The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1902-05-22

| science by saving to himself. GAIL lack
| is the right girl, her consent, the oppor-
tunity and the preacher 1 have all the
rest. and more of it than any other man
alive"
"Then III go with YOU" she said.
"ShOrty, I've found the man in there
that planted them torpedOes," said 81,
coming out of the Westinghouse, with
rebel prisoner He's agreed to go with
you, and show you any that maynt have
| busted. This'll help you out. If he plays
fair, you can let him go. II he don't
| but | needn't tell you what to do If he
don't"
Mount and come on, Pete" command
| ed Shorty, putting his foot in the stirrup.
Miss, you ride beside me. Pete, bring
| that man along, and be sure you bring
| him"
They galloped down toward the ford.
| As they reared it the rebel prisoner
stopped and lighted a large torch of fat
pine slivcrs. They refined their horses
down to walk, the rebel went ahead. and
Pete followed, with his carbine ready for
use. if the rebel should play any tricks"
as he expressed it.
Help, Help. I'm dying" came in
agonized walls across the water.
I'm here, Tommy. I'm comm right to
yOu," coOed Miss Linda Birdsong in reply,
rs she started her horse forward.
Hold on warned Shorty, catching her
bridle as the rebel descended from his
horse and began warily advancing, exam
lining every step by the light of his torch.
mo telling how many more torpedoes
there are in there yet"
NO; there amt no more. They all
bursted on me. They've tore me all to
pieces" walled the voice. Hurry up or
I'll be dead before you reach me-"
Yes; I'm comm right to you Hold out
a minute longer, Tommy" chirruped Miss
Linda.
Got a mighty strong voice for a dying
man." commented Shorty. Sounds like
he'd developed it calling hogs on an Injian-
ny prairie"
Don't be BRUTE" snapped Miss Lin
| da.
Look out, thar" called the rebel, ar
| resting her rush. You're right onter q
wire"
He went cautiously forward and cut a
wire with pair of clumsy tailor's shears
he took from his belt He threw the end
of the wire off some distance from the
path.
Now le' me go ahead, an throw the
brush out, and you kin come on" he said.
That's the only one this side the crick."
He handed the torch to Pete, who was
following with carbine ready for instant
use, and he now waded into the water,
hSlDS DOIu udHuS u lIIOW tHe uSlue
As he passed the center of the stream,
however, he began to handle it more gin
gcrly. He at length took the torch again
from Pete's hands, and studied the brush
anxiOusly. lie selected one branch finally,
handed the torch back. picked up thee
branch carefully, holding it at arms
length, and flung it with all his strength
down the stream dropping into the water
at the same instant.
A loud ayyloSinu fnllnwad tho foil nf
the branch, and bits of the six-pound shell
sung around viciously.
Wow. WowI o, Lordr yelled Mr.
Buzzell. "Do be careful there. One o.
them come within two inches of my head"
Dripping with water, the rebel arose,
and searching a little for the other wires,
cut them, one after another, and cleared
away the brush.
Now you kin come on acrost," he said.
I've done as / promised. Le' me CO."
Mr.. BuZZell kept up his yelling ;or help.
and Miss Linda her cooling assurances that
she was coming directly to his side.
No" said Shorty to the rebel. "You
amt through yet We can't have you saw
ing them torpedoes for use against the
Yankees some place else, and we don't
want them laying around to bust at any
minute we're careless about getting near
em. You must touch 'em all Off"
The rebel eXpOStulated, but Shorty was
obdurate, and Pete's demeanor was that
of boy who hadn't killed a rebel for at
least week and was eager for another
homicide. The rebel at last went back
and secured a fishing pole. He tied the
bit of the line at the end of this, to
the end of the wire, and lying down at the
end of the pole, pulled off the torpedoes,
one after another. Shorty helped Miss
Linda TO dismount. and they stood with
their horses behind big sycamores while
this was going on.
Every time one exploded Mr.. BuzzelI
yelled as if each of the whistling frag-
nents was tearing his suffering body to
pieces, and Miss Linda answered with ten
der sympathy.
That's the last one" said the rebel,
finally. Nov, kin ! go"