The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1910-01-18

across the front Of the house and
| which was now crowded with sol
diers, apparently couriers and order
lies.
AS we reached the porch the soldiers
began to rally the corporal upon his
baby prisoners" He made no reply.
but stalked pompously through the
open door after instructing his COM
panion to hold us.
This was useless instruction. We
needed no holding except as we were
receiving from the door of the porch,
upon which we had fallen completely
exhausted and where we remained I'M
til the corporal came out to summon
US to the presence of General Beaure-
gard.
Bring the sacks" yelled the corpo-
raj as we started in without them.
l am certain that no murderers ever
went to receive sentence of death with
weaker knees than we had as we were
pushed into the presence Of General
Beauregard
had my eyes shut, but opened
them when 1 heard a low, kindly voice
saying, well, my boys, what is tho
troubled?
l saw seated at little pine table a
dapper little man in gray uniform.
with small mustache and imperial and
kind looking brown eyes. He was
smiling straight into my eyes, and be-
fore l knew what l was doing l was
smiling, too, and thinking that our
lives were safe in the hands of a man
who could smile like that.
Behind the general several men were
busily engaged in writing, and scat
tered around the room were officers
whom l took to be members Of the
staff.
Every one was smiling In the pleas
ATTEST way. In fact, the only Ill ma
tured man in the room was the cor
poral who had brought us In.
well, WELL" the general repeated,
what Is the trouble?"
The corporal began to answer, but
the general said: Il have had your
story. Now 1 want the boys side"
Jack was much encouraged. He step
ped forward and told a straightfor-
ward story Of the way in which we
had been arrested and of the cor
porals brutal treatment of us.
"ShamefulP' said the general as he
looked at the corporal with angry
eyes. Then. turning to Jack again, he
said kindly, Now tell me where you
got the flag and other things"
1--WE got them from General Buffers
abandoned camp on Shippen's farm"
said Jack promptly.
what! Are you telling the truth?"
excitedly asked the general as he
jumped up and walked around to
where we were standing. At the same
time the room was flied with the
sound Of rafting swords as the officers
approached.
Eyes, sir. l am telling the truth"
Jack answered proudly, looking thu
general straight in the eyes. Contin-
uing, he told the whole story from be-
ginning to end, not forgetting the din
ner we had eaten In General Buffers
kitchen tent.
General Beauregard held q whisper
ed consultation with the officers pres
ent, and they soon hurried out Turn
ing to the corporal, the general said:
'In view of the important information
these boys have given me / forgive
your foolish arrest and brutal treat
ment of them. You may CO."
The corporal went out, crestfallen.
By this time it had grown quite dark,
and the military clerks were writing
by the light of tallow candles. Gen
eral Beauregard turned to one OF them
and gave instructions in a low tone.
We sat down on bench at the dark
side of the room. apparently forgotten.
Presently the general walked over
to where we were sitting and, placing
his hand on my head. said, 81 suppo~
you boys are anxious to get homes"
Eyes, SIR" we answered, both at
once
"Well, will send you home In my
ambulance Meantime accept my
thanks for the important information
you have brought me-"
We drove home the happiest boys
in the world, in General Beauregard's
private ambulance, with our precious
sacks behind u.s. What welcome we
found at home and how our old gov
eminent Java and Oolong were appre-
ciated!