Ottumwa tri-weekly courier., 1904-10-29


would do anything in the world fol-
her-or for the doctor.
And so, once more, but in broad
daylight now, and well up along the
heights, they came at last in view o.
the twisting mountain road thai
pierced the range-Jackson's runway
from the Shenandoah down to Cor.
donsville-and here again Fred lurkeo
in hiding, while Hector scrambled
down afoot to try the pass.
Ten o'clock had come before Hec-
tor reappeared, bg-eycd, painting.
There we're 200 soldiers to the west
of the Gap digging forts, squad in
every farmhouse along the road, and
about as much chance of a Yankee
officer crossing in daylight as there
was "of needles eye a-gittin' into
heaven" Hector had been piously
taught at some time in his life-and
now he looked at the blue and the
brass buttons in dismay.
Benton thought it over. The guard
were to come for him at six, and long
ere this had discovered his escape.
Pursuit and search would of course be
made. Anybody own bloodhounds
around Charlottesville" he asked, and
Hector said mo" Still Dan had gone
back, Dan might be lashed and tor
tured until he revealed what he knew
such things had happened-and the
sooner Benton reached the upper wa
ters of the Rappahannock and secure
hiding places back of Warrenton,
known to Hector, the better it would
be for him-for all. He doubted not
that by noon couriers would come gal
Looping out from Gordonsville telling Of
| his escape and ordering guards and
sentries on the lookout everywhere
along the Gap.
mot second to lose!" He sprang
to the saddle-bags and begar search.
What had occurred to him would prob
ably have occurred to her, and it was
Miss Rosalie, Dan affirmed, who packed
them With eager hands Benton pulled
at the contents of the nearmost-a
flask of brandy from the doctors store,
towel. handkerchiefs, sponge, soap,
comb and brush, socks, shirt and un-
derwear-Jack's, of course, and prob
ably tight fit; small tin boxes con-
tanning ground coffee, sugar and other
things-no time to examine now! Then
came shout from Hector, rummaging
on the other side, and over the broad
back Of Marse Pelham's old Pyramus
came worn gray sack coat and waist
coat, Of Richmond make, and pinned
to the lapel scrap of paper on which
in pencil appeared in Roman char
acters, not script, these words: Map
and spectacles in coat pocket Small
pistol also. Look out for federals about
Warrenton.''
In less than half an hour, tall, pale
faced, misunderstanding young man in
spectacles, slouch hat and worn sack
coat of gray-thrown loosely over a
slung right arm-with dark-brown
horse, a Doctors saddle-bags and a
darkey follower on a nondescript nag,
| turned deliberately from a mountain
path and took the highway to the east
ward. A few rods further the road
twisted to the left and brought him in
view of mountain cabin, where q
squad of soldiers in queer-looking
frock coats Of dingy gray were filling
their canteens. Another Of their num-
Der, sick and detected, was squatting
on the steps, his sallow face the pic
ture of woe. "Gawt any physic that
will cure the cawlc, dawhtun!
lr0 Wln6 a raIt IN
! sergeant's stripes, and the doctor
| relned in, studleu the patient attentive
| ly one moment, then swung out OF sad
die and stepped to his side. He grave
| ly telt the pulse and glanced at the
| coated tongue, tum mDled a minute C,
the Badoie-D bags, sllrred compound
into a stone china cup that stood by
the trouSh-a compound whereof
powdered sugar, sp4lng wafer anu
spirits mi gailici were the sole IN
| gradients, and In three inmates hdd
| the satisfaction of seeing the light OF
| reviving interest in lie in the dull
eyes Oh the invalid and receiving tht
! plaudits Of halt a dozen woIiu-be pa
tients. Gladly would they nave held
! him, though from no hostile intent, as
I with apparent serenity yet vita thump.
Ing heart, he rode away. He hal
heard enough to maze it expedienl
that he should move at once.
You're the first dawkluh we've seen
since we left home, 'cept those in the
i army, suh,' said the young sergeant
4 Guess they need EN- ALL"
You're not Virginian, then" haz-
arded Benton, as he was mounting
4 No, suh Fifteenth Alabama, Trim
ble's brigade, sub. We blong down al
Gawd'nsNille. but they sent few com
panies out this way last night"
know any OF the Ele@enth?" queried
Benton, rashly, yet thinking it not un-
wise TO display some knowledge OF the
southern service-Lieut. Ladue, ol
Mobile?" he continued at venture.
Not many, sub. They're all with
Gen. Longstreet and Anderson down
toward Yorktown"
Lieut.. Ladue anti" said the sick
man, uplifting his sallow face. Hes
on Gen. Ewell's staff-made me ride his
hoy 1,.o