Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-01-31

Who are your asked sternly, striving
In vain to see something of him through
the darkness. Where were you ridingT
He maintained sulien silence, and
Sands kicked him.
None of that" 1 commanded. "Ebers.
strike a match, will you, and let me see
this chap"
l had scarcely spoken when our prisoner
thrust Sands roughly aside and took one
i hasty step toward me.
my God. Wayne, Is 1t possible this Is
your" he cried excited1y.
"Caton?" exclaimed. as surprised as
himself; Cation? What is 1t? What is
wrong?'
Am to do dot?' asked the sergeant.
anxiously.
NO." 1 answered ct know this man,
and we shall need no fire. Cation, are you
from the Minor house? Has it been at
tacked?"
| his exertion and excitement I'VE were to
start north with the ladies at 0 O'Clock, but
the house was surrounded as soon as II
| became dark. Those devils supposed It to
be unguarded and advanced without pre-
| cautions. We fired and drove them back.
| We had repulsed three attacks when l left
hst.n j. but three of our men were already
You were after aidT'
Il was striving to reach our advance
! pickets at Mcmillan. 1t seemed the only
possible chance and none of the men would
volunteer to make the ride. One was killed
trying it before i started God knows how
l hated to leave them, but 1t had to be
done. How many have your"
"Only twenty; but if we could once get
| inside along with your fellows. might
hold the house until reinforcements came"
THANK God! knew you wouldn' he cried
| joyfully, grasping me again ferventy by
the hand. You are not one to hesitate
over the color of a uniform at such time
as this. l have been proud all through this
war to feel that We on both sides We're of
| the same blood. and have felt Like cheering
your gray lines more than once. Only,
Wayne" and he hesitated an instant, 1T
is right | should tell you that Brennan Is
there, and in command"
81 know it. but those women must be
saved, nevertheless, 1 answered firmly,
| my mind settled. This is no time for per-
sonal Quarreling. and whatever color of
cloth we wear those outlaws are our COM
mon enemies, to be hunted down like wild
beasts. have seen specimens of their
fiendish cruelty that make my blood run
cold to remember. The very thought of
those who are now exposed falling into such
| hands is enough to craze one; death would
| be preferable a thousand times. How many
fighting men have your?
Seven fit for duty"
''Wfll you ride forward, or go back with
us?"
fellows voice shook-''but God knows
Wayne, l want to go back. If we both live
1 am to marry Celia Minor"
II understand" l said. gravely. "Ebers.
who is your best rider?'
ut vos dot funny leetle yellow Glen.
captain"
''Glen, come here"
The trooper, mere boy, with freckled
face and great honest gray eyes. but wiry
and tough as steel, pushed his way through
the group and faced me.
Glen" said your sergeant tells me
you are the best rider In the troop. am
going to intrust you with the most i'm
portant duty of all. The lives of every one
of us and of four helpless women depend
entirely upon your riding. You will take
Kill hof bnt Sfo
| for nothing until your duty is done You
are to carry note from me, and another
from this gentleman. who is an officer in
the federal army, and deliver them both to
the commandant of the first military post
you find. Insist upon reaching him in per-
son. 1t makes no difference which army
the post belongs to, for this is matter of
! humanity. The federal outpost at McNIil-
Ian is the nearest to us; make for there.
You understand
The boy saluted gravey. all mischief gone
from his face
Il do, sir" he said. but I'd darn sight
| rather stay here and fight"
You win be back IN plenty of time to
take hand my lad. Now. men"-and
turned to the dark. expectant ring about
me-"this is no ordinary duty of your en-
! listment, and wish no one to accompany
me tonight who does not volunteer for the
service. Seven federal soldiers and four
women, three of them Virginians. are at
tackled at the house we have just
, Whacking guerriIlas. the orscourings s'o Of
hell. Every one of you knows what that
means. VIII you go with me to their res
cue?'
No one seemed anxious to be first to
speak. l could see them look aside uneasily
at one another.
"Bungay." I said II feel sure you will
go, for your wife is there"
Marian"
Eyes; Miss Minor told me this afternoon.
but had forgotten to mention it."
The little man sprang into the air and
came down with q whOOp.
"The bloody deviis!' he cried exc.tediy.
Eye bet I'll CO."
''Come, sergeant speak up; what do you
men say?
II ike not to fight nit der Yankees"
| he admitted candidly. .'but der vomeas, py
Chiminy dot vos anOder ting. / VII go.
captain: mein Gott, yaw."
| sswe're with you, sir" spoke voice after
voice gravely around the dark circle and
then Sands added: "We1l show them thar
Yanks how the Johnny Rebs kin night, SIR
Ten minutes later Glen bearing his two
messages to the blue and gray. was speed.
Ing reckiessly through the black night
northward. while my little squad was nov
Ing cautiously back over the road We had
go lately traversed.
Go be continued tomorrow.)