The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1900-07-01


calmly.
MY husband was here. sir, recovering
from a wound, but that has progressed
so favorably that he thought himself able
TO resume his duties"
Bobby marveled al this ingenious reply
which was absolutely true. but yet con-
veyed TO the lieutenant quite a wrong i'm
preston. The officer looked disappointed
so we've missed it,. he growled, but
he can not be long gone. I'm sure he was
here two hours ago. Halloa,"
He noticed Bobby for the first time
although his men had been staring In
wonder at the boy
Drummer Hartw she cried. What do
you do here?"
Please, sir" Bobby starnmered, I'm
a prisoner, sir"
The men roared out laugh. for Bob
by's face bore marks of having been close
to something very different to prison fare
The lieutenant looked a him with puz-
zled frown
I'm" said he. "a willing prisoner. /
think. How were you caught?"
I was tired. sir, and fell out and I saw
young pig, and thought I'd catch it for
| Fourth of July banquet. sir. and l GOT
You got your banquet, Ell How long
| ago was that?'
-Four or five hours ago sir"
80? But Capt. Allen was here two
hours ago-a spy saw him on the veranda.
You must have seen him, too"
A Test of Fidelity.
BODY began TO stammer, and the 1T
| tie girl at that moment looked on him so
pleadingly that the drummer could not
| he p hrowing her a reassuring glance. The
| sharp lieutenant caught that glance and
suddenly drew a revolver He stepped
close TO Bobby and placed the muzzle to
the drummer's head
| Boy" he said quietly. What does this
mean? You know where that rebel is.
Your face gives you away, What does it
mean?'
Bobby trembled, but was silent,
Suddenly a soldier ran to a corner and
from the shadow of a bureau brought
forth a sword and belt
"Ha" cried the officer, triumphantly,
and Mrs. Allen sank into a chair, almost
| fainting. Soldiers don't return to duty
without their swords, madame. And
look! Who ate his share Of this Fourth
| of July feast at this placer
| He pointed 10 the Captains chair at the
| table and then returned 10 Bobby.
Il always thought you patriot, Hart"
he said. severely. To-day of all days,
the day when We celebrate our nations
birth, is not the one to turn traitor. I'm
| derstand, il is most important that Capt.
Allen be captured know you are aware
Of his wherea bouts. Look me in the eyes
| and deny it,"
Bobby could not look, but instead his
| glance sought the eyes of those whom
| already he had begun TO love, the sweet
| little girl, the motherly lady, his new
| chum. Charlie The boy was sorely dis
tressed. He could not be traitor and
| live, but-how could he betray those who,
| a few minutes ago. had fed him, comfort
ed him and told him he was free to go
when he pleased? The lieutenant was
| hard, firm man, who knew his duty
Il will count three slowly" said he.
Make up your mind what to do We
want no half hearts-no traitors-in our
company If you will not tell l shall
| shoot"
The room was quite still; the men looked
| on in sorrow, but no man moved to inter-
| fere for poor Bobby's ingenious face told
That the officer had guessed Alright. and
| the soldiers well understood the fate of
| treachery.
One" said the lieutenant, and Bobby
| shuddered.
! Two said the lieutenant, and Bobby
hid his face and covered. The officer
made a long pause and Bobby looked up
with eyes full of tears. He was about
to speak when the trap in the ceiling sud-
denly opened and Capt. Allen dropped in
to the room. The men cried out and leap
ed to seize him.
Sir" said he to the lieutenant, chat
is too hard an ordeal for a generous-heart-
ed boy. II is no fault of his that he is
here, but we found him the son of an old
friend and did our best TO help him to do
what he desired-spend the national holt
| day happily. l heard all that passed, and
| l am sure the lad is true TO his flag but
he is true also to his friends. Rather
than have him be forced to choose and
endanger his life, I-give myself up"
At that he held out his hand to poor
| Bobby, who, it must be confessed, was
blubbering. and his wife and daughter
hung about him crying. The lieutenant
was polite. but firm.
Il can give you a few minutes for prep
aration, sir" he said, land then
A sentry left 10 watch outside rushed in,
panic-stricken.
Lieutenant" he cried, "a body of Con-
federate cavalry is advancing from the
rear of the house. They are close at
hand
Capt. Aliens eyes lit up. The lieuten-
ant paid no more attention TO him At
once the men in blue were out of the
house. Bobby saw his duty clearly
enough now. The newcomers at least were
foes. They at any rate, had not ban
quoted him on this glorious Fourth and
laid him under obligations He dashed OUT
with his comrades just in time to retire
into the woods with them before the
Southern cavalrymen trotted up. The
| Confederates were soon made aware OF
the presence of the bluecoats They charg-
ed the woods. to be received by a warm
fire from the men of the North. One Unit
ed States man was wounded by the retur1
fire from the carbines, and Bobby took his
gun. The little fellow was soon hot with
excitement and blazing away from cover
like a veteran, so that the lieutenant
smiled on him.
''Ho!" cried the officer. your Fourth
of July banquet has put life into you,
| Drummer Hart, I see You're doing WELL
I'm showing I'm no traitor, sir" said
Bobby with reproach.
The cavalry dismounted. for their horses
were no use in the thick woods, and a
| hot skrmish was carried on. The greys,
| however, were much stronger than the
blues and the latter kept falling back.
Robby get one glimpse of the enemy's lin
| clearly for a moment and cIied out in
surprise. There, well in front popping
away zealously, was Charlie Allen. his
late captor, and host AS the drummer
looked he saw the boy. wild with excite
ment, rush far in advance of the others
A bluecoat fired and Charlie dropped and
at the same instant a bugle sounded in
the rear of the grays, aud for some reason
the latter fell back. Bobby rushed to
Charles side. His friend was badly hurt
and insensible. Other blues came run.
ming up. and young Charlie, in his turn
, !