The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1901-09-25


Gus, but said nothing. Then she made
mp"0n to cock 1t when the muzzle
was covcring one of the men, and he
protested. She burst into "A merry
laugh.
what a brave man! Can't stand
being pointed ut by girl! Ever in n
battle? What's it lke?"
The soldier made no reply, hut reach.
ed for his carbine and seemed very
much relieved when she suffered him
to take it. There was no more play, for
at that moment we heard the sound of
horses hoofs, and, looking out through
the hall doorway, saw two men riding
up to the house. The one was Captain
Beaumont, the other Tom Jaycox. the
bitterest of all my Tennessee enemies
and upon whom | had visited most
summary punishment for the part he
had taken in the massacre. In another
minute they had dlsmounted and as
cended the steps of the gallery, then
came rapidly through the hall. Cap
tain Beaumonts appearance denoted
that there was something on his mind
of great moment. His companion lum-
bcred along beside him with the ap-
pearance of one looking for something
or some one Of peculiar interest to
him. He was n short, thicksct man In
corduroy trousers, double breasted
vest, open, no coat and n broad brim-
med straw hat, the hue OF which indi-
Gated that it had served for several
summers. His nose had been broken,
and he had lost an eye. y coarse, stub
by, brown and gray beard grew Oh his
chin. An uglier specimen the poor
white of the south could scarcely be
imagined, and the moment l saw him,
knowing of his cnmity for me, | gave
myself up for lost
There he is." said Captain Beau
mont.
81 reckoned So" replied the other.
| "He's yo' man."
"Who is he?" asked Miss Jack quick
| ly.
| "a renegade from the south, an abo-
| litlon hound, one o our east Tennessee
dogs. What he's doin hyar I dunno,
but l reckon he's on some Grant fo'
the Yankee gineral at Murfrcesboro"
| Suddenly all the careless, indolent de-
meanor of the captain deserted him.
With true southern impulse, without
stopping to investigate the charge, he
was fired by the story that he held in
his, s,hands one who, though a southern
er, was, hunting information for the de
6ested Yankees.
"Guurd!" he called.
The two men approached
'Take him away, and see that he
doesn't get back here. don't ever
want to see him again"
l was stunned. | knew we'll what
this order meant. | had heard 1t given
in case Of outlaws and knew that II
WAS the form In which orders were
given to- take men out and shoot them
Many guerrilla received his sentence
In those words
Captain" l cried, "if you shoot mo
you will commit II murder! That man
pointing to the brute beside hints
the real murderer l know him well
l saw him shooting down women and
children. l saw him" stoppyu
short. There was an incrcdulous loo,
on the captains face. | knew that my
accuscr had his condolences | realized
that dcnials and counter accusations
were expected from one in my positio.
and would have no weight.
JaQuClinc, though she could not hev,
understood the captains order, from
my words and from my stricken ap
pcarance, realized the situation Sh.
stood paralyzcd, but only for Il mo
mcnt. While the guards were al
vancing toward me she stole up to tn,
captain and slipped her arm throuwi
his. When lie looked down at her, nli,
was gazing up into his face with tn,
perfection of coQuctry | watched th,
effect eagerly. Ills first expression was
one of surprise; then ail severity die
away. An amused look followed. min
gled with admiration and at last h,
broke into pleasant smile.