Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1905-12-13
to Jennings, as he calls himself, did

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, Il was too busy try
ing to get out of the scrape to think of
Jennings at all. / made a jump for
my horse and was in hand-to-hand
fight in two seconds. l never knew
what become of Jennings"
"You remember Sergt Miller, do you
not?"
Il remember sergeant-an Indiana
sergeant, and very keen one who was
there, but l feared he and his party
were killed or captured
Some of them were," said the ex-
aiming officer, grimly, "but Miller
dived 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. Armisted-to-nigh
-sureH And now here is Jennings
! begging to be allowed to see two pris-
oners-Maj Lounsberry and the young
Virginian, Pelham. who was wounded
protecting him the day you were res
| cued. He brings a note from the pres
fdent. Look here." and taking scrap
of paper from his desk the staff officer
held it forth for Benton's inspection.
1t was brief and to the point:
THE bearer, Mr.. Jennings, has been
of service and asks to see two friends
prisoners-Maj.L ounsberry and Troop
er Pelham. l shall be glad if oppor-
tunity can be given him.
"(Signed) A. LINCOLN"
| Benton read and looked up inquir-
ingly. Il, too, should like to see them
-Lounsberry, at least" said he, with
eyes that kindled and lips that set,
''but not as prisoner. l have a score
to settle with that gentleman. When
does Mr.. Jennings go?"
Cant say. The secretary said no
emphatically-no until matters were
explained. 1t was thought you might
settle it one way or another before
we questioned him" And the officer
was manifestly disappointed, and still
he persisted. You heard nothing
about him DIR. Chiffon never spoke
of him while you were at Charlottes-
ville?"
Il cannot recall his ever doing Sc
except casually. But Judge Armistead,
not the general was there at Gaines
Vile. My belief is that Gen. Armistead
was not near Manassas when l was
taken. Miller must have misunder-
stood"
Well" said the officer, finally, I'm
sorry we had to trouble you, but the
secretary thought you would know
more of this suspected stranger Gen.
Mcdowell trusted him, we fear, too
much, and as you are to see the presi-
dent We thought you might open his
eyes if the fellow were playing a
double game. l dare say you know
people sometimes impose on the presi-
dent" and here the captain smiled,
whimsically, "and that's why when he
could issue these things as an order,
he won't He thinks it wiser to let
the secretary handle matters of the
kind. Now, your general, Mr.. Benton,
is being accused of having southern
leanings because he has been protect
ing southern property there about
Fredericksburg.
Some defenseless women, left all
alone, asked for guards and got Them -
answered Benton, stoutly Il shouldn t
wonder if their lords and masters are
seccsh, but we're not warning on wom-
en-, l take it..
LAS yet-no," was the thoughtful
reply, land may God forbid our having
to come to it. But, my young friend
if you knew half what we know-and
we don't begin to know half that those
brainy, daring, scheming, smiling
southern women are doing all around
us-you might think the time close at
hand when they, too, would have to be
made amenable to the laws of war
1t isn't week since one of them ran
off with one of our prisoners here, and
you know what trick was played by
DIR. Chilton's daughter"
And now indeed did Benton's face
begin to burn, a thing the captain
and the silent listeners were quick ia
note.
You have your receipt for your
| PiioOhCl, vi CSuHS uGu III uOl Q6-
tain you further, only-come this way
We've got to question your friend Jen-
nings next" and so saying the captain
led his visitor through a second room
where at crowded desks a score oil
Clerks were writing. when do you
go to the white house?" he suddenly
asked.
Il don't know. l expected to learn
here. But | hoped to have time to get
refreshened up a bit, and l need
new
Nonsense! You look as though
you'd just stepped out of a bandbox
in that uniform. Ask Mr.. Stone to
come here" he added, to a statuesque
soldier at the door.
The uniform may be all right, bu.
+ what | need is sash and side arms