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

and asked what it meant. When we !,
told him, noticed a look on his face |
that might mean incredulity or might |
mean = determination to be incredulous, |
but we cared nothing whether he be-
lieved or doubted. What he had gone |
for none of us could possibly imagine. |
We did not suspect that under the APP
parently simple, cowardly nature there
lurlSed n malevolence that might be ex-
pected only under n stronger exterior.
In our position we were vulnerable
even from a crawling snake.
However. we wasted no time to see
if Enoch would return; when we were
: ready PUNK brought the horses, and
mounting as the sun was setting we
descended the hillside we had come
up few days before. We were for
tunate i'm finding a ford at the river,
and in getting across the railroad with
cut interruption; ii was later on, when
we were not looking for trouble, that
we received our first scare. Coming
to a ridge, we were panic-stricken to
see each of the roads leading into
Georgetown flied with confederate cav
airy.
"By Jove, Plunkl that's going to
sweeping along the refuse in the rear,
driving in stragglers."
"Right you arc, lieutenant" said
PUNK, land if we don't dodge them
they'll be likely to give us an enflading
fire of questions worse than a vollcy
from their carbines."
We halted behind a 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 a conclusion, for
: suddenly body of perhaps 30 horsemen
entered the road we were on, at gal
! lop, from n by-road a short distance
5 in advance. Each recognized that it
J was too late to do anything but go for
r ward, and we started by a common inn
pulse. Happening 20 glance at Mar
garet, saw her turn pale. Her eyes
i were 6xed on n young officer who rode
in front of the coming men. He came
, on. evidently in hurry to get over the
I ground, and when he met us did not
: slacl1en speed was congratulating
a myself that he was intending to pass us
E without a word, when he suddenly
5 pulled in his horse.
o "Why, Margaret Beach,"
. He turned to the side OF the road
e near us. while his men passed on, halt
y ing few rods beyond. He was trific
. older than I, with long black hair, over
y which dropped n sombrero, black eyes
and as frank and manly face as evel
> / looked into. After exchanging few
g commonplace remarks with Margaret
d who behaved with surprising GOODNESS
l. he looked inquiringly at me.
ION your way home?" he asked Mar
garet, in a tone evidently intended t.
lead the way TO some information abou
the company she was in.
i, 'Yes, / am anxious to get back L
= mamma"
az am glad you are protected on tn
= way. It's rather bad road for WON
- an to be travelling just now"
= / have always believed the young maj
- suspected there was something wrong
- but was more gallant to Margaret tina
y true TO his duty. lie babe her good-by
and as he raised his hat with the words
MY kind regards to your good mother,
y / his eyes met mine and seemed to say
p ~ decline TO investigate you, my dea
y sir, for her sake" though this ma
have been supplied by my own guilt
conscience. In moment he was at III
: head of his men, riding rapidly dow
~ the road.
Lieutenant" said PUNK, as soon 1
we were out of hearing, eve wasn't pr
u pared for that meetin'. It's my opinio
ny that lynn is our only weapon. and tn;
M I'm the only one of the party blesse
Hu with an inventive genius and a har'
nc ened conscience calc'lated 10 take I
ne through what's ahead!"
AL "You are right, corporal. You ms
Ier do the talking, and may you be i
spired to lie with such ingenuity NJ
Ia fervor as to confound ali inquiriI
~ rebels and pilot us to a haven of rest
The road for some miles was flank
IN by woods. Scarcely person was on
indeed. we went so far without NEE
~ ing anyone that when belated cou
~. tryman suddealy doomed up before I
ac' with a bag of meal thrown across
IN saddle-bow, our hearts leaped into o
on throats. We passed him with
III "howdy," and had the way clear
III some time. Coming to rise in t
ose ~
rty ps4Es III
"a" .,se2Se Y st:sf