The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1899-01-26

20, Olive corsinted," said O'NeiI. who
was rapidly Trning over in his mind a
Plan which, by feigning a ready aco,i-
eScence, VOL gain him the liberty of the
camp, and all lw him an opportunity te
II re his estape back across the river
with his precious inform a ion.
I'm ceriaifly glad 10 hear IL. ! fiat
tered myself ] could make it to your in
terest to go into our service. In earnest O,
what I've promised you, here is $50.
which use to get anything you nav need j
lie turned TO go. O'Neil's heart lcaned
Tor he thought he was IT, have the free
dom Of the camp. 1t sack a he saw fhe
General beckon to the officer OF the guard
who vas passing. The officer came M
received instructions concerning ONeiI
as the latter knew by the gestures Of the
General TOW ards him, d going off. came
back shortly with sentinel, whom he
placed over O'NeiI, with instructions 10
permit him to move about in a certain
restricted range, but TO follow him every
him except by the Generals express
orders
IheSe orders were repeated in ONeil' "a
presence, and both he and the guard were
informed that they must be obeyed liter
ally, with severe punishment to follow
| their slightest infracfion. O'Neil ac-
ceptcd the situation, and. with the in
stinct of an old settler, began maxine
himself as corfortaila as posi-. Ic. He
took a leisurely promenade over the
bounds allowed him, Garrett H. noted all
that was To be seen, and returned to his
cabin to smoke and think.
In his walk next day he came TO a LARGO
double log house, whose use as hos
pltai was indicated by the on1aciated
frequently one-legged, one-armed men
loungIng in the warm sunshine on its
southern and eastern sides As he came
up he saw large man in the uniform OF a
| Federal lnfantryman come slowly and
fecblg out OF the passageway between the
two parts OF the houses, as if to join the
sun bathers.
| ONeiPs firm nerves quivered for there
was much in the mans appearance n
remind him of Stock, whom he believed 10
be quietly sleeping beside the Chickasaw
Bayou. 1t was certainly Stocks face
form and gait, though changed The face
had taken on a valence of long. Jank
beard. The hair was long and uncomhed
the form thinner, and the step lacked the
solidity of Stocks mighty football.
| ut can't be Stock" said O'Neil as he
stopped TO look carefully at the man.
Then the mans eyes fell on ONeil, and
he started as perceptibly as his phlee-
matte disposition would permit. Then he
looked at the rebel uniform O'Neil wore
and the CLEAN Of recognition faded from
his eyes, only to reappear as he again
scrutinized his old comrades features.
| "O'Neil, can this be your" he said
starting forward.
"Stan, back, dahl" said the guard, mo-
tioning him ANY, with his musket. mo
body's allowed to say word ter this man
| 'outen orders from the JinereI"
| O'Neil shut one eye with a wink tha,
conveyed volumes of information and
affirmation to Stock, and passed on, Ieav-
ing that gentleman gazing after him in
open mouthed stupefaction.
For some days O'Neils life continued in
the same routine. Attended by the guard
ne promenaded around his limits, seeing
Stock on the lookout for him whenever he
passed the hospital, when the two would
exchange meaning chances, but not a
word.
4 ITO be continued)