The Green Forest tribune., 1909-03-26

the deuce your name may De, said Cole.
 T served the best could" respond ed Murray, dryly.
 Sit down for a moment" requested Cole, and Murray complied.
 Now, see here," said the southern CT, you're pretty smart young fel- low to have worked things out the way you did. You and I got along very well together, didn't we? You wouldn't like to see me hanged, would you?"
 No" replied Murray, T wouldn't. l have no fancy for seeing anyone hanged"
 Well, that's just what you're trying to do with me- remarked the pris- oner, in an injured tone.
 Its a very unfortunate thing" re- turned Murray, and I hope I won't be responsible for your death.'
 Cole was game to the core, and his nerve never deserted him Tor an In- stant. Despite the terrible predca- ment in which he found himself placed his face did not lose its ruddy color or jolly, care-free expression.
 Its like this,' he said, coolly. "I suppose I ought to shoot you, and if I had gun handy I'd do it, for busi ness is business, and war is hellish business, Wilson. But maybe there's another way out of the tangle. There is S50,000 in gold represented by those cheques. They are as good this min ute as the gold in the Bank of Mon treal. You can keep them. No one on board here knows I have them. You may cash them whenever you wish. All I ask is that you won't know enough to get the rope around my neck. and that if the chance comes you'll do me friendly turn to help me escape. Once I'm out you can give me $500, or enough to get south, or you needn't give me five cents. It's fair bargain, isn't it, Wilson? My young friend. you'll never get such a golden chance again in your life"
 Murray merely smiled, glanced at the tempting bait Fortune was dan gling before his eyes-and- shook his head.
 You may be telling the truth, MT Cole" he said, quietly. T may never get such chance again. I'll do what 1 can for you in as far as it may be consistent with my duty, but 1 can not make you any promises"
 For the first time since his arrest frown darkened the prisoners brow.
 Wilson, you're a fool" he said, sharply
 Murray turned upon him swiftly.
 That may be your view of the mat | ter,' he said, grimly, ''so we won't | argue. But let me ask you one ques | ton. Would you be willing to sell | out the confederacy?"
 Coles imperious manner changed. he put out his hand and grasped Mur- rays, shaking it warmly.
 No, I wouldn't" he said, frankly; "and I respect your patriotism, Will son. We understand each other bet ter now"
 Captor and prisoner, now imbued | with a mutual admiration, sat and | chatted in friendly tones. Cole asked | Murray where he had first seen him, | and the youthful detective narrated | the story of the chase, giving him full details even to the numbers of the | rooms in the hotels the southerner had stopped at When he had fin ished Cole laughed.
 Its a straight yarn," he acknowl | edged, "and you've got everything right. But I could swear on stack of Bibles as high as this ship that l never saw you before we met in San dusky"
 Capt. Carter alone had been in the secret of Murray's masquerade as Wilson He had arranged for the boats crew to be waiting at the land ing to take Cole to the ship, and Mur ray intercepted telegrams to Cole and thus learned of the message concerning the "16 shares" His quick intui- tion enabled him to read between the lines and transform the shares" into men to arrive aboard the steamer Parsons With Cole safely in durance vile, Capt Carter now made ready to capture the raiders who had seized the Parsons Neither he nor Murray was aware at the time that Cole had ar ranged for the Parsons to stay outside until he should venture out of the har- bor with his yacht and signal them to come in. He was to slip away from his guests at the Seven-Mile house, drive swiftly to Sandusky, and go out to meet the Parsons, hile the Union officers were enjoying themselves miles away.
 It was agreed that the confederates in possession of the Parsons, upon meeting Cole, were to go in small boats to the Michigan, capture the ship, and then run over to Johnson's island and release the 4,000 southern prisoners, chiefly officers, imprisoned there. They intended to land them at Point Pelee, in Canada, across the lake. Not much difficulty was antici pated in capturing the Michigan, as when the approaching boats were chal- lers,ed Cole, who was known to all on board her, would answer and dis arm all suspicion.
 Once aboard the confederates be- lieved they could easily carry the hatches with q rush. The Michigan had Ii cannon aboard her, six parrot rifles, six 24-pound howitzers, two light howitzers and ever 100 tons Of ammunition. They had no other heav fly armed craft to fear on the lake, and believed they could not only lib crate their 4,000 comrades on Johnson island and land them in Canada, but could also sail the lake safely until they bombarded and burned Detroit, Cleveland and Buffalo