The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1899-11-30
XXI.
AN OPPORTUNE ARRIVAL

There was a sound of high words in
the hall; the door was thrown open, and
an old man with hair and beard as white
as snow, ragged garments, and faded
straw hat, struggled past sentry who
was endeavoring to hold him back, and
rushed into the room. We all looked as
tonished at an intruder who showed 50
little Difference for the commander-in-
chief. The old man stood for a moment
casting rapid glances from one to an
other, evidently in search. then his ewes
became fixed on Mellodew, who from
the first moment of the strangers en-
trance had shrunk away, endeavoring
to conceal himself behind the others,
chattering and grinning like a fright
ened ape. The old man tore off his hair
and beard, revealing the features of
Corporal PUNK.
'You white-hvered hound!"
corporal Plunk!" exclaimed Marga-
ret and l at breath.
corporal" said Gen. Heath, "you are
IN the presence of the general-in-chief. -
PUNK Strengthened up and brought his
hand up to his forehead awkwardly by
way of salute. "You have come too late;
the case is closed"
CLOSED, general? Closed without my
story? Closed without my SEEM that
animated tombstone where he so nearly
placed me? Dead men tell no tales,
Enoch, but I'm not dead. Do you see
that hand, that arm? They're to pull
the rope intended for me, only you'll do
the danglin'."'
Come, corporal, the general-in-chief
wishes to know of the military situa-
ton. Private Mellodew has charged
Lieut.. Hall and Miss Beach with con-
spring to state falsely that Gen. Long
street has gone northward, while Pri-
yate Mellodew asserts that no such
move has taken place."
He lies. The move has taken place:
l saw it with my own eyes; that is, after
the young lady saw it; for deserve to
be shot for being asleep. I knew that
dog'-pointing to Mellodew-"was up
to some deviltry when met him among
confederates, so l left the lieutenant
and Miss Beach at the ford and rode
back got these things on the way
pointing to his disguise-"and walked
straight into Col. Archard's lines. I
found Enoch there, settin' on a log by
a campfire with Maj. Berante-that
gentleman there. I crouches behind
tree and hears the whole confab. Enoch
tells the major that the lieutenant and
Miss Beach have gone on with the in
formation of Gen. Longstreet's move.
The major calls halt till he kin report
the fact to Col. Archard-that gentle
man there. Maj. Berante gifts permits
sion to send detachments on to chase
'em, then goes to house near by and
comes back with a paper 7 don'tknow
what it was, but TUX it tibet he wrote
it himself. Leastways he tells Enoch
tibet if he. will make up some warn to
throw distrust on Lieut.. Hall sand Miss
Beach's story, and take the paper to
Gen. Heath, maxim up another warn
about how he stumbled on it, Enoch
might come back and git big pay forthe
job. Enoch said he would do ANYTHING
to git even with the lieutenant. sE =
"They gifts up from the bivouac. and
Enoch starts for the plantation. Isfol-
lersi him out onto the road, but was so
riled tibet I couldn't wait fur him to git
fur enough from the rebel camp before
tackles him. Enoch hollers like loon.
a vedette comes runnin' from one direc-
ton, and an officer Of the picket from
another, and they pinned me down and
TUX lis both to Maj. Berante. .s
well, was in a hole. Thinkin' to
gain time, tells. the major that Ihev
important information I'd like to swap
funny life, and he agrees to give metill
mornin' to make 1t all up-f for thet's
what / was agoin' to do. In the mornin'
! S tells him a cock-and- bull story
Gen. Grant sendin' troops around by
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