The National tribune., 1902-11-06

Ole Dilber promises us $4,000 cash IL
We kin git them outside the Yankee lines,
but l don't know as we're obleeged to
give 'em up to him even for that IL
they're wuth that TO him, they're wuth
quite rs much to us. Our chances are
monty good. We kin easily take keer Of
all these Yankees in here. and the near
est troops air n quarter of mile away.
You and me mout settle them ourselves.
by crawling round, and stobbing one arter
another as they lay asleep. But I'm
afeared of you, you're so bodashusly mar
yous. you can't be trusted in quiet work.
You go back and bring up the boys quiet
ly. I'll meet you right out thar. at the
opening. Don't make mite more noise
than you kin help. for We want no alarm.
If we work this trick slick We kin git all
this stuff out and miles away before morn
ing"
The man had stepped close to 81, to
whisper directly in his ear 81 gauged his
distance and hight as well as he could in
the darkness, and with swift certain
swing of his left hand, closed on the
rebels throat. He kicked his feet from
under him, and fell heavily upon him.
IF you make particle of noise, and
wake up and scare that lady and children.
III kill you instantly" he hissed in the
rebels ear. DO you surrender
Got to-" family gasped the rebel. as
ST loosened his grip sufficiently to let him
speak. Don't kill me"
Il won't kill you, unless you make n
But if you do you won't live a minute.
Come back here
Need any help. Si?" Shorty whispered,
gliding over to his partners side.
mot Bit answered ST, dragging the
man over to the fire, and making him lie
down there. Wake up the rest of the
boys quietly, and put Harry on guard
over this fellow Be careful not to dis
turb the people in the wagon"
what had we better do next?" 81 in
quired of his partner a minute later.
"As near as / can make out" answered
Shorty there's probably eight or 10 fellers
laying out there by that clump of brush.
waiting for a signal from the feIler left
there at the opening. | think we'd better
FIRE a volley out there to shoe them off.
That's all they need, and II be the least
bother"
''But that II scare that lady and her
children to DEATH" objected Si.
mo, it needn't. You just go and wake
her up. and tell her that we've got to fire
or something. I'll get the boys together,
and pour ripper into them hounds, while
you're Quieting her."
| So quietly had all this been DONE that
the man on watch beyond the opening had
heard nothing to rouse his suspicious and
| lie WIS Sllil WdltlUS loT tue SlSudi.
81 stepped over to the wagon, and rap
ped lightly on the tailboard.
who's there?" inquired the lady.
Its me-Sergeant Klegg. I've just
come to tell you, ma'am not to be dis
turbed if you hear any shooting. We've
got orders to fire off our guns, but it don't
mean anything. Go right on, sleeping.
There's no danger"
Shorty, slipping along far ahead of the
rest. came to the man on watch.
''Whar's the rest?" he asked in hoarse
whisper.
Fright over thar, By them two dead
poplars." answered the man, pointing to
the white skeletons of tulip trees. They're
probably gittin' monty restless. What'ye
bin doin' all this time? / thought
Shorty's carbine coming down on his
head interrupted the sentence.
''Come on up. boys" called Shorty to
the rest. They're right over there, where
you see those two white streaks. Fire low.
and pump two volleys into them. That'll
be enough, and all they're worth"
CTo be continued)