The Irish standard., 1900-01-13
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copyright. 1898. by J. P. Llppincott Col
XXII.
AALAIIe
AN oPPORTUNE ARRIVAL.

There was q 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 so
little Difference for the commander-in-
chief. The old man stood for 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 shrunlz 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 whitelivered hound!"
Corporal Plunk!" exclaimed Marga-
ret and I at breath.
Corporal" said Gen. Heath, "you are
in the presence of the general-in-chief."
PUNK Strengthened up and brought his
hand up to his forehead aaykwardly by
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. 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. l got these things on the Way
pointing to his disguise-"and walked
straight into Col. Archard's lines. I
found Enoch there, settin' on log by
n campfire with Maj. Berante-that
gentleman there. I crouches behind
tree and hears the whole confab. Enoch
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 permits
sion to send detachments OH to chase
'em, then goes to house near by and
comes back with paper. don't know
what it was, but / TUX it tibet he wrote
it himself. Leastways he tells Enoch
tibet if 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 was SO
riled tibet 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 lirec-
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 a hole. Thinllin' 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'tiL
mornin' to make it all up-for thet's
what was agoin7 to do. In the 1nornin'
1 tells him a cock-and-bull story about
Gen. Grant sendin' troops around by
Nashville and Louisville to Knoxville,
and lets him simmer. He opens them
snakes eyes O. lils'n, takes in the .info1,-
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'tkept
me long at any one time. Last night 1
give one of the menwatchin' me postal
quarter to go to the sutler for rum,
and"
General" interrupted Gen. Heath,
Corporal Plunk's testimony ma]zes:all
clear. The work on which you sent
me has been accomplished, but not by
me. Lieut. Hall and Corporal PUNK
have done their part, but it's 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 implying day-while her two
associates on the expedition were
asleep, saw the transfer of Longstreet's
corps.
"And now," he continued, "haying
witnessed her vindication, it only re-,
mains to defend myself against the
venom of that serpent. Maj. Berante.
you were about to read a certain let
ter from me to the mayor of - when
you were interrupted by Corporal
Fiunk's entrance. beg you to pro-
ceed."
"Circunlstantial evidence" he said,
II have always considered worthless,
and this mans testimony convinces me
that have been right. We're it worth
my while, and had time and oppor-
tunity, I could easily refutc all that
has been brought against me. Instead,
l will give you something that is in
black and white. written and signed
by that man" (pointing to Gen. 1IeatfD.
tbruyV, 4 T.