Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-10-10

| Y
Are you John Branderstane, STRIP
leave your house till we call for him."
Helen cast an inquiring look at me to
know if she should give the pledge. l
saw that a glance would enable me to
remain where l was and, If chose,
after the departure Of the troop, leave
the house, with Helen to bear the re-
sponsibility of my going.
| Nonsense, mani" said, rising. do
you suppose I'm going to permit wo-
man to stand between you and me?
You are gentleman, II you are taking
it upon yourself to arrest whom you
please, and I'm enough of a gentle
man not to avail myself Of your prof
fered avenue of escape. II must go,
I must. Where dc you intend to take
me. captain?"
By this time several men who had
| followed the officer pushed their way
! into the room. / received no reply to
my question, but was ordered to get
up and go with them. The members Of
the family. discovering that something
had gone wrong, fiocked about, and it
was easy to see that, though they did
| not understand why / was arrested,
they We're all in sympathy with me.
Mrs. Stanforth seemed greatly dis
tressed Mr.. Stanforth attempted to
argue my case for me. Of course to no
| purpose. The negroes were all indig-
nant. While waiting for my horse I
heard Lib delivering herself in the
| back hall: jh
"Wha' fo' dat mis'able osifer wild he
sleeves covered all ober wild dem gol'
snakes goih t rest tine south'n gem
! len like dat? Dat wha' yo' call free
dom? Colored folks got mo- freedom
| den dat. L. heah mas'r talkin bout
stutional libe'ty. Wha's de use O. stu
tional libe'ty when de oder man got he
hand on yo' collar?"
heard no more. for was conducted
out to the gallery. Just as I started
down the walk Ethel appeared, with
| curious eyes, and paused to take her
up and give her parting kiss. l cast
glance at Helen. There was intense
| interest in her face, but among so
! many emotions could not discover
| which predominated. I went with the
| soldiers down to the gate, where l
found my horse. and, mounting. cav
alryman on each side of me, rode away
with the troop.
We proceeded up the pike for short
distance, then, crossing the railroad
| track. struck road which bent to the
east.
Captain" said, 'I don't like the
direction you are going. If your III
tentions were not murderous, you
would take me to Huntsville and exam
Inc into the charge against me. 1t ap-
pears that you are taking me into the
country to dispose of me-"
Il am on my way to join my squad
ron near Brownsborough, sir, where
yo' will have an opportunity to face
| yo'r accuser. If yo' are innocent, yo'll
have no trouble. Yo' can enlist in my
company"
'Thank you. Do I look like a man
who would go begging for commits
sion?"
II beg yo'r pardon, sir" And he lift
ed his hat apologeticalIy.
had retained my GOODNESS thus far,
but confess l did not like the situa-
ton. AS a southern man, used to
southern people. I felt certain conf
dence, yet If it were known that was
Union officer would be put out Of
the way without benefit of clergy.
Who was the man who had Informed
against me? What did he know2 The
more thought about 1t the more in
tense became my anxiety. Suddenly
looked up ana saw white tents. I
knew at once BY the looks Of the camp
that 1t contained one or two companies
of cavalry. There was railroad bridge
near by, crossing what I knew to be
Flint river. and Judged that the cav
airy was guarding this bridge.
had forgotten my unlucky wound
and was intent on the camp when,
passing under overhanging branches.
stiff bough scraped my arm, and I
felt at once that 1t had been injured. I
told the captain Of my fears, and we
halted to make an examination. TAX.
ing of my coat there. as i expected,
was stain Of fresh blood on my shirt
sleeve.
"You needn't trouble youssels % muir
der me-" I remarked. THAT wound Ia
better enemy than all uS others to.
gether.o
The captain east s,aaasa about him