The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1911-09-01


story went into the Jail: No one SEEM
ed to be about the place. He entered
his bedroom and found his wife doing
in her chair by the window. He asked
for the colored girl, and his wife told
him that she had not yet returned with
the medicine. He waited, expecting
every minute that she would come in.
1t occurred to him that perhaps the
prisoner might be dead.
Taking up a tallow dip he went to
the room where Mark was supposed to
be confined. A figure was lying in the
corner. The jailer went to 1t, and by
means Of the candle saw what he sup
posed to be the prisoner.
"Yank," he said, "air y dead"
No answer.
He took hold OF the figures shoulder
and shook It
Still no reply.
Turning Souri, over he at once recog-
nized the face Of the ''mulatto girl"
In an instant he saw through the
ruse that had been pracdced With
out stopping to interrogate her, he
rushed from the room past the sentinel
at the door and out to the guardhouse.
There he gave the alarm, and in mo-
nent the whole guard was In motion.
Souri, hoped that The sentinel at the
door would join In the chase, In which
event she intended to go to Jakey's
room, get him out and attempt to es-
cape. But the soldier only went as
far as the door at the head Of the long
staircase. Then, remembering that he
would doubtless be punished for let
ting one prisoner escape, and that
there were several negroes In the
''black hole" for him to guard, he went
no farther.
In five minutes Souri, heard the bark
; ing Of hounds without
No word was sent to headquarters
regarding Marks escape till the hounds
had followed the scent to the river
and there lost 1t. Then one Of the
guards was sent In to report the whole
affair. Being an infantryman. he was
obliged to walk, which took time. Cav
airy was the only arm Of the service
capable Of following the escaped man
with a chance Of success, and cavalry
must be ferried across the river or or
dered from Dallas, on the other side,
ten miles above. The latter course was
chosen, and two squadrons were d.
rected to proceed at once, the one to
throw a chain guard across the neck OF
Moccasin point, the other to scour the
river bank for a distance Of several
miles below. Had there been any cav
airy nearer, Mark would have had a
very slender chance to get away. As
it was, he barely escaped one Of the
squadrons.
About noon the provost marshal sent
for Souri, and Jakey with a view to
gaining from them whatever he might
concerning Marks identity and his mis-
sion.
"Who are your" he asked Of Souri,
not unkindly.
missouri Slack
"Where do you live?"
"On the Anderson road, not far from
Jasper"
and this boyw ,'>>'::s
"He's my brother"
"When did you come from home"
"Three days ago."
"What brought you. or bow did you
know that the prisoner was here and
in jail?"
"Jakey sent me word"
"How?"
"He sent me a silk hankercher what
I give t'other un."
How did you send it, boy"
!"Niggers.'
"Um."
"Well, you two are pretty young to
be engaged in such mischief"
The officer looked at them with in
terest and vexation mingled
What do you think ought to do
with you?"
Reckon y mought gimme back my
gun" said Jakey.
The officer could not repress smile.
"What gun?"
9Th one yer TUX t'other day"
$50 and get the boys gun. order
ly," he said to a soldier on duty at the
door.
The gun was not to be found then,
but was recovered later, and Jakey
was happy in receiving it
"Do you know what you've been do
ing?" the officer resumed, addressing
Souri,. you've helped spy to escape
who will doubtless carry information
to the enemies Of your country"
Souri, made no reply. She stood look
ing at the officer with her big black
eyes. Fortunately for her, he had
daughter about her age.
Meanwhile some Tennesseeans who
hailed from Jasper had been sent for,
and they came in to have look at the
prisoners. Several Of them recognized
both Souri, and Jakey. and told the
marshal that they were what they pre-