; your head is still in a fighty
room into the library again. Soon he was
summoned to the dining room, where con-
trary to his expectations, he found Mrs
Fitzpatrick presiding at the table. Nat
urally, they fell into a conversation about
the war, but both restrained their preju-
dices. and the talk turned out to be SO
pleasant-though there were critical mo-
ments that had to be bridged over with si-
lence-that DR.. Pruden thought he had
never seen more charming or more gra-
cious hostess.
At early dawn the next morning O. Hallo-
ren. piioted by Plato, went into Jacks
room, took his captains coat from the back
of the chair where he had placed it, folded
1t up neatly and tucked it under his water
proof. Jack stirred uneasily and then
awoke. Plato and the Irishman looked like
rocking chair before the fireplace. snored
as gently as she could under the circum-
stances.
What Is the matter?' asked Jack He
felt so much better that he wanted to sit
up IN bed, but found that his shoulder was
too sore.
"'Tis but whim of mine for to come an
kiss me hand to ye, me by. The nagur
here says that a squad av Johnnies went
past this half hour. So OF says to a man
OF know, OHalioran. We'll while away the
tonne with canter across the country
The nagur knows the way, me by, an
twill take i'm not moren a hour fer to put
me betwixt the trottin' Johnnies an the
stragglers."
What about the other fellow-this doc
tori" asked Jack
"Oi misdoubt but he'll board along wild
ye," remarked the big Irishman with q
broad grin. Twill be a nate way fer to
pay i'm his fay. 1 dunno, Molly, but OF
hould the taste av his phaysic in me
goozle down to this blisstd day an hour!'
he patted Jack anectionately on the head
and with God bless you, me b'yer' went
out of the room, followed by Plato.
Outside the house Plato turned to the big
1rishman. Boss. you gwine ter walk?"
An lade me horse? 'Tis not in me homes
to do that same
'You-you-you sholy amt gwine ter take
Marse 'Lisha Perryman's saddle horse, is
you. boss?"
Not in the laste ye beggar. Ills the
horse that will be takin' me-
We'll, de Lawd knows l don't want ter
be nowhars 'roun' in deze diggin's when
Marse 'Lisha fin out dat horse been took
an tooken."
Plato said nothing more, but he shook
his head significantly many times while he
was helping the big Irishman saddle Mr.
Perryman's favorite horse. In short
time they were on their way. and, by tray
cling along the plantation byways-paths
known to the negroes and to the cattle
O'Halloran soon came up with the rear
guard Of the Goth Army Corps.
Meanwhile, after breakfast, Surgeon Pru.
den dressed Jacks wound again and then
began to make his preparations to retoin
the army. He called for the big Irishman
that OHalloran had left before sunrise
Nevertheless. he went on with his prepara-
tions and was ready to take his depa rture
waiting only for Mrs. Fitzpatrick to come
into the library where he stood with Flora
to tell them farewell together, when he
heard the clatter of hoofs on the grayeled
avenue. Looking from the window he saw
ing toward the house. At their head rpde
man in citizens clothes-a man of middle
age, but with fierce military air. Flora
saw them at the same moment and the
color left her cheek. She knew the man ~
citizens clothes for Mr. Peruvian thetr
neighbor. who had great reputation in
that section for ferocity Mr. Perryman
had missed his horse and had been told nv
some of his negroes that the man who had
taken him had stopped over night at the
Fitzpatrick place. He was a widower who
had been casting fond eyes on Flora for
some time, and now thought to render he,
an important service and give her cause
presence of the Yankee soldier, IL he wers
still In possession of the hounA m - -