The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1899-04-25
[COntinued.1
CHAPTER XIII.
A BREAK FOR LIBERTY.

as II to r0cOll from the Impending
tragedy.
"You seem interested in the prison
er," was the cutting comment of Miss
Hartman, but the woman addressed
gave no answer. She and her sister,
who seemed equally affected. but in
better control of her nerves, moved to-
ward the door leading into the hall.
Their action suggested to the other
woman the propriety of all withdraw
ing for brief while, and they passed
out of the room into the wide hall.
Lieutenant Oakman, without any
evidence of emotion except a slight
paling of his countenance, said to the
leader of the party:
"Search me if you choose. I shall
offer no resistance"
''It makes little difference whether
you do or not" grimly replied the Con-
federate, who without ceremony began
the work, which was simple in its ma
ture.
From the inner pocket of the prison.
er's coat he drew forth several letters
and folded documents. They included
two missives from his mother, another
from an army friend with General
Grant in Virginia, and that was all.
Every other part of his clothing was
searched, including his cap and cavalry
boots, which he was compelled to draw
off. There was nothing contraband in
them, and the heels of his boots, which
were tapped and examined, gave evil
dence of being solid and devoid of any
secret receptacles. Of course his revolv-
er was confscated.
1t would have gone ill with the lieu
tenant had that document which he re-
ceived from the hands of Mrs. Benware
been found, but, strange as it may
seem, it had vanished, the thorough
search of his captors making it impossi-
BILE for it to remain hidden about his
person.
1t would appear that, the search of the
prisoner having resulted as stated, his
peril had disappeared. Such would have
been the fact had he been in the custody
of company of regular Confederates,
but, unfortunately, these men were IT.
regulars, known as Wilkins cavalry,
who did not consider themselves bound
by the usages of civilized warfare.
| "Well, Yank," coolly remarked the
leader, "you seem to be what you claim,
and Miss Hartman says that this letter
(handing it back to him) was written
by Captain Trenholm, but it happens
that the captain doesn't command our
company"
81 do not see what that has to do
with my case," replied the lieutenant,
who, nevertheless, was quite certain Of
the drift of the words.
"You'n be likely to see pretty soon, -
was the significant remark of the lead
er. "These are not the times to show
much consideration to the like Of you.
I'll own that the question isn't clear in
my mind. I'll have to talk it over with
the boys. While we're doing SO, You
tan withdraw. Stay with the women.
mo doubt they'll find your company
agreeable. Bill, go along and keep an
leye on him all the time, remembering
that, if he hasn't any weapons except
his sword, the fact won't hinder him
from running, if he gets the chance"
The soldier addressed as "Bill" mo-
|tioned to Oakman to follow him into
the hall. The prisoner did so, the two
joining the three women, who were
seated near the stand or table upon
which was the candle, with their arms
folded, grim, silent and waiting. They
turned their eyes toward the couple, but
+ hot word was spoken by any one.
II All the chairs were occupied, and thu
/. men kept their feet. Bill wished to fol
low the debate that was going on in thu
next room and placed himself near thu
door that he might catch the word
spoken, an easy thing to do, since ther'
was little or no attempt at secrecy BY
, the Others
While posted thus the soldier motion
ed for Oakman to take his place il
: front, that he might observe his ever!
movement, the guard meanwhile keep
ing his hand on the revolver at his hip
Less than five minutes later a scream
! rang out from Miss Hartman, and tn
startled company in the adjoining room
dashed into the hall to learn its cause
She was in her chair, gasping and strug
Igling, with a frightful attack of hys
terics; Mrs. Benware and her sister, a
white as death, sat silent, upright an
evidently on the point of swooning
Bill, the cavalryman, was stretched O.
his back, to all appearances as dead a
:, dead could be. The open front door LET
T. no doubt whittier the prisoner had gone
: and with fierce imprecations the raider
, streamed outside and made for thei
horses.
Not minute was to be lost for
the vivid moonlight he was seen in tn
act of swinging himself into the saddl
of one of the animals that had bee
tied at the side of the lane, fully aliv
to the fact that his life depended upo
using every second at his command.
n Not doubling what the verdict Of tt
n men would be. Lieutenant Oakmal
while in the hall with his jailer, dete
mined to discount it. The fact that h
guard did not suspect any such wi
1e purpose increased the chances of tt
is officer Without his motive being di
o trusted by the man whose attentic
as was centered upon the discussion in IL
~ adjoining room the lieutenant steppt
up near him. The next instant he W;
throttled with such ightninglil
" Quickness that he sank to the floor al