The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1902-05-29

losing no opportunities. A Wisconsin boy
carelessly flung his overcoat on the ground
near, to go for some wood. and Buckstaff
began to pull the garment cautiously to-
ward himself, aud finally wrapped it
| around him. A cap came within his reach
the same way He slipped the muslin
| bandage from around his head, and sud
denly stood up behind those gathered
| around the fire. A moment later he
mingled with the horses, in the shadows,
and then rode away unseen.
| 81 came back to look for him where he
had lain, and not finding him there, con-
Guided sleepiiy that Sol Dacus had re-
| turned him to the prisoners inside the
Westinghouse. He was too tired to
think much, anyway. and crawling in be
side Shorty, was soon fast asleep.
Abe and Tom were equally tired and
willing to postpone their wrath till morn
| ing. They felt sure of their man, any
way. They ragged terribly, the next MORN
ing, when they could not find Belly Buck
| staff anywhere, and 81 felt Il mixture. of
chagrin and relief-anger that such II
villain should have escaped, and RELIEF
that he was not called upon to execute
Justice upon him.
He had little time for these emotions,
however. as he felt the necessity of an
immediate start for Leesville, where he
should be early in the day, to protect the
flank of the advancing corps.
He hurried the boys about, therefore,
to get their horses fed, watered, and sad
died. and their own breakfasts.
They went ahead n mile or so, but
coming to a blacksmith shop stopped to
set several shoes which had become loose.
The forenoon was well-adyanced when
they were able to start again.
They came to a fairly good house near
| 4 old
negroes in state of great alarm.
a man who said he was a Yankee SOL
der wild one eye an snaggly teef, done
come long only dis mawnin' an ordered
ole massa an missis to glib him all DER
money, an watches, an jewlry an t'ings,
they explained. AN when dey didn't
want to do hit, he sassed an 'bused dem
awfully, an finally knocked bofe of dem
down, an hammered dem. He kicked
dem bof in DER sides, an deyr layin' in
dar. mos dead, an we don't know what to
do"
81 entered the house. and found the old
people lying on the bed. half dressed and
so badly injured to be nearly speech
less. The house bore evidence of having
been hastily ransacked. The bureau
drawers stood open, with part of the con-
tents flung on the floor, the clock and the
cupboards were also open, and the papers
which had been in them were scattered
about.
WHO did this?" 81 asked the old man.
Yankee soldier-One eye-bad teeth
blue Overcoat and cap" whispered the
man slowly and with difficulty.
Yankee SOLDIER" communed ST with
Shorty, while All. assisted by the rest.
was making an effort to render the old
people more comfortable. Don't see
how any soldiers could've got out here be-
fore us. No scout has got ahead of us
so far"
"One eye? Scragsly teeth?" returned
Shorty. Begin to have an idea. Bolly
Buckstaff.'
Dolly Buckstpff.' echoed ST. "He
Couldn't g-H
How do you know he couldn't? I'm
the one to think he couldn't, for l hit him,
and my intentions were good for shufflins
him clear out. But may have been lit
tie clustered ut the time"
But he seemed SOL
'Of course, he seemed. You never
played 'possum yourself, did you? Re
member he took mighty good care not to
Dolly Buckstaff?" repeated 81, digest
ing the startling idea.
Yes: but there's one thing. He must
know that there's nobody out here, and
we can go ahead with rush. Come on"
They passed several other houses, at
each or which they heard stories of a
Yankee soldier, who had ransacked their
bureaus and cupboards, and even snatched
from the fingers, ears and breasts of the
women the trumpery jewelry so much in
favor in the South.
They rode ahead at a sharp gallop, and
presently came to a house in flames, with
an old woman seated under q tobacco
shed, surrounded by such household
articles as the negroes could rescue from
the burning building.
How did this happen?' 81 asked the
woman.
Bolivar Buckstaff done it," she an
swered. He was Sergeant in my sons
company-my sons Capt. Hickox, you
know. Bolivar said he always hated my |
son for his overbearing ways and tyraniz- |
ing over him, and was now going to get
even with him, by burning my house. He
tried to force Bob our boy there (pointing
to young negro lying on a pile of corn
husksl. to 70 with him, saving that he