Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1899-12-28
and at last broke down, making it

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believed she could come and go unpun-
ished. When the case was closed the
officers composing the court with
drew, and after brief consultation re-
turned with a verdict of guilty.
The general sent for me and asked
He made no comment on what told
him. After an oppressive silence,
which he did not seem inclined to
break, partly to escape from the gloom
that overhung us both and partly to
divert his mind, ventured upon the
military situation.
us there any hope, general, of our
reaching the railroad?'
"No; they have cavalry enough to
patrol all the railroads in Tennessee"
"Why not send spy?"
II don't like SPIES"
"How would small body of scouts
do?"
"They could not get through except.
by unfrequented roads, and l have no
guide"
There was a renewal of the silence
between us, which I, looking him
steadily in the eye, broke.
margaret Beach knows the country
about here WE'LL
How I dared make such suggestion
is unaccountable to me to this day. 1
only know that I possessed 4 certain
assurance at critical moments, which
proved of untold value on this occa-
sion. Having fired my shot, waited
for it's effect. A train of thought was
started in the generals mind, but
where it would lead him l could not
predict. Suddenly he said, in his quick,
terse tones:
Bring the prisoner to me-
A faint hope sprang up within me.
l started to obey the order, and in a
few minutes Margaret was standing
before the general.
''Miss Beach," he said, "do you know
any route by which few men can
reach the railroad unobserved?"
'You have condemned me for giving
information to the confederates; do
you think me so base as to serve both
sides?'
'As you like" he said; then, turning
to me, ''Take her back"
II am ready to prove that I am true
to the union,'' said Margaret, proudly.
The general showed no sign of faith
in her assertion of loyalty as he re-
piled: 'Very well. Do you know of
such a route?"
II do"
"And do you know of any hiding
place near the track where the men can
lie concealed to watch the passage of
trains?'
Margaret thought moment, then
replied:
II do"
The general made no further remark
for few moments. He was turning
something over in his mind. At last
he looked up at Margaret, and said,
impressively, but still coldly:
Perform this service, and I may be
able to save you"
Despite his tone, could detect look
of intense relief in his face. Without
waiting for any reply from Margaret,
he turned quickly to his proposed ex-
petition. Where is this hiding place
you refer to?" he asked.
"Near Charleston, just north of the
IIiwassee."
Hills on each side?"
eyes, and a ravine, and in the ravine
cave"
"In full view of the railroad?"
eyes"
The general turned to his tent, and
soon emerged with a map, which he
unrolled and spread on the ground.
We all stopped over it, with quick
beating heart.
''Here is Charleston" he said; "now
where is the cave?"
by what route do you propose to
reach ito" ,'
Over by-paths most of the time; for
the rest we must take the risk of the
roads,"
General" I exclaimed, "give me
command of the expedition
He did not hear me; he was intent
en- the map. For half an hour he went
over the different routes leading to the
objective point, asking Margaret ques-
tons about the roads, whether they
were lined with woods or plantations,
the points of divergence into by-paths,
the crossings of streams. the height of
clevations-indeed, all manner of ques-
tons that one leading party such as
he was thinking of sending would need
to know.
Suddenly he looked up at Margaret,
and, rolling up his map, asked: How
soon can you be ready to start?''
"But general
"Well?"
''You forget" 4
"What?'
II am under sentence"
The general started 81 can suspend
the carrying out of the sentence" he
said, land more, if you prove your 10y
atty"
He paused, and we stood waiting.
Like flash my memory went back to
the headquarters of the general-in-chief
on the morning Gen. Heath's court
martial was deferred and he was given
an cnDortunifv fo prova HE o1,-n 1oy,1+,