The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1908-01-23
Gz1p ar MQl5QZ71H Rczz2p Ac
01BG7zz0 AS ~ Iz1Urzz1

and had cut quite figure in the az
fairs Of that State; but there were
lacking in his composition certain ele-
ments that are by common consent
supposed to make a gentleman, no
matter whence he comes.
Worden's fiery nature was ablaze at
the cruel trick fate played upon him.
Once before, in connection with
Johns cousin had he attempted to
down the Yankee colonel. and in that
well-laid scheme they had been defeat
ed, as we have seen, by the good sense
OF Mollie Granger.
This time Worden came with several
companions sworn to run any risk in
order to accomplish his end.
When Colonel John fell into their
hands, to dispose of him then and
there would have been easy enough.
but the chagrined Confederate had
made up his mind that he could never
rest easy unless his fortunate rival
met the fate that had been designed
for him on thst former occasion
soldiers death woulo &c 100 good
for the man he hated.
Men often overreach themselves in
struggling to clutch the first fruit that
is just little beyond their grasp. ig-
noring that which could be obtained
without much effort.
Colonel John received rough treat
ment at the hands of his captors, but
although dazed by the blows they
dealt him he did not quite lose his
presence of mind.
Taught by the cunning opossum,
which he had as boy hunted in the
woods near Atlanta, he feigned state
of insensibility, and allowed his cap
tors to carry him out of the grounds
neck and heels. as though he were
only billet of wood.
These men knew what they were
doing, and had made all preparations
for a successful carrying out of their
plans.
Lyndhurst was close upon the outer
line of the Union Army, and once be-
yond the pickets they need fear no
| further danger.
A vehicle was in waiting, rather
ramshackle affair, drawn by mule
and engineered by a darby, but 1t
served their purpose admirably and in
| short time they were moving over
the neutral ground lying between the
hostile armies.
Colonel John had fully recovered his
senses, but feigned an apathetic state.
not wishing them to know his true
condition.
Lying there, jolted by the passage
of the springless wagon until the
breath was almost knocked out of his
body, he endeavored to catch what he
could of the conversation between the
men who were crowded in the small
space.
Learning what they intended doing
with him was not conducive to a com.
Portable frame of mind, but as a sol
der, Colonel John had long ago learn
ed to take danger by the throat and
throttle the monster.
He showed his characteristic diplo
macy by arranging certain plans OF
his own, whereby he might be able to
defeat the enemy at his game.
At length the darby turned his an
cient quadruped into an open gate
way.
Here lay an old house that having
been in the line of fire during one o.
the last fierce engagements before At
lanta, was pretty much of ruin now
Into this half-wrecked building, nov
within the Confederate lines, as this
two armies had in a measure changed
places, they carried John.
1t was a fit place for such a darl
deed as the Confederate major had IL
view.
Gaping holes in the walls showed
where the shot had plunged through
piles of debris on the floor told o
ruin above, and 1t was only question
of time when a storm would lay thu
once stately pile low.
Such are the ravages of war; the!
could be seen like the trail of the ser
pent wherever a hostile army mad
it's way.
A devastated Shenandoah Valley
once fruitful, a veritable Eden. nov
a blackened waste, spoke in eloquen
language of wars cruelty.
And later on Sherman's march Il
the sea would cause a swath of de
struction behind. for when such al
army cuts loose and lives upon tn
land they leave little behind.
In this old house Colonel John wa
to finish the tragedy cut short by hi
; escape on the former occasion.
They had condemned him as a spy
and the finding of a drumhead cour'
martial hung over him, no matter
time had flown.
worden's motive was very gauzy-
he did not work from patriotic in
pulses, but purely personal desires.
To make Mollie a widow-that wa
his design stripped of all disguise.
Ii pleased his vindictiye nature t
disgrace the object of his hatred a
> much as possible.
Possibly that was a freak of forum
. by means of which he might be Owe
come by his own eagerness-hoss
: through his own petard, as 1t were.
They learned by this time that job
, was himself again.
A flambeau had been brought upo
the scene. and the prisoner. with hi
t, hands fastened by stout cord, stoo
: there before his enemies
There was no quailing about b
eyes-they looked into the mad orb