The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1904-12-29
HER PRISONER
[Original.l

[OriginaLl
In the mals,r house of plantation in
Kentucky two Confederate generate
met to arrange a plan of campaign
against the Federal troops occupying
strong position not far to the north.
Shortly before the interview was closed
one of them took the memoranda that
had been accommodating. threw it in
stove and ignited it.
Now. Dolly Payne, an inmate Of the
house. was much interested in what
had transpired between the two gener-
| ais. Her father was fighting as colo
| mel In the Union army. Her mother
and her sister were at home and, being
ardent sympathizers with the southern
cause. were employed in conveying In
formation of Union movements to the
Confederate authorities. Such was the
singular division in the Payne family on
the great question then at issue. Isabel
Payne. the elder sister, was engaged to
Major Downing Of the Confederate or.
my, while Dolly was as good as en-
gagged to Captain Fellowes of the Union
army. both men being with their re-
spective forces In the neighborhood
| The generals had no sooner departed
than Miss Dolly went into the room
they had left and began still hunt for
something Of Importance they might
have left behind to take to her lover,
whom she was to meet that very night.
Not scrap Of paper lay on the table,
nor could she find one on the floor.
Looking into the stove she found one
half burned bit. Withdrawing It, she
saw something written on it in pencil:
BIS division to attack before daylight.
| Turn enemy's left AS soon as attention
Is drawn there Us brigade leads on their
| right; then VS., then LIS. All engaged as
dawn opens.
This was every word. She turned
the paper over, examined the back and
held it up to the light to see if there
were not some faint lines she could not
otherwise trace. There was nothing
more except '23d" indented in the pa
per by what might have been the wrong
end of penholder.
1t did not take Dolly Payne long to
| figure out from this that the generals
had arranged for an attack on the Fed
erals just before daylight, probably on
the next morning, which was the 23l
of the month. Three hours later. just
as dusk was falling, she mounted her
horse and rode away from the planta-
ton. AS she cantered out OF the gate
who should canter in but the Confed-
crate officer to whom her sister was
engaged.
Harold" said Isabel as her lover
was dismounting. dolly has gone off
somewhere, think to meet that con-
temptible Yankee. she's infatuated with.
I've ordered My horse and am geing to
] follow her. want you to go with me. )"
Major Downing consented, and the
two setpff at once. Both Downing. and
Fellowes Nsye between the lines and
not IND "a dag Of truce or anything to
bias tb cir condition as enemies. Dolly
Payhs was going on far different
quest than her sister and had armed
herself with q revolver, which she car
ried in her hand concealed by the folds
Of her riding skirt Major Downing
and her sister, not expecting that she
would ride rapidly, followed slowly. es-
pecially as they didn't care to make
known their presence inopportunely.
Suddenly on rise in the road they
saw the silhouettes of those they
sought. Turning into a wood, they
proceeded unseen till they came near
enough to hear Dolly's voice.
II looked everywhere for something
} more, but found nothing. This was
the only scrap not destroyed"
| "A very important scrap" said Eel
loves. "Who were the generals?'
II don't know their names"
And you're sure this paper was
placed in the stove by them?"
"I'll stake my life on it."
Isabel took in the situation at once
, and whispered an explanation to bel
!. lover.
"He shall never get back with thai
paper" said Downing and, riding for
ward, shouted:
"Throw up your hands!''
Captain Fellowes found himself GOV
cred before he could draw his weapon
"You have the advantage of me-" ht
said. II suppose must surrender"
: The Confederate proceeded to disarn
: his prisoner and while doing SO fell
r something cold against the back Of his
? neck and heard Dolly say:
"Shall fire or do you give in?'
. Downing dared not stir. Fellowes
taking advantage of his enemy's handi
. cap, drew his revolver, and the Confed
Q crate was covered by two weapons in
b stead of one.
t Meanwhile Isabel who witnessed tn,
Q scene, wrung her hands and wept tina
she could do nothing to aid her lover.
"Drop your pistol" said Captain Eel
. loves to his enemy.
Downing's pistol fell with thud. Is
abel spurred her horse forward to picl