The Press., 1911-03-01

 any sucK penInu nm pn his nOrse's back little way. believe he would have done so if the corporal had not forbidden it.
 Just as we reached the top of long hill and I was about to drop from Ia tigue I saw that we~were near our journeys end. In front of us was large building which before the days of railroads had been a roadside inn. Two guards slowly marched back and forth before the tumbledOwn steps that led to the porch, which extended 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 a useless instruction. We needed no holding except as we were receiving from the floor of the porch, upon which we had fallen completely exhausted and where we remained un- til the corporal came out to summon us to the presence of General Beaure- gard.
 ''Bring the sacks" yelled the corpo- ral as we started in without them.
 I am certain that no murderers ever went to receive sentence of death with weaker knees than we had as we were v4r,oR,zS7 into fho Vorocopoo 0f GonovooI Beauregard.
 I had my eyes shut, but opened them when heard low, kindly voice saying, "Well, my boys, what is the troubleY'
 saw seated at little pine table 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 knew what I was doing was smiling, too, and thinking that our lives were safe in the hands of 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 I took to be members of the staff.
 Every one was smiling in the pleas antest way. In fact, the only ill na- tured man in the room was the cor poral who had brought us in.
 eWell, we'll" the general repeated, ''what is the trouble?"
 l The corporal began to answer, but the general said: "I have had your story. Now want the boys side.''
 Jack was much encouraged, He step ped forward and told straightfoF- ward story of the way in which we had been arrested and of the cor poraPs brutal treatment of us.
 "Shamefuly' said the general as be 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"
 "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 | sound of rattling swords as the officers approached.
 ''Yes, sir, l am telling the truth, Jack answered proudly, looking the general straight in the eyes. Conttn' uing, he told the whole story from be ginning to end, not forgetting the din Iner we had eaten in General Buffers kitchen tent.
 General Beauregard heldsa 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 l forgive your foolish arrest and brutal treat ment of them You may go."
 The corporal went out, crestfallen By this time it had grown quite dark and the military clerks were writing by the light of tslllow candles. Gen | eraI Beauregard turned to one or tQeH1 and gave instructions in low tone We sat down on a 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, '1 suppose you boys are anxious to get home"
 "Yes, sir," we answered, both al once.
 'sWell, I will send you home in my ambulance. Meantime ccept my thanks for the important iS eormatior you have brought me"
 We drove home. the happiest boyi in the world, in General Beauregard'' private ambulance, with our precious sacks behind us. What welcome WI found at home and how our old gov ernment Java and Oolong were appre ciated!