The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1912-01-11

west as far as the foothills. and are
expected to note carefully three
things: First, the condition Of for
age for the sustenance OF q wagon
train: second, what forces Of FEEDER
al troops, II any. are along the Honey
well: and third. the gathering Of all In.
formation obtainable as to the report
ed consolidation Of guerillAS for pur.
poses Of plunder between the lines. II
time Sufice. you might cross over into
the valley Of the Cowskin and learn
the condition Of forage there as well.
A guide will accompany your party.
and you are to avoid contact with the
enemy as far as possible. Your men
carry Ave days rations. You under
stand fullyf"
Il do. sir; presume I am to start
at once?"
Your squad. under command Of
Sergeant Ebers. 10 already waiting out
side"
Are you all ready. sergeant"
asked Of the rather heavyweight Ger.
man who stood fronting me. his broad,
red face as impassive as though carved
from stone
I've vos. captain"
Where is the guide?'
Dot is him, nit der mule, amt it,
he answered, pointing with one huge
hand down the road.
Very well, We will pick him up
then as We 60"
cared so little as to whether or not
he accompanied US at all, that we had
advanced some distance before the
thought OF him again occurred to me.
knew the gentry fairly we'll. and had
experienced In the past so many evi-
dences OF their stupidity. II not actual
disloyalty. as to prefer my own knowl'
edge Of the country to theirs. My
thought, indeed, for several miles was
not at all with the little party OF
troopers jogging steadily at my heels
nor, In truth. was 1t greatly concerned
with the fate Of the expedition. That
was but service routine. and rode
forward carele4sly enough. never
dreaming that every hour OF progress
was bearing me toward the most I'm
portant adventure of my life. 1t was
the German sergeant who recalled me
to the responsibilities Of command.
Captain" he exclaimed apologet
ically, riding up to my side and wipine
his round. Davspiring face with great
energy, I'VE are rESins too hard, amt
We? Mein Gott. but der horses will
give out entirely, already"
"Is that so!" asked in surprise al
his words. A single swift glance
around convinced me he was correct
for the mounts were exceedingly eOft
and already looked nearly played out
from our sharp pace. Very well
we will halt here"
With a sigh of relief he drew back
and as he did so my eyes fell for the
first time upon the guide AS I live
1t was Jed Bungay. and when | stared
at him in sudden amazement he broke
into broad grin.
"Durn II didn't begin ter think Al
how ye'd gone an clar fergot me
Cap"
mot a bit OF It. Jed" and rode VI
to him and extended my hand. "Bu'
how came you here? Are you ths
guide?"
Sure thing. cap; know this yert
kintry like a buk. 'Jaded horsemer
from the west, at evening to the castle
pressed BY gum. you put Beelzebut
an me through a blamed hard jolt o.
it so fur"
"Beelzebub?"
"Ye bet. ther mule; reckon as hoS
ye amt gone an fergot him. hev ye?'
"Bungay, what has become Of Mn
ria?"
The little mans eyes suddenly tillSt
with tears.
IL jist don't know. cap" he answeres
mournfully. "Whin | got hum the
OIL cabin he'd bin plum burnt down
nary stick o. 1t left. by gum! an Ma
riar she wuz clean gone. Hain't ses'
neither hide ner hair O. her sincs
thet's a fac. An sorter drifted bacl
ter you uns cause didn't hcv nowha
else ter 60"
Ibid you hunt for her among the oil
plantations along the valley?" asked
deeply touched by his evident feelirA
she very likely sought refuge Il
some OF those houses"
(TO BE CoNTINUED.)