Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1899-09-26
SHALL iii him?"
Heavens. no."
you Tigt." called voice. man
grasped Tige's collar and trapped hin,

| ''""ii MIL MIN
"Henvens. no."
you 'rigc!" called voice mon
grasped Tige's collar and dragged him
| away.
THANK God!" we both gasped
l was dazed by the sudden release
from so terrible a tension. Margaret"
cried, incoherently, general mean
Margaret-you've got more sense than
any general in the army"
Margaret paid no attention to me.
She had risen and was looking about
listening.
| which way now?" asked.
I'VE must go in the opposite direc-
ton from the dogs-down the creek"
We retraced our steps, walking on
the bank instead of in the water, till we
came to the place we had left-the place
where the creek crossed the road. We
had scarcely reached it when from the
southwark came clatter of horses
hoofs, rafting of arms and accoutre-
ments, shouting of orders. turned
and saw cloud of dust, above which
waved battle-fag. N1argaret's endur-
ance was exhausted. Covering her face
with her hands she stood waiting, re-
signed to whatever fate was in store for
| us.
They're coming" said.
"Who?"
| 1.-THE rebels"
1 heard din in the opposite direc-
ton, on the crest of the hill between
/ us and the plantation. Through gap
ut the summit came scattered body
of cavalrymen. 1t was easy to see that
they were fugitives. Down they came,
more following, looking neither to the
right nor to the left, panic-stricken
mass; they dashed past us and on to-
ward the confederates coming up the
road. The latter, seeing that they were
just in time to arrest panic, drew up
in line across the road and stolidly
waited the coming of the fugitives.
| A single horseman shot through the
cut at the crest of the hill. Directly be-
| hind him came another, then third,
then column of cavalry bearing the
stars and stripes.
oh, blessed emblem Only few
yards of bunting, dingy, worn, rent.
can never see that field of blue studded
with stars, that alternate white and
red, without standing again in fancy
where l stood that day with the girl
who had endured with me so many
| dangers.
Our men were coming like the wind,
but not too fast for me to recognize the
man who rode at their head. Rider and
horse dashed on like oentaur, with
huge leaps, the horses eyes not more
| cleaning, his nostrils not more dis
tended, than those of the general.
There was a shock between the two
opposing lines, a shouting. swearing,
volleys. The confederates were en-
barrassed irpanic-strickencom COM
rades; the union troops made wedge
| through their center and sent them
flying down the road.
The general having ordered pur-
suit, turned his horses head and rode
leisurely back
General" I cried, as he was riding
| past without seeing us.
! expected to see his face light up
with joy; instead, as soon as his eyes
| rested upon us, he started, and looked
at us ominously.
We've brought the news, general"
Without needing my words, he
turned TO Maj, Ping, who was near,
fMajor," he said, In VOICE that froze
the marrow in my bones, ARREST those
two, and take them to the plantation"
General" I cried, what does this
mean?"
1T means, sir, that you are not the
| first man who has been ruined by
| woman
" have been saved by woman"
"Take them away"
General! For Gods sake, explain"
You have come back here to palm
off spurious report that the expected
move has taken place, when we know
that it has not"
Margaret and l looked at each other
aghast.
what proof have you, general?"
Margaret asked.
Proof! One of your men came in
not an hour ago and revealed the whole
plot"
'Who?"
Private Enoch Mellodew."
He lies" cried. "Will you believe
coward before your own aide-de-
Campo"
There is supporting evidence
against the aide"
But Corporal Plunk-he knows the
truth"
He has not returned"
But he will"
"Mellodew reports that he was
taken in disguise in the enemy's lines
and hanged"
turned again to Margaret. "Oh,
Margaret" cried, who is to shield us
from that hound?"
"Guard!" cried the general.
A corporal and half dozen men rode
up and surrounded us. We were too
weak to walk. and mounts were pro-
vided for us, on which we rode to the
plantation, not as triumphant bearers
of important military information, but
as prisoners.
ITO be continued