Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1900-02-14
XXI.


There was a sound of high words in
the hall; the door was thrown open. and
an old man with hair and beard as white
as snow, ragged garments, and faded
straw hat, struggled past sentry who
was endeavoring to hold him back, and
rushed into the room. We all looked as.
tonished at an intruder who showed sc
little Difference for the commander-in.
chief. The old man stood for a moment
casting rapid glances from one to an.
other, evidently in search. then his eyes
became fixed on Mellodew, who from
the first moment of the strangers en-
trance had shrunk away, endeavoring
to conceal himself behind the others,
chattering and grinning like fright
ened ape. The old man tore off his hair
and beard, revealing the features of
Corporal Punk.
"You white-livered hound!"
Corporal Plunk!" exclaimed Marga-
ret and at breath.
Corporal" said Gen. Heath, "you are
in the presence of the general-in-chief. +"
Punk Strengthened up and brought his
AAs@AA uP ~ AAo AOA OACou dN h"d1Sl1y ny
way of salute. "You have come too late;
the case is closed"
"Closed, general? Closed without my
story? Closed without my SEEM that
animated tombstone where he so nearly
placed me? Dead men tell no tales,
Enoch, but I'm not dead. Do you see
that hand, that arm? They're to pull
the rope intended for me, only you'll do
the danglin'.''
"Come, corporal, the general-in-chief
wishes to know of the military situa-
ton. Private Mellodew has charged
Lieut.. Hall and Miss Beach with con-
spring to state falsely that Gen. Long
street has gone northward, while Pri-
vate Mellodew asserts that no such
move has taken place."
He lies. The move has taken place;
saw it with my own eyes; that is, after
the young lady saw it; for deserve to
be shot for being asleep. I knew that
dog-pointing to Mellodew-''was up
to some deviltry when met him among
confederates, so I left the lieutenant
and Miss Beach at the ford and rode
back. I got these things on the way
pointing to his disguise walked
straight into Col. Archard's lines. I
found Enoch there, settin' on a log by
a campfire with Maj. Berante-that
gentleman there. I crouches behind
tree and hears the whole confab. Enocl
tells the major that the lieutenant and
Miss Beach have gone on with the in
formation of Gen. Longstreet's move.
The major calls halt till he kin report
the fact to Col. Archard-that gentle
man there. Maj. Berante gifts permis-
sion to send detachments on to chase
'em, then goes to a house near by and
comes back with a paper. don't know
what it was, but TUX it thet he wrote
it himself. Leastways he tells Enoch
tibet it he will make up some yarn to
throw distrust on Lieut.. Halls and Miss
Beach's story, and take the paper to
Gen. Heath, maxim up another yarn
about how he stumbled on it, Enoch
might come back and git big pay for the
job. Enoch said he would do anything
to git even with the lieutenant.
'"They gifts up from the bivouac, and
Enoch starts for the plantation. I fol-
lers him out onto the road, but I was so
riled tibet I couldn't wait fur him to git
fur enough from the rebel camp before
I tackles him. Enoch hollers like loon,
a vedette comes runnin' from one direc-
ton, and an officer of the picket from
another, and they pinned me down and
TUX us both to Maj. Berante.
swell, I was in hole. Thinkin' to
gain time, tells the major that I hev
important information I'd like to swap
fur my life, and he agrees to give me till
mornin' to make it all up-for thet's
what was agoin' to do. In the mornin'
i tells him a cock-and-bull story about
Gen. Grant sendin' troops around by
Nashville and Louisville to Knoxville,
and let's him simmer. He opens them
snakes eyes O. his'n, takes in the infor-
nation, but keeps me in limbo all the
same. Well, to shorten up, I've been
watched by confederate guards lots of
times in this war, and they haven't kept
me long at any one time. Last night
give one of the men watchin' me postal
quarter to go to the sutler for rum,
and"
General" interrupted Gen. Heath,
corporal Plunk's testimony makes all
clear. The work on which you sent
me has been accomplished, but not by
me. Lieut.. Hail and Corporal PUNK
have done their part, but it is this brave
GIRL" pointing to Margaret, 'who, hav-
ing assumed the ignominy which right
fully belonged to others, in face of mis-
understanding on my part and its con-
sequent harshness-a harshness shall
regret to my dying day-while her two
associates on the expedition were
asleep, saw the transfer of Longstreet's
corps.
"And now," he continued, ''having
her vindication, it only re-
mains to defend myself against the
venom of that serpent. Maj. Berante,
you were about to read certain let
ter from me to the mayor of - when
you were interrupted by Corporal
Plunk's entrance. I beg you to pro-
ceed.''
''Circumstantial evidence" he said,
II have always considered worthless,
and this mans testimony convinces me
that have been right. Were it worth
my while, and had time and oppor-
tunity, could easily refute all that
has been brought against me. Instead,
I will give you something that is in
black and white, written and signed
by that man. (pointing to Gen. Heath),
"whose treachery has long been sus-
pected, but now for the first time is
to be conclusively proved" ii
Then he read: