Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1905-01-13
The Iron
! Brigade |
n A STORY OF THE ARMY
OF THE POTOMAC
ByC GEN. CHARLES KING
Author OF Norm An Holt, '''fhe colonei's
Daughter" Fort Frayns," Etc.
CoDyrasht. 1902. By G. W. Dillingham; o.
lContinued.l

| lanky and phenomenally solemn Vir-
| ginian he had first seen that night at
| the stone house on the Warrenton
| pike. Jennings knew the newcomer
| at glance and, springing up, shook
| him effusive1y by the hand. A mo-
ment later an officer appeared at an
| other door and beckoned Benton to
enter. What do you know about that
MANI" was the very first question pro-
| pounded the instant the door closed be-
hind him.
| Nothing said Benton, Except that
he was at the stone house, in trouble
| with some of our brigade the first time
l saw him-seemed to be we'll known
| to DR.. Chiffon and other Virginians,
| and later was with the Sixth Wiscon-
| sin the afternoon they captured Maj.
Lounsberry.''
"But-how about papers-informa-
| tion-concerning our forces that he re-
ceived that night? You were captured
while graphing with the cavalry of
f1cer who brought them
| 'T?" cried Benton. Good heavensi"
And then stood dumb, for all on
! sudden it flashed over him. Resale!
Rosalie, who had so inexplicably
down through the darkness to the
pike, seeking some one at the stone
house. Rosalie, who had refused to
tell what influence prompted that ap-
parently reckless escapadei Papers?
Information concerning our move
ments? Why, what sense was there in
her taking all that risk when at that
livery moment our pickets were falling
back before Stuart's triumphant adj
vance-when all but a few of the
guard had already disappeared from
the Henry place-when by midnight
or at the latest at dawn she was almost
sure to be again in touch with her own
friends and kindred? All this and
more flashed through his mind as he
stood there in the dark little Office,
with his interrogation impatiently fac
ing him. and two other officials look
ing up at him from a paper-littered
table, much impressed, evidently, by
the significance of his silence and en-
barrassment.
YES" sharply repeated the first
speaker, papers and, doubtless, valu-
able information. You saw them pass
to Jennings, as he calls himself, did
} you not?"
81 saw nothing OF the kind" an
swered Benton, inexpressibly relieved
that as yet, at least, he had had no oc-
casion to speak of her. Indeed he
went on, eagerly, 81 was too busy try
ing to get out of the scrape to think of
Jennings at all. I made a jump for
my horse and was in hand-to-hand
fight in two seconds. 1 never knew
! what become of jennings
"You remember Sergt. Miller, do you
not?"
! 81 remember a sergeant-an Indiana
sergeant, and very keen one who was
} there, but / feared he and his party
were killed or captured
"Some of them were," said the ex-
3 aiming officer, grimly "but Miller
1ived into the bushes, made his way
through the darkness and escaped. He
declares he saw the young rebel officer
toss the packet to Jennings and heard
him cry, For Gen. tonight
i-surei' And now here is Jennings
begging to be allowed to see two pris-
1 oners-Maj. Lounsberry and the young
Virginian, Pelham. who was wounded
) protecting him the day you were res
3 cued. He brings note from the pres
4 ident. Look here!" and taking a scraI
of paper from his desk the staff Officer
s held it forth for Benton's inspection
It was brief and to the point:
"The bearer, Mr.. Jennings, has beer
8 Of service and asks to see two friends
q prisoners Lounsberry and Troop
8 er Pelham. I shall be glad if oppor
Y tunity can be given him.
9 't(Signed) A. LINCOLN''
: Benton read and looked up inquir
. ing1y. 81, too, should like to see then
-Lounsberry, at least said he, wit
eyes that kindled and lips that set
. "but not as prisoner. I have a scor
e to settle with that gentleman. Whe
. does Mr.. Jennings go?''
= Cant say. The secretary said n
= emphatically-not until matters wer
= explained. 1t was thought you Nigh
b settle it one way or another befor
g we questioned him. And the office
. was manifestly disappointed, and sti
= he persisted. you heard nothin
. about him?-Dr Chiffon never spok
3 Of him while you were at Charlottes
. ville?''
SCI cannot recall his ever doing so
p except casually. But Judge Armistea,
g not the general, was there at Gaines
vile. My belief is that Gen. Armistea
was not near Manassas when I vn
taken. Miller must have misundel
STOOL
WELL" said the officer, finally, Ell
sorry we had to trouble you, but tn
secretary thought you would kno'
a more OF this suspected stranger. Gel
- Mcdowell trusted him, we fear, to
much, and as you are to see the presi
dent We thought you might open hi