Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-05-15
The Argus Daily Story
The Dispatch Bearer-By Captain F. A. Mitchell.
Copyrghtea. Y Assos1asea Ll,erary Bureau


or the dahkT'
Cartright would have preferred
both, but, that being out Of the Ques-
ton, he said either would do, and
doubtless he could have eaten even the
bones. Besides, he was observing Carey
Randolph, whose southern beauty was
especially pleasing to him. The dinner
proceeded with marked attention on
the part OF all the family to the young
captain, who, in the presence of a south
ern matron and her two attractive
daughters, strove TO make himself as
agreeable as possible. The dinner fin
ished, he was conducted to the draw
ing room, where he sat in the most
comfortable chair In the room, sur
rounded by the Randolph family.
Nothing OF moment occurred during
this after dinner companionship ex-
cept that the captain, looking out of n
window, saw Jim, Mr.. Randolph's body
servant. riding down the lane leading
from the house to the road. Then in
a few minutes the officer saw his or
derby, Nike Finegan, riding full tilt
in the same direction.
leisurely back and felt relieved. Ris-
ing, he thanked the members Of the
family for their southern hospitality,
which he declared was famed all over
the world. AL were extremely gra-
dous to him and hoped that the for
tunes Of war would bring him their
way again. Mr.. Randolph assured him
that he would always find a welcome
at the manor house. There was an I'M
observed pressure of the hand between
Cartright and Miss Carey Randolph
and a soft look between the two.
Then the captain went out. called for
the horses 90 take him and his orderly
on their way, and, mounting amid
many goodbys, he rode away with
Mike at the regulation forty PAGES in
his rear
They had not gone far before Mike
called, Captain
What is it?"
Are ye shure the dispatches are all
right?"
Yes" And the captain felt his
breast with his fingers.
Wouldn't it be well to take 'em out
and look at EN-? Them people is bad
secesh.'
They're fine people, anyway" re-
| piled Cartright- But he unbuttoned his
coat, took out the envelope and looked
| at 1t with establishment. There was
! no address or army stamp on the up
| per left hand corner. Tearing off the
cover, he exposed blank paper.
Great heavens!" he exclaimed.
| what is It, sorr7" asked Mike, rid
ing up beside his superior.
'Tve been tricked. Some one has
substituted this for the dispatches"
"Begorra, that's bad" exclaimed
Mike.
The captain was pale and trembling.
What excuse could he give for his in
caution, his trustfulness? His delin-
quency might wreck McClellan's army.
Orderly" he said, draw your re-
volver and put bullet through my
brains; then destroy this blank paper.
ride on to General Mcclellan and tell
him that we were attacked on our
way and robbed of the dispatches.
You'll do that for me, won't your"
"Ofm thinkin', captain, that there's
betther way o. dom It."
what wayr'
"Presintin' the real dispatches"
But they're gone"
They moight come back"
what do you meanT
"Well, sorr, they say all tho nagurs
of the south is wild us. One of 'em
isn't, I know-that black spalpeen, the
planters body servant. l was eatin
me dinner, and I saw i'm goin' out to
the stable, putin somepin that looked
loike the dispatches in his shirt. Thin
he KEN out wild horse, mounted and
made off Rushin' to the shtable, took
horse and followed i'm. 1 caught
i'm on the road and fred at i'm, bring
in i'm to a halt. on trouble ye for
the papers in your shirt said. VIVA
papers?' he asked Fur a reply I cut
off his ear wild a bullet from me re-
volver. Wild that he TUX the papers
from under his shirt next his dirty
black skin, and here they are"
The captain seized the envelope, took
out the contents, satisfied himself that
they were really the dispatches then
fell on his orderlys neck
But how in the world could the ras-
cal have got them? asked the captain,
wondering.
81 dunno, sorr. only know he had
'em"
There's but one way" the captain
went on, half to himself and half to
Mike HE brushed my coat. Doubt
less he maze the transfer then. But 1
can't understand how he happened TO
have the dummy"
well, SOFT" Mike put in, before the
nagur carried the wather upstairs for
you | saw the planther hand 1t to i'm"
81 see it ALL" said the captain. 1t
was neat trick, and but for you
He embraced Mike again.
After the surrender Captain Cart
right went to Virginia and married
Miss Carey Randolph. Then that
which might have destroyed an army
and ruined the dispatch bearer became
simply an interesting episode.