Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1899-11-04

ant, AZ he lnca6s me- -
i was too paralyzed to reply. Punk |
came TO the rescue. Looking signifi- |
eantly at the confederates, he put his
finger on his lips, and tapped his fore
head, as il 10 say: Don't mind him;
he's off his head"
There's something queer about you
ALL" said the colonel; reckon I'll look
into this. Captain" he said to the Of
ficer of the day. take my cards" He
got up from the table and left the tent.
motioning PUNK, Margaret and myself
to follow him. Having led the way to
8 campfire near by. he stopped beside
it and began to question us.
'What's your manner" he asked of
PUNK.
"John Rand" sd.
"Wbere do you live?"
AT Morganton CROSSROADS"
What do you do?" -
Farm ~
''You?" turning to me-"what's your
name?"
Before 1 had time to reply. PUNK,
with his usual presence of mind and
adroitness, coming to the rescue,
4
and stood mute. The officer vas not
convinced He then turned TO Mar
gsret-
Your"
"what do you wish TO know.
colonel"
who are your"
"My name?"
yes"
Margaret Beach"
The officer was getting no informa-
ton to enable him To judge of us, and
seemed puzzled what to do. In such
work he was evidently not an expert.
We'll" be said, at last, you'll have
to 60 to the guard-house and stay
] there till L can find out more about
YOU"
Colonel" said Margaret.
"Well?"
LET me speak with you alone"
He cast an inquiring glance at her,
then led her out of hearing. We
watched them talking, Margaret speak
ing coniidentially. the colonel with
every word becoming more attentive.
o, my God, she would never talk
that way with him unless she were
friendly TO his cause. There is some
deep-laid scheme which she has been
working from the first. She is ex-
planning it all to the confederate. He
takes her hand and looks at her kind
". She turns to come to us. He lifts
his hat with all the grace of the truly
polished southern gentleman.
Harki
l. There was a distant sound of horses
hoofs, but so indistinct that 1 was
about concluding l was mistaken when
I heard a sudden turmoil on the outer
limit of the camp, with shots, indi-
eating a sudden attack. The colonel
called for his horse, mounted and rode
to the front.
We three stood breathless. waiting
developments. Bullets began TO sing
by our ears and spit against the trees
The confederates flew TO arms. At the
front we could discover the dark forms
of. horsemen charging.
'Lookl"
The word came from Margaret, who
spoke in a tone so unusual to her that
1 glanced quickly at her before follow
ing the direction of her eyes. She wa:
quivering with excitement. Then
turned TO see what moved her. At tha'
moment the clouds parted, and, through
an opening in the trees, figure stoof
ont plainly in the moonlight, pointing
with his sword TO the confederate line
Then the horse plunged forward. bear
, | ing his rider out Of sight.
THE general"
We all spoke the words simultaneous
". Had he been watching for our re
turn, and. knowing of our presence IL
the confederate camp. made the attacl
in order TO free us? Or was he,actin:
from some purpose of his own
Whatever his intention, we started n
once to take advantage of the situation
Punk and ]. with common impulse
6arted to where the horses wer
= tethered, and, mounting Margaret
:, jumped to the saddle. The intervening
confederates prevented our renchin
j, our own men. so we dashed through tn
: trees in a direction opposite to tn
: fighting. Coming TO road, we TO
: lowed it. and the turmoil behind II
= gradually died into faint din. The
. we drew rein for consultation.