The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-08-28
THE CONFEDERATE'S RUSE.

know what good all up and down the
backbone thrill is WORTH"
where does the thrill come in Max
well, the coIonePs partner. called from
his corner. The colonel chuckled, then
said very slowly, Can you imagine
how it feels to know yourself within an
inch Of hanging?"
"Oh, there's a storyi Tell it." Max
we'll said, putting down his pen The
colonel flung over to him the most I'M
forgIvable of the penwipers. then sat
down on the edge OF my desk, folded
his arms and began:
Don't know that I ever told you I
fit for Cousin Sally Ann, as our COM
pany was used to express serving the
Confederacy. But 7 did I was q dare
devil. too Would you think 50 to look
at me now?"
Not much,' we said in chorus. He
smiled and went on: Il belonged to Mr.
Forests 'critter company You don
know it, but that means that had a
heap of chances to get myself shot He
was a fighter from way back, was Mr..
Forrest. But that didn't feaze the boys
who rode with him. 1t was what they
were there for. He made things lively.
I tell you. in the country between the
riyerS-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 dam
gerous as anything could be. Still we
wanted now and then to get news of
our friends, the enemy, over there, and
one day 1 volunteered to swim the riv-
er and bring back word to my chief
Go if you're a mind ter, Billy, but 1
far .
said But I went. Home was across
the river, you see, and a girl who-but
never mind. didn't see her that trip
Hardly had 1 crossed when I ran
plump upon a former overseer, who
was, I knew, a union man. He recog-
nized me at once, yet if / had been the
prodigal son his welcome could not
have been warmer. When I asked II
he meant to inform on me, he almost
cried. His feelings We're SO hurt, in
deed, that I 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. I Wanter show We Jessermine's
drorin's, too he said. .Ye amt fer
got essermine-she's 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 en-
4 didn't know 'ena-not apart. I mean
ed them for me. She was a big. fair
girl, wholesome as the day is long 1t
gave me a 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 every
day in the year if only had not been
born a girl
The speech was still more comfort
ing when I got up in the morning and
found a whole division of bluecoats
stacking arms in the turnpike outside
the gate. They had made night
march and meant to cross the river the
next day. / was trapped squarely and
likely within ten hours to dangle from
limb. If my host did not betray N e,
my horse in his stable, with cavalry
saddle and holsters, most certainly
would. Escape was out of the ques-
ton. They We're before and behind
me and all around, with more coming
in each half hour.
mighty mad with Forrest He had whip
ped EN- when he had no right to do it
and run when they ought to nave whipped
him. There was, besides, a sort of talk of
retaliation. Altogether I made up my
mind that had less tnan SIX hours OF NE
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
all fed. It's likely you may have to ride
an night without stoppin,. but don't you
'sWni You believe IT, / trusted that girl
blindly-lay down and slept like a top
until she was back again She had her
paint box and brushes; besides couple
Of raw onions. When she had told me her
plan Cor me, ] laughed until I cried.
Garry it out2 shouldn't be here if I
had not That afternoon about o'clock
a man rode YEARLY into camp His eyes
We're red and swollen and ran water con-
tinual1y. He was broken out all over
with red, angry looking pustules. Take
me to your general. II surrender [ am
CAPTAIN Liilard of Forests cavalry he
said in weak voice. I want to be sent
to the hospital As you see, have small
pOxZ
1.-THE sentry waited to hear no more.
He passed the prisoner on like a hot po-
tato. So did the corporal of the guard.
and so, in the end did the general. The
prisoner whose eyes kept getting redder
and more watery, smelled strongly Of
onions, but none Of them came near
enough to perceive it. BY a o'clock he had
been escorted to the river bank and told
to cross 1t or drown or do anything that
pleased him except strew infection
through a United States army corps. He
did cross the river-he got safely to Mr.
Forrest. too-but did not escape quite scot
free 1t was all of a month before JeS-
sernine's paint wore Off