The bee., 1902-05-29
CHAPTER IL.


interest and bidding them good bye,
he left the town about noon, and
putting Larry into a long lope-a
gait in which boys delight to ride
he went on singing his war songs in
a low key, and watching the road
ahead.
He noticed no one at work on the
farms he passed, but thought that
was easily accounted for, because it
was such raw, cold day.
Occasionally a woman or child
would come to door or window,
being aroused by the sound of his
ho2se's feet, but no one warned him
that he was riding into danger, for
no one knew, for certain.
The men, to be on the safe side,
were out in the thickets with their
horses to keep the blue coats from
riding or leading them away, and
the women had everything of value
hid as well as they knew how to
hide them, and were now waiting
with nervous dread to hear the
clanking of sabres and the sound of
horses feet, as the well drilled sol
diers would ride down the road, Oft
en- four abreast.
Our little courier had gone several
miles without seeing or hearing any
thing unusual, and so had become
bright and cheerful again, whistling
gaily as he rode along, when as he
turned a bend in the road, right be-
fore him, not fifty yards away, was
the advance guard of a regiment of
Union soldiers.
There was no way to turn or hide,
so he must assume a boldness that
he did not feel, and ride straight
ahead.
Thinking Immediately of his pis-
tolls, he checked his horse into slow
walk, and began unbuckling the belt
that held them.
Then he let them slide slowly down
into the leaves on the roadside, hop
ing they would escape the sharp eyes
of the men. He then rode on, with
his heart throbbing so loud, he fear
ed they would hear it, even through
his jacket and overcoat.
He tried to appear unconcerned
and touched his cap politely, as he
came near. AS he was going in an
opposite direction and looked SO
young and boyish, they took HIM tc
be a neighborhood boy on some er.
rand, and let him pass unnoticed.
But, oh, those tell tale pistols He
had only gotten a few yards pas
when he heard the loud command
"Stop, boy" Halt therel Hall
that boyw
Looking around in a tremor o.
fear, he saw his six shooters hello
high, by a dfsmounted soldier. He
was turned back, and halted where
the pistols were found. AS they
were dry, and the belt warm, there
was no sense in his denying that he
had dropped them there.
He was questioned closely, and
told true story about the soldiers
leaving them at his mothers house
and his promise to carry them t.
him, the first opportunity. He alsC
resolved, on the instant, to claim t
be a son of Mrs. Adkins and, o
course, native of the county they
were then In, for he had ever dread
of meeting with Union soldiers from
near his fathers home, who were
his fathers enemies.
The colonel of the regiment, com
ing up at this time, seeing the pis
tolls and hearing the story, told TIVE
of his men to ride with the boy Il
r., and bring him before him, at I
certain hour that afternoon, wnen b,
would determine what should b.
done with the "young Independent,
as he smilingly called him.
Paul knew he woult be searched
when they got to r., and the papers
if found on him, would betray him
so he set to work to get rid of then
If possible.
He rode along, listening to tn
bantering of the two who had hin
in charge, but their talk had no in
terest for Paul. Matters of create
Importance were on his mind. HOY
was he to destroy that paper?
He determined to destroy it Il
some way, so pulling the glove Of
his right hand, and rubbing his han,
carelessly over his outside coat til
his fingers were damp, he then un
buttoned his coat, and thrust hi