Evening star., 1901-02-09

tree tops and the dripping leaves. still
heavy with the rain Of the night before
stirring under the rising breeze. shook
showers of diamonds on the horsemen wtnd-
ing below. Up from the rear of Sheridan 8
escort trooper rode to the generals side,
| and, touching his cap, sat in saddle muteIy
awaiting Instructions. His dress. his equip
ment his arms seemed newer than those of
his comrades. His face, too, lacked the tan
OF the war-worn veteran. His seat, his sa-
lute, even, were not those of the cavalry,
and Norman Holt looked at him in odd
curiosity. Somewhere he had seen that
face before: somewhere-when It was not
pleasant. Sheridan glanced at the new
conner askance.
"oh. yes. Stanley. This man is to join
your escort. You can send him back with
Lieutenant Holt after you're through.
Follow the lieutenant. my lad. Good bye,
Holt. Good luck" And then the little
queerly. keenly at the latest arrival. mo-
toned Holt to ride on his left hand, REIN
Ing his horse about, made way for him.
Whats the game do you suppose?' he
muttered. You know that's one of those
secret service men, don't your"
Know? 1t flashed all at once over Norman
Holt. This man in the trooper earb was
indeed no private soldier. Swung over one
OF ms shoulders was waterproof sack such
as was often carried by courfers and dis
patch bearers In stormy weather That and
the newness Of his outfit distinguished him
from the array Of the escort So did his
poiOp earliest lace, ana now Norman knew
where first that face appeared before him.
It was on that woeful day at Cincinnati
Ih1s was one of the men who collared the
Observation-Disclosures Lane.
CHAPTER XIII.
Almost without event the long day wore
on. At times squadron was halted, de-
tached from the column and pushed out
southwark. Especially was this done where
read or pathway entered the woods, or
when there were broad, open fields This
seemed odd to Norman, and the general
saw his perplexity. smiled and explained: ::
we wish them to see us. The idea is that
we are but cavalry veil covering a heavy
column OF infantry on march for the noun
tains; whereas, there isn't battalion of in
fantry east of Carlocks that town we
passed three hours ago"
Holt st1Il looked puzzled. ST couldn't helm
nearing Gen. Sheridan say the 14th Corns
was out toward Columbia by this time.
yet" ' '''l'o'
That's It," answered the general. "Pret-
Y much everything is moving out that way.
BUT were coaxing them to believe everv
thlns Is coming this way instead You cep
now" o0'poe.s
true; Borne on the soft breeze blowing
IIom tne iowlands far to the west every
now and then the dull boom. boom. Of die.
tant cannon caught the ear At times to-
among the woods to the south and east,
Waro, where the hillsides seemed to grow
steeper ana sleeper, the "ping' of carhfna
broke the silence, as scouting PARTED of
gray horsemen ventured too near the Ionr
sktrrnish line in blue. AS the sun sant Tors
ther to the west the sound Of cannon r.
came less frequent, and the woods woke IN
with almost incessant barking. StanIeur
with his stan and escort. had halted near
uecreplt farm house in the open. awaitin9
the report of certain squadron commondao
De1ore pushing on toward the heights onS
norman, who had been questioned so c,osa-
~ as 10 .he road and streams toward TulIa-
noma, wondered that he should be rojnor O.
far away from the region he was s1,nna.eS 81
to know. o"ppoSeo
Another thing had surprised him and
given him food for earnest Thought Hot
ing at MONDAY for a bite, the star had
GERS came and went, making renorts o, III
receiving instructions. Not a word had the
hentuck1an exchanged with the actino
trooper, who in placid silence had rtdda1
Tor hours at his heels, but now thew came
together. Linking his horse with that 81 q
soldier Of the escort the man with th. ~ a.. q
patch bag had strolled off to the rtoht
There he took from pocket a little narcai
OF oiled silk, and from the dispatch haa
some stout official envelopes. These lafter
ne Ialo upon convenient stump while he
essayed to unfold the silk. In that moist
humid atmosphere the folds had sfucE e.
gether and resisted. Engrossed in his 90
cupation, he failed apparently to notice tha
coming of the Kentuckian until Norman
stood at his side. Then his first move WAS
over the address on the topmost Of the
pile, but that superscription was in large
and most legible hand, ''MaJor General
George H. Thomas, commanding I4fl
Corps" and. unless he came with blinded