Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1899-09-08

mounting as the sun was setting we
descended the hillside we had come
up few days before. We were for
tunate In finding ford at the river.
and In getting across the railroad with.
out interruptions; it was later on, when
we were not looking for trouble. that
we received our first scare. COMING
to ridge, we were panic-stricken to
see each of the roads leading into
Georgetown filled with confederate cav
airy.
by Jove, Plunkl that's going to
raise the devil with us. They are
sweeping along the refuse in the rear,
driving in stragglers."
Right you are, lieutenant" said
PUNK, land if we don't dodge them
they'll be likely to give us an enfilading
fire OF questions worse than yolley
from their carbines."
We halted behind clump Of trees for
parley. PUNK and l were for hiding
in the woods till they had gone by;
Margaret was for breaking up the party
and proceeding separately. We did not
have time to arrive at conclusion, for
suddenly body Of perhaps 80 horsemen
entered the road we were on, at q gall
lop, from by-road short distance
in advance. Each recognized that it
was too late to do anything but go for
ward, and we started by common i'm
pulse. Happening to glance at Mar
garet, l saw her turn pale. Her eyes
were fixed on u young officer who rode
in front of the coming men. He came
on, evidently in hurry to get over the
| ground, and when he met us did not
slacken speed. 1 was congratulating
myself that he was intending to pass us
without word, when he suddenly
| pulled in his horse.
"Why, Margaret Beach,"
lie turned to the side of the road
near us, while his men passed on, halt
ing few rods beyond. He was trifle
older than l, with long black hair, over
which dropped a sombrero, black eyes,
and as frank and manly face as ever
looked into. After exchanging few
commonplace remarks with Margaret,
who behaved with surprising GOODNESS,
he looked inquiringly at me.
"On your way homer" he asked Mar
garet, in a tone evidently intended to
lead the way to some information about
the company she was in.
eyes, am anxious to get back to
mamma"
Il am glad you are protected on the
way. It's rather bad road for wom-
an to be travelling just now
have always believed the young man
suspected there was something wrong,
but was more gallant to Margaret than
true to his duty. He babe her good-by,
i and as he raised his hat with the words:
"My kind regards to your good mother %
his eyes met mine and seemed to say:
II decline to investigate you, my dear
sir. for her sake;" though this may
have been supplied by my own guilty
conscience. In moment he was at the
head of his men. riding rapidly down
the road.
Lieutenant" said Punk, as soon as
we were out of hearing, 1--WE wasn't pre-
] pared for that meetin'. It's my opinion
| that lynn is our only weapon, and that
I'm the only one of the party blessed
with an inventive genius and hard.
ened conscience calc'lated to take lie
through what's ahead"
you are right, corporal. You may
do the talking, and may you be in.
spired to lie with such ingenuity and
fervor as to confound all inquiring
rebels and pilot us to haven of rest
The road for some miles was thanked
by woods. Scarcely person was on it;
indeed, we went SO far without meet
ing anyone that when belated coun
tryman suddenly doomed up before US
with bag of meal thrown across his
saddle-bow, our hearts leaped into gu,
threats. We passed him with q
"howdy," and had the way clear fol
some time. Coming to rise in the