Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-02-12

ates some where in the neighborhood Of
Jonesboro, when Sherman was preparing
to swing loose from his base at Atlanta,
Jack Fitzpatrick, commanding a squad of
sharpshooters, was seriously wounded. 1t
was all his own fault, too. He was acting
outside his regular duties. Some excited
colonel called for a courier to send an IN
necessary message to some imaginary regi-
ment- fitzpatrick. seeing no courier at
hand, rode forward and offered his ser
vices
Mounted on his black mare he made it a
point to expose himself He couldn't help
1t fer the life of him. 1t was in his blood
so, instead of going to the rear, he gallopad
out between the lines. A big Irishman on
the federal side, whose name was OHalIo-
ran, leveled mis- rifle at tn, horseman. Then
he lifted his eyes from the sites and took
another look at the venturesome rider.
lis the young Johnny, or Oim a nay
gurr he exclaimed Then he drew a long
breath "Oi was in wan of tetchin' the
traygur"
But there were other marksmen farther
up the line who were not nice in such mat
ters- There was rafting fire of musket-
ry. Plato, kilpatrick's body servant saw
his young master reel in the saddle as the
reins fell loose from the hand that held
themI saw him reel again as the mare
tCrLed Of her own accord and brought her
rider whirling back to the point Of depar-
ture-whGre he fell fainting in the arms of
his own men.
Fitzpatrick had taken many chances be-
fore and escaped unscathed; but this time
bullet went tearing through his shoulder,
entering obliquely and going out at the
collar bone under his chin. He was
promptly carried to the rear by his men.
followed by Plato. leading the black mare.
surgeon dressed the wound hastily, re-
marking that it was pity the young man
couldn't be carried where he might get
the benefit of careful nursing.
Il kin kyar i'm rome. SUM- said Plato.
faint SO mighty fur ter whar my
young marster live at
How far asked the surgeon.
In de neighborhoods er forty mile, sub"
replied Plato.
Tue surgeon shook his head. HE can't
ride horseback. But he'll die If he's left
here"
Il wuz layin' off ter borry a buggy
some'rs." remarked Plato.
The surgeon considered the matter. well,
get it," he said. presently. land be quick
ABOUT 1t. I'll pad him up for travelling the
best 1 can It's one chance in ten thou
sand But he's young and strong, and the
one chance Is his
less than half an hour had returned with
a two-seated buggy.
That's the very thing" said the surgeon.
The rear seat was taken out, the cush-
ions of both seats were spread on the bot
tom. and on these hospital mattress and
some blankets We're spread. On these the
wounded man was placed. and then the
surgeon deity packed a dozen layers of
cotton batting under the shattered Shout
der. Altogether. Jack was made as COM
fort able badly wounded man could be
under the circumstances.
1T is new 10 o'clock said the surgeon,
looking at his watch you ought to have
him in his own bed by this afternoon
XIII the horse on level ground, but bring
it to life in the rough places. You know
what | mean"
..If he hurts that mare" Young Kill
patrick declared. with as much energy
he could command, 'I'n see him about 1t
when / get WELL
Il wish ter de Lord you could git up an
see me bout it now remarked Plato with
JUNCTION. "kaze dish yer filly is sho' got
ter pick up 'er foots an put EN- down agin
dis day eff she amt never done it befo'.-'
Whereupon he climbed back into the
buggy. looked around at his young master
10 see that everything was all right. and
thsn gave the mare the word. Though the
spirited animal had been broken to harness
by Plato himself, she had been under the
Saddle 50 long that this new position fret
ted her She was peevish as a woman
Plato said The harness chafed her the
shafts worried her and the rattle of the
buggy distEI bed her. She wobbled from
one side of the road to the other and went
about this unusual business as awkwardly
q q colt Finally Plato stopped her in the.
road and cut the binders from the bride
rms was a great relief to the high-strung
creature She could now what was
going on IN front. behind and on both
sides She gave snort of satisfaction and
settled down to work with will that
pleased the negro Immensely.
Plato knew every foot of the road hay-
ing often Travelled it at night, and SO the
only stops that were made were when
the wounded wanted water which
vas TO be had from the roadside springs
Inc Journey was made without incident
aha Flato' while driving rapidly. had
driven 50 carefully that when he reached
nome his Young master was fast asleep
And the mare. while tired was in fine
condition only her ratiOns of food and
supply Of water had to be cut short until
after she had thoroughly cooled of
Plato had hardly got out of sight of the
smoke OF the firing before the confederates
Tel! back before the great odds before them
ana moved aside from Sherman's path
1hey were not in panic. but the pres
sure was too heavy, and when they re-
ured they were compelled to leave some
OF their wounded in field hospital in
charge OF the surgeon who had sent Jack
Fitzpatrick home The enemy's skirmish-
eIs promptly moved up to the position va
Gated by the confederates Among the
foremost was a big soldier who went
directly TO the rude shelters that had been
rugged Up to accommodate the wounded
ne went through each and examined the
faces of the wourded.
w hat the devil you after?" asked
the surgeon. IN a tone In which curiosity
and lrritab:lity We're strangely mixed
tbs nothin but slip of a lad OHM
4"ohlH IoT, Sor, replied the big soldier
with extraordinary politeness considering
the time and occasion.
There are no wounded Yanks here" the
surgeon explained. smiling pleasantly as
ne glanced at sthe puzzled, good-natured
face of the irishman.
lis Johnny lad Dim lookin' fora
by not bigger N me two fists. Oh seen I'm
gallopin on a black horse. an / seen UNI
stagger whin dirty blacksmith In the
line give il to UNI in the shoulder-the
biackguard that he wasi'
oh! exclaimed the surgeon, that was
Jack Fitzpatrick
The same. sor."
How did you come to know Kilpat-
rick?''
Sharpshootin'. sor. We had the diyvIe's
own time thryin to ploog aych ither be-
chune the two eyes But we WIZ chums
scr. betwlxt the lines. Oi SEE to meself
SEE O, Ofl be iookin' afther the lad, whin
we brush the Johnnies away, an maybe
fetch i'm docther.' Is h. clane done for
sor?''
He'll need a doctor before he gets one
I'm thinking. remarked the surgeon. and
then he told how Jack Fitzpatrick Lad bee N
sent home.
The big lrishman seemed better satisfied
and pushed forward with the advancing