Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1901-09-13
The Daily Short Story J
The confederate's Ruse. {

| say, son" said the colonel, "do you
know what good all up and down the
backbone thrill is worth?"
Where does the thrill come imp
Maxwell, the coloners partner, called
from his corner. The colonel chuckled.
then said very slowly, 'Can you imag
Inc how it feels to know yourself with
In an inch of hanging?"
"Oh, there's a story. Tell it," Max
| well said, putting down his pen. The
colonel flung over to him the most I'M
| forgivhble OF the penwipers, then sat
| down or the edge of my desk, folded
his arms and began:
Don't know that I ever told you 1
| fit for Cousin Sally Ann, as our COM
pany wag used to express serving the
Confederacy. But 1 did. 1 was dare
devil too. Would you think so to look
at me nowF'
"Not much,' we said in chorus. He
smiled and went on: 81 belonged to Mr..
Forests 'critter company You don't
know 1t. but that means that 1 had
heap of chances to get myself shot. He
was lighter from way back, was Mr..
Forrest. But that didn't feaze the boys
who rode with him. 1t was what they
tell you, in the country between the
rivers-the Cumberland and Tennessee.
North of the Cumberland, after Donel-
son fell. it was mighty hazardous for a
graycoat to venture. The river could
be forded only in time of drought, and
the strict gunboat patrol made swim
ming or sailing across it about as dan
gerous as anything could be. Sill we
| wanted now and then to get news OF
our friends, the enemy, over there, and
one day volunteered to swim the riv-
er and bring back word to my chief.
Go If you're a mind ter, Billy, but 1
sorter think you'll come back dead he
said. But 1 went. Home was across
the river, you see, and a girl who-but
never mind. 1 didn't see her that trip.
Hardly had / crossed when / ran
plump upon n former Overseer, who
was, knew, a Union man. He recog-
nized me at once, yet If l had been the
prodigaI son his welcome could not
have been warmer. When l asked if
he meant to inform on me, he almost
cried. His feelings were so hurt, in
deed, that 1 had to agree to stay all
night at his house and let him help me
next morning across the river, which
was the main lion in my homeward
path. L wanter show We Jessermine's
drorin's, too he said. 'Ye amt fer
got Jessermine-shes the little young
I'm yer ma used ter make much on.
Growed up now. she is, an er schOller
right. Why, she paints cows an hawgs
an sech like that natchul We CANT help
but know 'em.'
Il didn't know 'em-not apart, I mean
until Jessermine herself differentiat-
ed them for me. She was a big, fair
girl, wholesome as the day is long. 1t
gave me heap of comfort to hear her
whisper as we separated for the night:
'Pap's the only Union man in this fam
lily. I'd fight for the Confederacy ev-
cry day in the year if only had not
been born girl
1.-The speech was still more comfort
ing when 1 got up in the morning and
found a whole division of bluecoats
stacking arms in the turnpike outside
the gate. They had made a night
march and meant to cross the river the
next day. 1 was trapped squarely and
likely within ten hours to bangle from
a limb. If my host did not betray me,
my horse in his stable, with cavalry
saddle and holsters, most certainly
would. Escape was out of the Ques-
ton. They were before and behind
me and all around, with more coming
In each half hour.
"Then every mothers son of 'em was
mighty mad with Forrest He had
whipped 'em when he had no right to
do it and run when they ought to have
whipped him. There was, besides, a
sort of talk of retaliation. Altogether
made up my mind that 1 had less
than six hours of life, unless a miracle
saved me or JeSSermine stood my
friend.
'She did that, like the trump she
was. Don't you worry she said when
she brought me breakfast. Eat hearty
an rest all you can, until 1 get them
Yankees all fed. It's likely you may
have to ride all night without stoppin,
but don't you be uneasy whatever you
do
xviii you believe it, 1 trusted that i
girl blindly-lay down and slept like a
top until she was back again. She had
her paintbox and brushes, besides n
couple of raw onions. When she had
told me her plan for me, laughed until
1 cried.
Garry it out? 1 shouldn't be here if
1 had not. That afternoon, about .
o'clock, a man rode YEARLY into the
camp. His eyes were red and swollen
and ran water continually. He was
broken out all over with red, angry
looking pustules. Take me to your
II surrender. 1 am Captain
Lillard of Forests cavalry he said in
a weak voice. I want to be sent to the |
hospital. AS you see, have small
pox'-
1.-The sentry waited to hear no more.
He passed the prisoner on like n hot |
potatoe. So did the corporal of the |
guard, and so, in the end, did the gen.
eral The prisoner, whose eyes kept /
getting redder and more watery. smell