Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1909-05-25

greatly annoyed
the generals of the Union forces. At
last the Federal commanders deter
mined to exterminate the rangers,
and, with that end in view, sent out
q picked force of mounted men. eager
to meet and capture an enemy who
boosted that he could not be taken.
1t was early in the morning of warm
September day when the men In blue
found their quarry, coming on them
suddenly at the foot of hill.
For a moment there was a brisk
rain Of bullets. Several of the men on
both sides threw up their arms and
fell In the dust, while their foaming,
rtderless steeds dashed madly down
the pike. Then the Confederates broke
and fed. with the yelling Yankees
close at their heels.
AT last a stream was reached and
here the Union men succeeded In cap
turing several Confederates, but not
the leader. He was a small, wiry man,
with frame as strong and tough as
steel, one who did not know what fear
or defeat meant, and he plunged his
animal into the water, lifted his sword
high above his head and safely climbed
up the opposite bank amid a shower OF
bullets, accompanied by a shout of ad-
miration from the astonished enemy.
IN a moment he was out of sight be-
hind the hills.
About a quarter OF mile down the
road was a farmhouse, In the sitting
room OF which girl sat peeling fruit
The door was open, and just as the
girl raised her eyes horse raced into
the yard with its TANKS reeking with
water and the rider wet from the tip
or his plumed hat t. the soes of his
cavalry boots.
The man rode into the barnyard and
left his steed in the stall, then ran in
to the house. At that moment the
head Of the Federal column came over
the hill on the gallop. The Confederate
saw the line of blue uniforms, the sun
flashing on the sabers. and with a hur-
ried glance around he sprang to his
feet and ran to the corner, In which
stood an old ''grandfather's clock" In
moment he had opened the door and
slipped inside, and by the time he had
closed it again the Union men were
trooping into the house.
They began thorough search of the
house from garnet to cellar. but not n
trace Of the man could they find. The
beds were torn TO bits, the pantries ex-
plored, every closet upset and no nook
or corner Of the place left uninvesti-
gated, but TO no purpose. Then the
barn was given a good overhauling.
and, though they found the wet and
saddled horse, there was no trace of
the rider At last all the Union men
collected In the sitting room where the
young lady sat quietly watching the
proceedings and still busy in her house
hold duties of preparing the fruit
They were nonplused and could not
imagine what had become of the fugi-
tive.
Now, 1t happened that the old clock
was not running. but had been broken
for some time, and was full OF dust.
which the entrance of the ranger had
disturbed. In fact, he was in a great
predicament The dust had filed his
nostrils and he felt creep over him the
horrible sensation of coming sneeze-
4 sneeze meant capture, perhaps death,
but the sneeze had TO come.
A bright thought flashed into the
Confederate's mind. and with s. quick
motion OF his hand he set the old
wheels In whirl and the rusty gong
sounded sonorous chime. In the COW
er Of the noise the sneeZe was born,
but it was not heard. However. the
sudden waking of the old clock excited
suspicious, and. with glance of In
Quiry, he Federal officer moved toward
it. The girl was quick TO take In the
situation. With a fretful air she ex-
claimed:
There goes that old clock again. II
must really be fixed, for it is SO annoy
ing" And the officer. changing his
mind. took no more notice OF the oc-
currence. In a few moments the
house was deserted and the troops had
passed away IN the direction OF their
camps. leaving. the rebel TO come out
from his hiding place sight 10 behold.
The wet clothes were full OF dust and
his face gray with the water and mud
which covered IL. but he was a very
happy man. In an hour he was back