Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-10-04

eyes from the sun looking of on to
/ lower ground in the distance. She was
I watching group of horsemen, en-
/ deavoring 70 determine whether they
| belonged to what were then the Con
/ federate states or TO the Federal army.
/ There were about thirty of them, one
/ riding tritie ahead. half a dozen next
/ while the rest followed at a distance
/ of about thirty PAGES. They carried
/ no flag by which the side on which
/ they fought might be recognized. but
| instead of the dust Colored appearance
/ of ConfederateS they were of q dark
| iSh hue indicating that they wore the
/ Federal blue. Had the girl been more
familiar with soldiers she would have
recognized them for general, his
/ staff and his escort.
/ They came on up the gradual rise in
| the ground till they reached the house.
/ where their leader drew rein. and. see
/ ing the girl on the veranda, said:
Gould we get some supper here?"
| Alice Claybourne. like most of the
young people of the south. had been
! captivated by the spirit Of rebellion.
and her hatred for the invaders of her
| beloved south was intense. But It
ern women. strong as was their am
mostly against the Union soldiers, they
had the good sense TO give what they
had to eat to their enemies whenever
it was applied for. Alice said that she
would ask her mother and went inside,
while the soldiers remained in their
saddles without. She soon returned to
say that there was very little TO eat in
the house. but they could have what
there was.
The general and his staff dismount-
ed, gave their horses to the care of
orderlies and went up on the veranda.
The escort went into camp in the
yard. Among the officers was a lieu
tenant twenty-five years old, who as
he stepped up on to the porch where
Alice stood looking forbiddingly at the
party, gave her one of those pleasant
smiles that rest so becomingly on the
lips of certain persons. Bob Murray
in the uniform of a lieutenant ana aid
de-camp was in his element. He was
handsome, reckless and imperturbable.
No amount of fatigue could ruffle his
good nature, and that winning smile
of his was ever present. Alice Clay
bourne secretly surrendered to 1t.
though outwardly she steeled herself
against it. She coldly turned away
and went into the house.
The general and his staff took up
their headquarters in the house, the
general occupying the parlor on the
ground floor adjoining Alice's own
room Having partaken of the scant
supper furnished him and his staff, he
retired to the apartment and, calling
his chief of staff, entered into consul
tatiOn with him. Between the parlor
and Alice's room was door, and Al
ice could hear their -oices, though not
what they said But by standing on
q chair and listening at a transom she
could hear every word.
After prolonged dialogue the gen
eral called the orderly standing at his
door and directed him to order Lieuten-
ant Murray to report to him at once.
Murray entered, and the general said
to him:
Lieutenant, we have another bit OF
secret service work for you tonight
Are you ready for it?'
always ready for anything you or
der, general
well, l have learned during the day !
around our TANKS and is making
raid in our rear. He is making bee T.
line for the wagon train, loaded with /
supplies for our troops in northern /
Alabama. and will doubtless reach it !
before tomorrow noon. I wish a man !
to ride through tonight and order the /
cavalry at Shplbyville to re-enfor"e .
the train guard. There are 50 many .
scattered Confederates and disloyal |
citizens between here and there that F.
| doubt if courier can get through
except in multi, and l would suggest f.
that YOU dress yourself as country lad .
and work your way in that disguise"
Yes, general"
After some conversation as 10 route.
time Of starting, etc, Murray left his
commander to make his preparations .
for the journey. He well understood .
the danger, for. since he bore written
information and n written order, while
IN disguise, if captured. he was sure
TO be hanged for a spy. But he had
secuted both in Uniform and in dis
guiSe and had become somewhat ac-
custOmed to the risk. About Z o'clock.
dressed in a butternut suit, he mount
ed a horse on which a sheepekin had
been strapped in lieu Of a saddle and
started down the road.
At the same time Alice Claybourne
issued from the barn in the rear of the
house and. striking a lane running
parallel with the road. started in the
same direction as the young officer.
Half a mile from the starting point
the lane joined the main road, and
Alice found herself Just far enough be-
hind Murray not TO attract his atten-
ton.
1t was the middle Of June. and the
sun had not yet set. As the young
man receded farther from the house
Alice gradually drew up TO him. Pres
.ntly. hearing her horses h0Ofs beat
ing on tho road behind him. he turn
ed with that anxiety natural to one
liable to be followed and attacked.
Seeing a girl coming and recognizing