The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-06-20
CHAPTER TX.
FRIENDS.

CHAPTER TX.
FRIENDS.
II was plain to me that / was In the
hands OF that terrible wartime scourge
OF the south. the guerrilla. This band
had been made up I'm east Tennessee and
had moved out OF their original stamping
ground TO get away from their old homes
and find better field for pillage. From
the Cumberland plateau they could
swoop down toward Nashville, Muir
freesboro, McMinville. Shebyville. Fay
cite or Huntsville and. IL chased, could
easily take to the mountains. where IT
was difficult TO follow them. On one Of
their forays Tom Jaycox and Pete Halli-
day had got wind OF my whereabouts
and, with several OF the gang. including
the man i had shot, had gone down 10
look after me. The country In and about
Huntsville was too civilized for open as-
sassfnation. and Jaycox. after the failure
Of the attempt on my life. had procured
my arrest As spy. Then followed the
plan to kidnsp me and force me into a
payment OF money before the final re-
venge.
We bivouacked where we had met the
band on the plateau. under the trees that
waved above US. their sprouting leaves
lighted up by our campfire. I lay awake
ZIG oatcf part OI the nlknI, WatCllnk
for an opportunity TO escape, but one sen
try after another was placed over me.
and morning came without my having
made the attempt
AT sunrise we moved northward. as
on the day before. my captors still keep
Ing strict watch over me. During the
day Jaycox pushed on In advance. Why
did not know, but surmised that his go
Ing had something TO do with the plan
TO plunder ma
The mountains seemed deserted. Not
human being did we see save two wo-
men and a negro. all on horseback. travel
Ing In the same direction as ourselves
/ caught several glimpses of them.
though always at a distance. and won
dered how IL was that poor white
trash" TO which class they appeared to
belong. could AFFORD the attendance Of a
slave.
When we halted for the night, which
we did about o'clock In the afternoon,
the captain came up to me and told me
they We're going TO take me to a point
near my old home, Knoxville, where /
would be required to sign a check for a
large amount, all they could squeeze out
OF me, but II there were not sufficient
funds to my credit In the bank / must
execute papers that would enable him to
convert property into money. II would
do as he wished. he would see me free.
MS hItW 10 Ot a lie. Inc kaUk WOuIQ
find pretext TO murder me whether
signed the document or not.
He left me sitting on the ground, lean
Ing against a log, contemplating the hor-
rors OF my situation. IL did not pay my
ransom i should be murdered: IL / paid
II, / should be murdered. IL was Hob
sons choice. made UP my mind that I
would attempt to escape. get shot and
thus end a situation that was infiicting on
me mental torture far greater than any
physical pain mortal ever endured.
Casting my eyes inadvertently toward
the road, saw two women passing north
ward and In another moment recognized
them as those / had noticed on tho
march. To my surprise. one Of them
turned and rode toward us. The other
hesitated, started on turned and followed
her companion. i noticed something ia
miliar about their figures. The coarse
texture OF their Jackets and gowns were
out Of keeping with their graceful car
riage. If these women knew" thought
that they were entering guerrilla camp.
they would be stricken with terror"
When they reached a point dozen yards
distant, they paused. the one in advance
calling in harsh voice:
Can you uns tell us how IA 'tist
Tracy?"
Then beneath the homely check bon
net. through the olive darkening OF her
COtuUlcAlVH Cncap Cdl1CO, rec
ognized Helen Stanforth. Her beautiful
companion was none other than my fas-
cinating little friend who had saved me
from the impetuous wrath OF Captain
Beauhont-JacQueline Rutland.
Had pair OF angels come down from
heaven and lit on my shoulders l could
not have been more astonished. rubbed
my eyes. thinking that my vision de-
ceived me, but when looked again there
was Helen sitting on her horse, chatting
with the guerrillas II they were ordi-
nary persons. making commonplace re-
marks in excellent dialect, with which a
long residence near the mountains had
made her familiar Jacqueline remained
a short distance behind her. For awhile
/ feared that Jaqueline would betray
them both. for l could see that she was
trembling. But presently all terror
seemed to leave her. She rode up beside
Helen and began to chaff the men, at once
attracting the attention OF the whole
band.
"Yo're a likely GAL" said one OF them.
git down offen that critter and stay
awhile"
Couldn't think of It,"
"Oh. yes. yo' kin" And he walked up
and took hold OF her bride rein.
"Yo' Jim Canfeld," cried the captain.
"let that gyrl alonel'
The captain advanced and invited the
two visitors TO alisht. promising that they
should be respected. Jaqueline gave him
a grateful look as he helped her off her
horse with far more gallantry than might
have been expected from the leader OF
this gang OF rufflans. Indeed. there was
something In his bearing to make me
suspect that this bandit captain-Ring
gold they called him, though suspect the
name was assumed-was an unworthy
member Of some good southern family who
had 1iaQVaCrA hfu,geK With his n nd