The National tribune., 1903-12-03

i
with me. 0'Donnell. At first was afraid
I'd got into a gang of bushwhackers: but
| they showed mp all right-gray uniforms.
carbincs. and everything. Same man you
had over yalder-that same Sergeant
wouldn't fiZ his right name then-Mor-
san's his N vme. I've got his parole in
my pocket. and he's got my name in his
pocket: hut if I've got any sense. his
parole Is not worth dam, and Freeman's
not q so.ng bt6 TecogniZe it. | wish he
won,d. hut he won't" and Hawley sighed.
~ SergcaIit,i ye say? And sure me
nninier eiSlitain was Il Sergeant. But
Oi tell ye that capt. Frayman is not the
man to swallow such a parole: no. no,
| Misther Hawley. we're not to lese fhe
great pleasure Of yer sosoity for amy Sar-
geant's parole, Make up yer miud to that
at wanst. :lnd Save yerself from suspinsa
And we've had good luck. Oh say. in get
ting away 90 lSightly. Me number eigh-
tain ihraited re mighty we'll intirely,
Misther HaYleS; did ye say they wor
aiger for ye toi go?"
Il thought SO. They were ready to-
move. and l thought they wanted t, get
rid Of me. There was one time when
was afraid they'd put me out of the way:
they treated me all right though
The foregoing version of the adventure
was repeated to Capt. Freeman. who de.
manded Hawley's duplicate parole and
examined it,
aha! 1st Va! Then 1 suppose Fitz
D. or is it d? Yes, a ID. Serg't
d. Morgan. 1st Va. Cav. Why, Hawlev
this thing is not worth the paper it's
written on. You will get back to your
duty. man."
Then must ask you to protect me in
this. Captain"
Protect? tell you to get back TO
your duty. a Sergeant has no right to
administer such an oath as this Such
authority is high. 1t must come with higl,
command. If it should be the casa that
man who violated such pretended thing
as this were taken again and maltreate'
in any way. Gen. Meade himself would
see after it."
Eyes. sir. suppose so; but it wouldn't
do me very much good if they had already
shot me-"
'.Do you want me to assure you? My
dear fellow, just hold me responsible.
But there's not particle of danger. And
you're lucky in not being sent TO, some
rebel prison; and if you feel ticklish about
it. and happen to get caught again, just
follow that Sergeant's example and give
'em some other name. Morgan-Morgan,"
continued Freeman. soliioquizing, I'm not
sure that's ID. 1t may be an o. or it
may be D. and more likely d than o.
But what does it matter?" Then, quickly.
to Hawley. You say Squire was with
these people?"
Eyes. SIR
How can you be sure? Did you see
him when we had him at Rowser's? See
him in good lightY'
mo. sir. didn't see him there. except
in the dark; but the rebels this morning
called his name more than once
''Ah! BY Jupiter. Morgan
sSAx L..
pocket-book: afterward he showed it to
Lieut.. Brock. who also was puzzled con-
cerning the initial. Brock thought the
letter was an l.. with a long upward
stroke to the tail. The whole thing had
been written with pencil. and showed the
effects of nnclean friction.
Brock, there hasn't been a word from
Lacy or about him since We left him
down yOnder.'
The Lieutenant recognized in his own
mind the association of ideas that had
called up Efeenan's remark. The name
Morgan and, name Squire were coupled
on this day-with as great distinctness as
formerly they had been by Dahlgren. and
previously by Squire -svheT he had visited
Freeman's bivouac with the purpose of
arranging for tie delivery of the wounded
Morgan. These, compound condolences
could not be accidental. = - N-s.-'
~ F
"Don't yen suppose Lacy's got away
from Vests long ago?
1T has been very nearly month. sir,
and the road 10 Washington has been
open all the time
"But Doc wouldn't move an inch if he
thought it would hurt his. patient.
'NO, and he may be there':yet. But
would. you sapPese"that Lacy has found
out that he's been nursing the wrong
manF'
ut wouldn't make a single bit of differ
ence; he'd just keep on with his nursing.
And I'll tell you what I'm going to do,
Brock. Just as soon as we get in reach
of that place, I'm going there. and, if |
can't so, then III send somebody. I'm
going TO see who that man is. It'll take
a positive order from Pleasonton to keep
me back. And if that nigeer knows what's
good for him, he'll never. letome Jay hands
on him again."
From Purcellville Capt. Freeman
his command,te Philomont,s and
on the ODD he was ordered to occupy
Aldie. his scouts reporting the road clear.
BY this time the most of Meade's infantry
had passed south and reached the line
man was practically in the rear. And
though the Captains duties were not
light. extraordinary vigilance having been
urged by headquarters lest attacks be made
upon the long wagon trains by enterpris-
ing partisans supposed to be ready to seize
upon such prey, yet he found time to keep
his word so emphatically pronounced to
Lient. Brock.
BY the virtue of hard riding Mt short
times, long rests at others, and close
always, Usher West had sue
ceeded in reaching the point in Goose
Greek swamp nearest his home, and had
hidden his companions far from any road.
Baxter, however, going on to see how the
land lay with his own people and affairs,
and to learn, if possible, the whereabouts
and purposes OF Mai. Mosby.
AS night fell on the 23d West set out
llOne for hOme-alOne. for although both
Morgan and Armstrong We're intensely
anxious concerning conditions at the
yet it was felt that it would
be too great peril to be seen by Lacy,
who by all means must be prevented from
that Usher was other than he
pretended to be. So, in an hours time,
West had covered the distance and had
hitched his horse. and was approaching
the rear of the dwelling when lie heard
the sounds of riding and mems voices in
the front yard. He stopped short, but
soon felt confident that the men were
leaving. He went on and was about to
possible that the departure of the visitors
had not been final. In this doubt he went
round the house toward the roOm-his |
,wn-whicli he knew the Federal Morgan
had occupied almost a month ago; ap- |
preached the window through which Tom |
Baxter had spoken to DIR. Lacy. Usher |
cursed his fate, and the Yankees yet |
more, that he should be compelled to act |
ike thief at his, own fathers door; but |