The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1911-09-29
cts that n dangerous ford?"

q ulO"i ldtA'
1--WE done some scouting before this,
but | see now that | haven't learned to
cross IA current till today. Next time
III look out for something or shore to
steer by"
Another ten minutes brought them
home. Souri, led the way to a rickety
barn. where both horses were stabbed.
She left Mark in the barn while she
went into the house to inform the In
mates OF his presence.
Presently she came out.
dad lows " mought come In fur a
spell 'thout much resk. They won't
know O. y'r bein hyar yet awhile.
Leasta ways thar's no hurry. But dad
reckons y mought sleep in the barn
with one eye Open"
81 shall not sleep anywhere tonight.
I must go on. But I'll go in with you
for awhile"
A man met them at the door with
white. shocky hair and a stubble beard.
He looked sixty. though he vas ten or
fifteen years younger. He walked rs If
he were following the pillow. His trou-
sers were drawn nearly up to his arm
pits, q double breasted waistcoat
served in lieu of a coat.
Them blue clothes looks kinder
peart to we uns down hyar eZ amt
seen uothen but gray" said the man.
Il lowed when YOU uns went up ter
Chattanoogy last June and fired them
biz guns at The town y was goen to
hold onto these hvar parts"
perhaps ii was a mistake said
my superiors."
Come inter tn house
The dwelling was composed Of two
square log houses. some ten feet apart.
under one roof. with a floor between
the two. The man led Mark into n
Of these parts or houses The articles
in it that struck the soldiers eye were
a very high bedstead. heightened fur
Their by 4 feather bed: il chest of
dra wers. and a clock on the mantle
that licked loud enough to be heard out
in the barn. There were some pieces
Of rag carpet on the floor, two or three
hard seated chairs and a rocker.
what y got fur supper" the old
man asked as his wife entered
Il don't want n supper said the
soldier. Il only ate a hour or two
ago."
The woman, who was bent down
through some nervous disease. went to
the chest of dra wers. took therefrOm a
cob pipe and some tobacco and began
to smoke.
.Much shaken among the sojers,
Stranger" she asked.
AT the beginning Of a fight there's a
good deal" replied Mark. but after
they're once in they get on without
much trouble"
Don't mean that kind Of shaken
ager.'
ooh. ague. No. l don't think there's
much ague."
"Fever?"
There's always more Of less camp
fever. 1t seems as If every man who
campaigns in this country must have
a dose of typhoid to get acclimated."
"'Thar's a powerful lot O. fevers bout
hyar. Thar's the typhoid. the broken
bone, the intermitten and the remit
ten. and n en- awhile we git yaller
jack when it comes up the Mississippi
from Orleans"
'"That's a good deal Of fever" re.
piled Mark; but. to come down to
business. l want to say a few words
to you people. You're sure you're
Union?'
"Sarten." said the old man.
Got a young I'm in Jim Browns
company of east Tennesseeans." said
the old Il hearn tn all had
the measles in tn spring. HenerJ
he'd it."
Eyes. that regiment was nearly al
down at one time. Now. I'm going or
a very dangerous mission. May l rely
on-who are you?"
A boy about thirteen years Of agt
had come into the room. and squarinl
himself before Mark began to stare a
him.
Jake" replied the intruder, II have
something of importance to say Il
your father and mother" Then to thu
parents. Wont you please send hin
out?"
"Jest's y like. stranger" answered
the father. "but mebbe Jake mough
show y the way or somep'n. aei
purity peart."
Jake's appearance did not bear wit
ness to the encomium.
well. let him stay. l would like t
rely on this house as a place of refug
in case ! have to get back here rap
idly. ! want you to take care OF m.
horse. and II l never come you cal
keep her. If / do come I'll pay yo'
more literally for horse fodder thai
you ever were paid before"
"Y' talk purity rich fer q common
sojer."
Don't fear for that. l have money.
md Mark showed a roll Of bills thu