The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1911-11-17

A boat shot around Moccasin point
from the eastward. 1t was full Of
armed men.
As 500 al they saw the skiff with
Mark and the deserters in it-for such
they ~were-they pulled straight for
them. In Ave minutes they were along
side.
II reckon you're the men we're look
ing for" said an officer seated in the
stern.
who are you looking for?" asked
Mark. with as much GOODNESS as he
could assume.
"Deserters from the TIL Tennes-
see."
Mark knew 1t was all up with him.
His assumption Of being on General
Bragg's staff. which had been SO sue
.essful a ruse, suddenly appeared to
him a halter about his neck.
Hand over your guns" said the of
fcer.
The guns were handed into the boat,
all except Jakey's shotgun.
THAT other one too"
That's only a shotgun, captain" said
Mark.
Well never mind the ropglln."
Every momcn the deserters looked
for Mark to declare his exalted posi-
ton on General Bragg'S staff, but no
such declaration came. 1t seemed pos
Sibie to them that perhaps he would
not wish to disclose his identity TO so
~,., ,,. and, ti.a,, r,ty ,N,.I.,,.x
Had it not been for his assumption
Mark would have applied to the cap
tain to let a poor countryman and his
little brother pass. Had he lone so
it is quite possible that the men he
had deceived. surmising that he was
have betrayed him: but Mark knew
that besides this danger the officers,
having found him in such company,
would not let him go.
Marks heart was heavy a. the boat
In which he sat was pulled slowly
against the current to Chattanooga. He
realized that there was now no oppor-
tunity for his wits, on which he usual
~ relied, to work. He was in the
hands of tile enemy; he would not be
released without Il thorough question
ing. and he could say nothing that
would not tell against him.
On landing all were taken to the pro-
vOst marShals office. The soldiers ac-
knowlcdged that they were members Of
the til Tennessee regiment, but
stoutly denied that they were desert
ers, They were Union men. some Of
| the northerners who had been Impress
ed into the Confederate service. or
had enlisted for the purpose Of flying
! to the stars and stripes as soon as they
could get near enough to warrant an
attempt. They we're sent to their regi-
Ment under guard. AS they were leav-
lug one Of them said to Mark:
Il hope you'll keep your promise"
Mark did not reply; he had cherished
a hope that they would be taken away
before anything would come out as to
his assumption Of authority.
What promise!" asked the provost
marshal quickly.
Hes an officer on General BRACES
staff. You ought to know him, colo
Nell
The devil.' exclaimed the colonel.
"Oh. l saw the men We're doing
something they were ashamed of, and
| bluffed 'em to row me across" said
Mark with assumed carelessness.
"Who are you:"
Il belong in east Tennessee"
You don't belong to any such place.
You're not southern born at all. You
are a Yankee. | thought you were only
trying TO get north with these men;
now | believe you are a spy"
I'm a southern a s%arten." said
Mark. with such GOODNESS that the Off
Ger was for a moment in doubt as to
his surmise.
let me hear you say New York"
New York"
New York" repeated the colonel
ironically. IF you were a southern
man you'd say New lawk. l shall
have TO hold you for further informa-
ton"
Il would like to go to my home in
Tennessee. / came here to buy a gun
for my brother. But if you won't let
me Ill have to stay with you, ! sup
pose. Only | hope you won't separate
Us. Jakey's very young, II | don't
want 10 turn him adrift alone in a
strange town"
Il shall have to hold You till can
report the case to headquarters" said
the officer. and Mark and Jakey We're
led away to a room in the house oc-
cupied by the provost marshal for pris-
oners temporarily passing through his
hands.
The reply that came to the announce
ment of the capture of the citizen and
the boy was to hold them under vigi-
liant guard. 1t a reported that Mark
had been personating an officer of the
staff, and this looked very suspicious,
indeed quite enough so to warrant their
trying him for a spy by drumhead
court martial and executing him the
next morning.
Mark was searched and everything