Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1901-04-19

papers-duplicate Rich
mond is yorrs Lees army-te-
stroycd!' lie stood up then, and was
cool, his eyes res>;ng her pale face
as an open book. He turned to the
door.
Surgeon" he said, come to this
poor girl. Louise. I will return" He
rode to headquarters and laid before
his chief all the facts. A long dis
cnssion followed.
ut is desperate venture, general,
and ii | fail-dca:h! I know that.
But if ! succeed. it may mean life
for many a man in this army. Still.
let me be frank: shall go not for
that alone"
THE decision is with you, colonel.
My advice is against your plan. And
yet-if that information opened the
road to Richmond--it would mean
Gen. Somcrs."
II have your permission ?" There
was no answer. ~ shall start in 30
minutes, then" said somers. The
general gave his hand in silence and
turned away.
Avoid capture" he said, sadly.
Day by day faml.iar faces were pass
Ing from him.
~ shall not be captured. If it
comes, it will be soldiers DEATH"
was the reply. He reentered the pres
ence Of Louise clad in the uniform of
a confederate captain. The old ne
gress was with her, and, hat in hand,
a young man, her son, was delivering
a message to her. Somers caught
enough of the words to gather that
he came from Richmond.
How did you pass through the
lines?' he asked, abruptly. The ne
gro grinned and was silent Can you
guide me through--quick, man,
speak," The negro looked at the
uniform.
Yes, sab. But it's err long ways
now-an' through the swamp, too"
Louise, for your sake and the
child's / shall try. II i return no
more--It will be because I-have
failed!"
"Come-to me, Richard-kneel. And
now. God-bless you. IT'S a sinful
woman's prayer-but He will hear
even me. a murderess!"
"Murderess! Louise!"
II tried to kill him-tried to end
It! fired to kill in my despair-it
was the wrong man. 1 saw dimly-
through the blinds-another woman's
room-under the light of match
only-and I killed him-an innocent
mani"
"Louise-in Richmond-through the
blinds-a year ago."
"Ah. you heard of it7'
II was the man."
ut cannot be-"
at was wing-room. She was
meeling before ME, and the bullet
struck here.' He drew aside his hair
and rested his finger upon white
spot. "Fsrodnar-"
God is comforting me-" she whis-
pered. THE rest viii come" Tears
streamed down her cheeks from her
closed lids. Somers chose the mo-
mcnt to leave her.
Keep her alive until morning" he
said, to the surgeon. 81 will come
then-or not at ALL" And then to
the negro: Now, my boy, 500 in
gold il you guide me safely into
Richmond and back. Will yon need a
horse?" The negro shook his head
NO horse can cross whar l gointer
60" He led away briskly into the
Chickahominy swamp, and when
Richard Somers found the stars again
he was within the lines of his enc
my with the Richmond lights in
sight. Not until then did he remem-
Der that he had no knowledge of Ray
mond Holbin's whereabouts. He
stopped, amazed that he had failed in
this vital matter.
do you know Mr.. Holbin in Ricn-
mond," he asked of the negro, Mr..
Raymond Holbin 2"
YES, sab, course know him. We
all b'longs to es ma
What Then that house back yon-
der! Whose is that?"
Oats his house, sab, reck'n. Don't
nobody come out but him, to see es lit
tie gall
His girl! Her name-what is her
name?"
Calls 'er Chicky most generally.
Sometimes he called 'er Nanon.' Som
ers stopped then and stood with his
face toward the stars in breathless
reverie few moments.
my boy" he said, you saw the
woman who was shot?"
YES, sab"
"She is dying; that is her child and
she does not know it. Here is all the
money l have with me; it is yours if
you will go back with all your might
and tell her about the child. Do this,
my boy. and God will bless YOU"
"How you gointer get back, mars
ter?"
THAT doesn't matter!-go! go! Here
is your money-be quick now!"
Bring it along wild you, marster."
The negro vanished as shadow with
in shadow.
And now, Louise" said the soldier,
as he plunged on into the city, God is
comforting you'll"
So far as the chance of detection
was concerned, Richard Somers was as
safe on the streets of Richmond that
night as in his own camp; but he re-
allied that perhaps he had a difficult
task before him to find Raymond Hol-
bin. And if he found him, what then?
The city was in turmoil. Excited
men and women crowded the streets
and wounded soldiers were on every
side. There was to be little sleep that
night In Richmond or In the next five
to come, for the fate of the city hung