The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1901-11-21

ing like the 1ctnd.
had evidently caught sight Of us and
were straining every nerve to catch us
before we reached Dcchcrd. l told the
blacksmith to lay it on hard, we'll
knowing that between us and our pur
sucrs was only the life Of his horse.
He was raising his whip when the
horse stumbled and fell, pitching most
of us out Of the wagon. fortunately on
soft ground. Getting up and running
to the PROSTATE animal, I found him
stone dead.
We were still quarter Of mile
from the town, and the guerrlllas
would be on us in jiffy. Calling to
the others to help, I turned the wagon
across the road and directed all to take
position behind 1t. Distributing the
guns, we waited the coming Of the adj
vance Of our enemies. Three men, pret
ty near together, catching sight Of us,
drew rein and waited for their COM
rades. Others soon came up, and
counted seven men preparing to charge
us. was about to give an order as to
the firing when I heard an exclamation
from Ginger:
"Bress de Lawdl'
Turning. saw troop Of cavalry
carrying the stars and stripes riding
leisurely from the town. l fired n shot
to attract their attention. Suddenly
! they seemed to take In the situation.
I heard the sharp word Of command
| and saw them coming at n gallop.
| Glancing at the guerrillas, l saw them
vanishing In the distance.
"Savedw l cried.
"De Dressed Lawd be tankedw shout.
ed Ginger.
"Gol darn it." said Buck. "ef I'd a
had q shot I'd "a plunkcd one Of EN-"
"By Jove." remarked beaumont, star
Ing at the approaching troopers. I'm
a prisoner"
| There was pun Of smoke among the
retreating gucrrillas. the crack Of n
carbine, and Jack fell into Helen's
arms.
Never Was the pleasure Of hard earn.
| ed success more cruelty dashed at the
moment Of triumph. We. had fought
| these fienus Off for days. we had eS,
capped from them to coveted protec.
tion, and now. at the last moment, they
had struck us severely. Jaqucline lay
on the grass. her head and shoulders
resting on Hclen's arm, who stanched
the blood which flowed from a wound
! In her side. bent over her with O
| groan. Captain Beaumont for q mo,
ment seemed fired to chase the man
who had shot her, then Joined those
about the wounded girl. muttering I'm
precautions On the guerrillas and IN
coherently begging us to save his little
JaqnelIne.
"a surgeon" I cried to the troopers,
who were sitting on their horses look.
| Ing on. "Some one 20 for surgeon"
| ride quickW said the captain in
command, turning to the man nearest
| him, "and bring q doctor and con-
veyance from the town." Then to an
officer: "Lieutenant. follow those men,
and don't come back till you have cap.
tured every one Of them. Take 80 men
with the best horses. With fresh
mounts you can run them all down."
A man dashed of toward the town
and 20 more after the retreating gucr-
rillas. Jack lay With her head on
Helen's shoulder. her eyes closed. her
face white as q cloth, we all about her,
dreading every moment that the life
blood would run out. Presently she
opened her eyes, looked about her, then
tainted away.
"Ob. my God" cried Beaumont, "she's
gone!
keep off," cried Helen, "and give
her air"
"Jack." cried Buck, terrified at her
ghastly appearance, wake upW
!, with a soldiers knowledge Of the
thirst OF wounded person, dashed
away in q hunt for water. found q
well In yard on the outskirts Of the
town and, drawing the staple to the
chain that held tin cup, brought a
plentiful supply. Helen was still sup.
porting her cousin. Buck was striding
about nervously, with his hands thrust
down into his pockets, while Captain
Beaumont was kneellng, his eyes peer
Ing into Jacks as though by his gaze
he would hold the life that he dreaded
was ebbing away. I sprlnkled water
in her face, and she opened her eyes,
looking about hey rs II unable to under
stand her surroundings.
"What's the matterT
Curiously enough, the words were the
same rs those had first heard her ut
ter when, wounded, I reclined on
sofa Mt her home.
you're hurt Jack" said Helen.
"Am I going to dieW
ooh, no, dear. hope not"
"Don't die" said Beaumont In bro
ken voice. Don't leave me. couldn't
bear It,"
She looked up into his face sadly. y
have been n bad girl to yo', captain
Forgive me-"
"Forgive your love even your harsh
Wagd9In -. =.