The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-12-27


 .'You are well and strong. I am ill.," pleaded Hunt.
 a-T don't forget that, either,'' mur- mured Cox, softenfng-
 'sI've talked too much, suppose. It's all over now Here's my hand, if you will take it."
 Cox did not take it immediately, but answered:
 Its all right, Ralph Only give me e little time to get over it, for you cut deep. old fellow
 At this moment sudden silence fell, and general movement and whisper made themselves manifest. Enter Cap tain Jackson Warner, the prison com missary.
 ,"Evening, Yanks,' was his gruff but not unkindly greeting. ''What devil try are you up to now?''
 Talking over old times and old comrades, captain, that's all," replied Cox gently.
 sfWelI, you may have an opportunity of seeing some more O them ere old comrades O yourn, I reckon, before long"
 .swhat7 Are we going to get out?'' .tNo; they're coming in here. I SUD- pose you've heard the news?''
  who had sat silently in an opposite corner reading a copy of the Richmond Dispatch weeks old, threw down the paper and listened attentively.
 ~Let us know the worst, Captain Warner" urged Cox. Were used to ft-haven't got feelings any more, you know. Whats the news?'
 ~Oh, some more fighting in the val ley, you know Tanks licked out O their boots again, as usual. More pris- oners, more hard luck stories.''
 "HWhat's that?" cried Deacon Hart. Another fight? More prisoners? Oh, Lordm
 @You're on the religious, aren't you?' inquired the commissary scoffingly. tT'm a shouting Methodist these for ty years, thank the Lord. answered the deacon, holding his hand of cards behind his back
 Well, your shouting hasn't benefited Abe Lincoln nor yourself very much so far. You'd better swing around and pray for Jeff Davis, reckon, and be on the safe side.''
 ~Never, till this right hand''-putting out his left with the cards, then jerk ing it back and holding up the right shall lose its cunning"
 "Oh, go ahead, deacon, and pray for Jeff Davis if they want you to- sug- gested Cox He'll need it before this wars over.''
 You can talk with your friends just from the front about that,'' retorted Warner gruff1y. Here's one of lem coming upstairs now.''
 A measured tramp was heard ap- preaching outside. The commissary opened the door. and the new Union prisoner was marched in between two guards He saluted and introduced himself.
 "Gentlemen, permit me. am Colo mel Coggswen of the Forty-second New York"
 -sThe Tammany regiment of New York cityr' exclaimed Lieutenant Bed Joe. sotto voce.
 Captain Cox returned the newcom- CTS salute and responded:
 we have heard of you, colonel, and we are right proud to meet you. My comrades here are Captain Hunt of Kentucky, Chaplain Hart of Indiana and Lieutenant BedIoe, from-why, from your own state, I believe. I am Captain Cox of the Tenth Kentucky Colonel Coggswell shook hands all around and said:
 "I am fortunate to have the bonor of sharing your quarters. l don't sup pose you find it exactly lonesome here .'' ''The place is quite populous. It seems as if the fortunes of war had picked out the flower of our army to pine away in internal holes like this. Oh, for an hour of action!'
 ''Just wait till the exchange" said the hopeful Hart. With a dozen men like us they might redeem a whole Confederate regiment"
 ''I understand said Ralph Hunt gloomily, "'that their idea is to get the we'll kept Confederate prisoners back From the Union camps and send us as living skeletons in exchange
 s'Do you think, Colonel Coggswell, '' asked Cox, "that things are going as badly with us in the valley and else where as they try to make out?'
 Yes. and a sight worse. I should say, at the present moment.''
 "Then.'' interposed Hart tragically, 'tall is lost save honor-"
 The colonel drew himself up proudly glanced around to make sure that fhS commissary and guard had retired then with a superb dramatic gesture opened the coat of his uniform, whicI had been tightly buttoned up to his chin. and displayed the stars and stripes wrapped around his body.
 Mot all lost, sir. Our colors, by GodY'
 The prisoners rushed forward, theil eyes bulging and cheeks glowing witt patriotic ardor. Even poor Hunt rose excitedly from his couch.
 Three cheers, boys,' cried Cox. "AI together-let her goP'