The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-08-29

| ly I'll see what I can do for you with your commanding officer when l re- | turn"
 Jakey was standing on the bank with | his eyes wide open at this scene. Mark had been a hero with him; now he was | little less than god. "Do you want to get across the river. my little mang asked Mark. as if he had never seen the boy before. Docs I want ter? Course I does." Jump in then, quick. I've no time to lose."
 Jakey came down and got in with the rest.
 "Give way" cried, Mark, and the boat shot out from the shore.
 Not dozen strokes had been taken before Mark, who was delighted at the success of his assurance, saw 8 sight that made his heart sink within him. A boat shot around Moccasin point from the eastward. It was full of armed men.
 As soon as they saw the skif with Mark and the deserters in it-for such they were-theys pulled straight for them. In five minutes they were along side.
 "I 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 coolneSS as he could assume.
 "Deserters from the tn Tennes- see"
 Mark knew it was all up with him. His assumption of being on General Braggs staff, which had been so suc- cessful a ruse, suddenly appeared to him a halter about his neck.
 Hand over your guns," said the of- ncer.
 The guns were handed into the boat, all except Jakey's shotgun
 tThat other one too"
 "That's only shotgun, captain" said Mark.
 "Well, never mind the popgun."
 Every moment the deserters looked for Mark to declare his exalted posi- ton on General Bragg's staff, but no such declaration came. It seemed pos sible to them that perhaps he would not wish to disclose his identity to so many. At any rate they said nothing. Had it not been for his assumption Mark would have applied to the cap tain to let poor countryman and his little brother pass. Had he done so 1t is quite possible that the men he had deceived. surmising that he was refugee like themselves, would not 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 as 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 ly relied. to work. He was in the hands of the enemy; he would not be released without 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- knowledged that they were members of the Tth Tennessee regiment, but stOutly denied that they were desert CTS. 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 were sent to their regi- ment under guard As they were leav- ing one of them said to Mark:
 'I 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.
 He's an officer on General Bragg's staff. You ought to know him, colo nel."
 "The devil!" exclaimed the colonel
 "Oh, I saw the men were doing something they were ashamed of, and I bluffed 'em to row me across" said Mark with assumed carelessness.
 "Who are you?"
 @I belong in east Tennessee"
 "You don't belong to any such place. You're not southern born at all. You are Yankee. thought you were only trying to get north with these men; now I believe You are spy"
 I'm a southern man. sarten," said Mark, with such coolness that the off, cer was for a moment in doubt as to his surmise.
 'Let me hear you say New York"
 "New York" F.
 "New York;" repeated the colonel ironically. "If you were a southern man you'd say New Yawk. I shall have to hold you for further informa- tion."
 "I would like to go to my home in Tennessee. l came here to buy gun for my brother. But if you won't let me I'll have to stay with you, SUD- pose. Only hope you won't separate us. Jakey's very young. and l don't want to turn him adrift alone in a strange town"
 T shall have to hold you till I can report the case to headquarters" said the officer, and Mark and Jakey were led away to a room in the house oc- cupied by the provost marshal for pris- oners temporarily passing through his Bands.