Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1912-03-14

WSst as ldT d6 inc IOOL-nllS, ana ara
expected to note carefully three
things: First, the condition of for
age for the sustenance OF a wagon
train: second. what forces Of FEEDER
al troops. If 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 plumber between the lines. II
time suffice, you might cross over into
the valley of the Cowskin and learn
the condition of forage there as we'll
A guide will accompany your party.
and you are to avoid contact with the
enemy as far as possible. Your men
carry five days rations. You under.
stand fully?"
Il do, sir; | presume l am to start
at once?"
your squad, under command OF
Sergeant Ebers. is 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 impressive al though carved
from stone.
We vos, captain"
Where is the guide?"
Dot is him, NIT der mule, amt itr-
he answered, pointing with one huge
hand down the road.
Very well, we will pick him uP
then as we CO."
cared SO little as to whether or not
he accompanied us at all, thatewe had
advanced some distance before the
thought of him again occurred to me.
| knew the gentry fairly well. and had
experienced in the past so many evi.
denceB of their stupidity, If 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 it greatly concerned
with the fate of the expedition. That
was but service routine, and l rode
forward carelessly enough, never
dreaming that every hour Of progress
was bearing me toward the most i'm.
p~ortant 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 wiping
his round, perspiring face with great
energy, I'VE are riding too hard, amt
We? Mein Colt, but der horses will
give out entirely, already"
rs that so?" | asked in surprise at
his words. A single swift glance
around convinced me he was correct,
for the mounts were exceedingly soft.
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 ayes fell for the
first time upon the guide. AS live,
it was Jed Bungay, and when stared
at him In sudden amazement he broke
into a broad grin.
"Durn II l didn't begin ter think az
how ye'd gone an clar forgot me,
Cap"
mot a bit of 1t. Jed" and | rode up
to him and extended my hand. But
how came you here? Are you the
guide?"
Sure thing, cap; know this yere
kintry like a bulk. faded horsemen
from the west, at evening to the castle
pressed By gum, you put Beelzebub
an me through a blamed hard jolt of
it so fur"
"Beelzebub?"
"Ye bet, Their mule; I reckon as how
we amt gone an forgot him, hev ye?"
"Bungay, what has become Of Ma
ria?"
The little mans eyes suddenly filed
with tears.
81 jist don't know. cap" he answered
m~ournfully. "Whin l got hum theH
OIL cabin he'd bin plum burnt down,
nary stick O. 1t left. by gum! an Ma
riar she wuz clean gone. Hain't seed
neither hide ner hair o. her since,
thet's a fac. An l sorter drifted back
ter you uns cause I didn't hev nowhar
else ter CO."
did you hunt for her among the old
plantations along the Valley" | asked,
deeply touched by his evident feeling.
She very likely sought refuge in
some OF those houses"
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