Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1905-03-17

stood ready to pay round sum and the
.sStoneWall, to supplement It with an
other, each claiming prior right to per-
forate or scar that skin at sight The
Virginians swore that he sold Informa-
ton to the federals, and had betrayed
Ladue, of the Eleventh Alabama, into
their hands, even while Stanton and
others at the war department were
ready to swear the tall Virginian's life
away to the charge OF giving informa-
ton to the rebels.
: Among the papers in poor Ladue's
possession was the original draft OF the
report he had written the command
ing officer of the Eleventh Alabama
of his fight across the Potomac and
capture by union cavalry near Matthias
Point. Not until he reached certain
farmhouse near Port Tobacco did he
know who were the officers escaped
from prison camp near Annapolis. and
his joy was great when Jack Chiffon
appeared among them. He and Chill
ton were ferried over on dark, wintry
night, and landed at a fsherman's
house three miles below the Point, and
there, to his infinite concern, Paul
found that he had lost his pocket mem
orandum book, well nigh filed with
notes concerning the troops, also
sketch maps of field fortifications, all
of which he felt confident would be of
value to Gen. Lee. Then there were
private papers in the book of vast inn
portance to him if to no one else. A
racking chill had come on as the re-
suit Of exposure TO the raw night wind,
and Jack and the fisherman secreted
him in barn. Then Chiffon delibe-
rately went back to Maryland in search
of the missing property. Thereby he
escaped capture by the cavalry piloted
by Jennings. When searched, Ladue
was found to have no discriminating
papers about him-a disappointment to
his captors and obviously puzzle to
bennington Ladue heard him whis-
pering with the officer in command.
The last Paul had seen of Chiffon was
that December night, but later he
learned that he had been compelled
TO remain in hiding many weeks in
Charles county before the vigilance OF
the Federals was again relaxed and he
could finally effect his escape. Then
there was letter. unfinished, for Eli
nor, which Fred had sealed and sent
to her, and it was through her, four
weeks later, that he learned that Paul
well knew he had not long TO live, and
had really hoped to meet a soldiers
death in front Of the charging line.
One longing he had. he owned, that
would probably never be gratihed-that
OF branding McKinnon as liar and
thief, for young Larry O'Toole, he that
used to sweep out and sprinkle the.
store and had enlisted as drummer,
in the Montgomerys after PauFs BAN
ishment, had strayed in search OF for
hidden 1uxuries just before Chance1lors-.
vile. and Stuart's men had nabbed
him and run him OF to Richmond
where Ladue was favored with
ORIOLES account of McKinnon's brib-
ing him to purloin those St. Louis
letters. With this confirmation OF his
theories burning within him, Paul had
gone to Charlottesville, spending one
day with the Chiltons and hearing
from the doctor a strange story of
McKinnon's generosity to them and
kindness to the imperiled son. Rosalie
had listened in silent acquiescence I'M
til Paul burst in with vehement de-
nunciation of the whole story-told
them of McKinnon's treachery to him
and his hatred of the Bentons,-told
them of Fred's devoted friendship, and
then came a strange part of the letter.
Elinor copied it verbatim
Miss Chiffon, grew more and more
excited as l talked, and finally whirled
on me with How can you speak of
devoted friendship on the part of a
| man who planned to capture you both
and was only baked by-by Jack 8
going back for your old note booki'
Then she rushed out of the room. and
/ had to go right on to Gordonsville
and could only write to her that, that
too, was probably one of McKinnon' 8
ISLANDERS, and there wasn't word of
truth in it-that no one was more
| amazed than Fred when they brought
| me in. I've not yet heard from her,
but I shall. and Jack shall know the
moment can find him.
| Was it not strange that that same
old notebook. which she risked so
| much to send to me that night Fred
caught her at the stone house, should
/ later have been the means of saving
| Jack? She found il in the breast peck
| tsof my new uniform coat at Henry's,
and glancing through the pages saw
| the sketches and memoranda I had
even then been making; supposed II
was of vast mportance,-someth
| that we ought to have and, fearing il
| would fall into the hands of the enemy
bethought her of Jennings and Judge
Armistead; slipped into my uniform
and Fred has probably told you the
| rest
So there it was at last:-the story OF
| her daring and devotion and Benton