Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1899-10-21

Yes. Bring the prisoner to me-" She
was no longer Margaret Beach; she was
1.-The prisoner"
Going to the house, told Margaret
that the general wanted to see her. Well |
ms she realized the change her last act |
had made in him. she did not realize il |
fully. But she was perfectly calm and |
prepared for anything. We found the |
general waiting for us before his tent. |
Miss Beach," he said, as If address
ing a stranger, "you were caught with
information in your possession intend
ed for the enemy. Your word of honor
was pledged not thus TO offend again,
whereupon you were given your liberty,
and at once took advantage OF 1t to go
to the enemy's camp. 1t is plain to me
/ for what purpose; but / confess do
not understand your return. ! woulc
be glad to hear your explanation"
81 have no explanation to make, gen.
! eral." She used the word general
with the same cold emphasis he had
used when addressing her as Miss
Beach.
Are you content TO remain per
jurer?"
"For my acts am accountable to no
human being"
There was short silence. during
which the two regarded each other
intentIy In the generals face l could
see nothing but condemnation, while
fancied I saw quick glance OF re-
proach in Margarct's dark eyes, like the
flash of a gun at night
"F-om this moment, the general said.
your fate Is in other hands than mine.
You will be tried by court-martial, and
must expect the only sentence ever
pronounced on one engaged in secret
service"
led Margaret back TO the house
where an order soon followed to place
her in close confinement
There's going to be the devil to pay,
said Walter, haif an hour later. THE
general has got one OF his fits on"
, Even the men seemed TO know that
. something wns in the wind. Old salts"
, | Of the sea could not more certainly
, predict 2ouI weather in the sky than
the troops could see hard fighting III
! The generals face. About dark we got
the frst fash of the coming storm.
r The general called me to him and or
dercd me TO ride to the headquarters Of
the different commands, directing each
commanding officer to send two OF his
: best men, especially fitted for scouting
service, TO report in person at head
Gquarters. / gave the order. and the men
reported as directed. The general sent
them out by twos, apportioning the
neighboring territory among them
with view TO discovering the posi-
lions occupied by the different bodie:
| of the enemy. After they had left, Ia
= directed me TO bring Corporal PUNK
g his favorite scout, long lean lndianian
whose principal occupation during TIT
70 days when the prairies of his NATIVE
state were being opened by the pillow
was shaking with ague. He had hi
own way of doing everything, ant
could no more be induced TO follow
plan laid out for him than a mountai
L horse could be guided by its rider owe
a rocky trail He sometimes scoute
i'm uniform. but was quite as likely t
lie go out in the garb of citizen. Itwa
re not long before 1 had him standing bS
fore the general, not at attention. 10
G. such a position was not possible wit
he him. but lettering awlSwardly till tn
d. general, who was intent upon ma
in spread out before him, should motto
him
~ Corporal" said the general, sue
et denly, you must bring me the ei
- emy-s position, and thai before nai'
night. This is the most importaI
service on which have ever sent yo
We Take the best horse in the comman
N and 60"
ut Having dispatched his scouts, IL
rs general lay down on his cot, sign
fOr-us all that we might turn to rest
So amusement
Walter and !, instead of prepariI
for what was TO come, as we shou
ed have done, spent the time in a game
shinplasters- Inveterate gamester
I was. on this occasion / tried to b.
no OF. for my heart and mind were fl
ny of Margaret Beach. But Walter 81
lne peeted the cause of my unwillingne
an TO play, and, not wishing him to S
'eU any further than necessary into I
state of my mind, 1 yielded. Once w
started in the game, forgot Margar
III the approaching operations. ever
thing but the cards, and at - o'clo'
when the scouts began TO come in a
the general needed me, he had to c
.nS twice before heard him.
'o The reports were conflicting and
little value. Most Of the men had ga
cred their information from citize
who either did not have any inform
>, ton to give OF purposely misled the
About one o'clock PUNK came in, sic
Me ly nmbIing on his nag, bearing all
"a information required.
"'Bout three mile above where
nm Tennessee runs into the Hiwassee
the west bank, ! ran afoul of re
eel camp 1 counted animals and ma
cad out purity nigh onto six hundr
hot Right opposite, across the river, W
re- some more. and 1 judged by II
sion | camp fires purity nigh as many.
nan THAT alIG"
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