The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1900-11-22

coming. My dear fsAow, you must hav
one by all means if you stay among us"
Webster eIHeavored laughingly to oh
Ject. but they all refused to accept mo
for an answer. So. finding it impossibl,
to resist he went with them to u neigh
boring hat stora.
FIT a hat TO Mr. Webster's head
hat just like mine" said DR.. Burton to thu
proprietor: than, tulJ1ing to the scout, h
added: We will have you Il cord ant
tasSel of blue, as that will show that yot
are true to the cause, although you do no
belong to the military"
| The halter produced n secession cha
peau Of the kind and size required, ant
| Webster at once put ii on, much to thu
| delight of the doctor, who slapped Web
stef familiarly on the shoulder, with tn,
p exclamation:
Now. my dear fellow, you can consider
| yourself at hOmet
| Perfectly at home" echoed Col. Dial
getty.
'Henccforward you are one of u.s. put
| i'll the Lieutenant.
Webster thanked them cordially fol-
| their kindness, and promised to wear it il
preference to any other. As they stepped
outside Of the store. however, all thoughts
\ Of the new hat were temporarily driven
| from his mind. for, standing on the side
walk, within few yards of the store
door, and looking directly mt him, was the
Identical individual whom he had noticed
| on the train, who had arrested the North
ern stranger the night before.
The gaze which this vigiiant agent of
| the Safety Committee now bent upon
Webster. was full of dark suspicion. but
after one swift glance mt him the detective
| turned away with an air of perfect com
posture and uncuncern, and walked off be-
tween his companions. To say that he
felt some unedsineSs at this evidence that
he was still being closely followed, would
be only to tell the truth. His first i'm
pulse was to speak to his companions
about it. but second thought decided him
not to mention the matter to any one. nor
to bctray by word or act that he had the
slightest suspicion that he was being
watched .r...-
The three officers introduced Webster
to large number of soldiers and citizens,
and before the day was over he had quite
an extended circle of acquaintance in
Memphis. DIR. Burton, who had conceived
IA fancy for him, as sudden as it was pro-
nOunced. assumed n sort of paternaI CON
troll over Webster, towering about him
with an air of protection and sOlicitude.
and drawing the scouts arm through his
when they walked together.
That afternoon, Webster, desiring to be
alone for awhile, hired one of the hack
men at the door Of the hotel to drive him
LIItt vi IDuI ullpS INTO I0t lie
went down the river road and, as it was
Il beautiful day, he enjoyed himself admir-
ing the picturesque scenery along the way
Just below the town, on the bank of the
river, he found n small encampment of
soldiers with Il battery, who were on the
lookout for boats coming up the river, and
during his ride he saw several encamp-
mentS of the same mature. After spend
ing several hours inspecting the fortifica-
tlDnS along tho NphStnr To
the hotel. which he reached about dark.
VISIT TO REBEL CAMP.
The next day Dr. Burton and several of
his military friends sought out the detect
i've and urged him 10 go with them to
Camp Rector So
'Gentlemcn,I am at yOur service" said
Webster, earnestly. Il think | would en-
JOY Il visit to your camp to-day above all
things" 81 ia
They went to thel Icvcr, and at 10
O'Clock were on the boat, steaming up the
river toward Aoundf City, where Camp
Rector was ldcated.a distance of some
six or seven miles, passing. on their way
up various objects ofiinterest, among them
Fort Harris, (Which was merely an en-
bankment thrown ND TO answer the MIR
pose. Arriving ut Mound City the party
disembarked and walked to the hotel
After dinner the party visited the camp
ground. distance of about one-fourth of
Il mile from the hotel. and here DE- Bur
ton and the other officers took much pride
Ill showing Webster around. They talked
vOlubly about the unexampled bravery of
the Confederate soldier: had much to say
on the subject of Southern chivalry as OPP
posed To Northen braggadocio; told how
well they were prepared to meet the on
slaught of the enemy, and found n special
delight IN exhibiting to the visitor n Dor
ton OF Gen. Bragg's artillery, which they
had in the camp.
After that they seated themselves
around table in one of=the larger tents.
to rest and enjoy the grateful shade. as it
was a warm and sunny afternoon. While
engaged III the most bombastic utteranccs
of their prowesses, and of the wonderful!
exploits that might be expected of the
Southern army, their conversation was in
terrupted by shadow falling across the
strip of sunlight that strcamed in through
the opening of the tent Every one
around the table glanced up, and there at
the entrance stood the man with the broad
brimmed hat, The intruder did not tarry
moment. but turned and walked away.
Evidently he had stopped only to look in:
but Ill that single instant lac had shot
keen. and apparently satisfactory, glance
at Timothy Webster, which was fortu-
nately not observed by any one save the
That fellow is one Of the Safety Com
mittee," said DIR. Burton, filling his glass.
He appears to be looking for some
ohe,' remarked Lieut.. Stanley
Reckon he is" answered the doctor.
Hes always looking for some one. And.
by the by, those chaps are doing a heap of
good for the cause just now. A Northern
man stands no show for his life in these
parts if the Safety Committee spots him.
They hang 'em on suspicion
That's right" said Webster. coolly. 81
believe in hanging every Northern man
that comes prowling around. They don't
deserve trial, for they have no right here
anyway"
But cool and collected as Webster out
wardly appeared, it must be admitted that
he was inwardly ill at ease. There was
no longer the shadow of a doubt in his
mind that this long-haired agent of the
Safety Committee was following him and
watching his every movement, and that
any attempt on his part to return to the
North would betray him and cause his ar
rest. sus q, +.'a
The only reason I have not already
been arrested" unused the scout, lis be-
cause they -urQ notes whether | came