The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1912-03-26
IT, -.-- $500
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will prove dull enough. 1 only hope it
may help to divert your mind a trile
NOW hsten-you are to proceed with
twenty mounted mon or tho escort
west as far as the foothills, and are
expected to note carefully three
fhings: First, the condition OF for.
age for the sustenance Of a wagon
t'ain; eccond. what forces OF FEEDER
al troops, IL any. are along the Honey
%cll; and third, the gathering OF all In.
formation obtainable as to the report.
ed consolidation of guerillas for pur.
rogcs Of plumber between the lines. II
limo suffice, 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,
Z md you arc to avoid contact with the
f@7ny as far as possible. your men
carry five days rations. You under
stand fully?"
Il do, sir; l presume am to start
Mt once?"
Your squad, under command of
Sergeant Ebers. is already waiting out
side"
ne you ali ready, sergeant" |
aFEed OF the rather heavyweight Ger
MAJ who stood fronting me, his broad,
red face as impassive as though carved
from stone.
I've vos, captain"
Where is tho guideg"
Dot Is him, nit dor mule, amt it,"
lie answered. pointing with one hugo
hand down the road.
Very u-aN W. ,,,tr .>tut-
thea as We 60"
cared so little as to whether or not
tie 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 evil
dsnces OF their stupidity, II not actual
CigiOyalty, as to prefer my own knowl-
fEyc or the country to theirs. My
Thcrsht, indeed, for several miles was
&ct at all with the little party OF
troopers jogging steadily at my heels.
nor, in truth. was IL greatly concerned
with the fate OF the expedition. That
WAS but service routine, and l rode
forward careiessly enough, never
dreaming that evory hour of progress
Was bearing me toward tho most I'M
portant adventure Of my life. 1t was
the German sergeant who recalled nae
TO TIE responsibilities of command.
Captain" he exclaimed apologet-
sepliy. riding up to my side and wiping
hs round. perspiring face with great
energy, we arc riding too hard, amt
We! Mein Colt, but der horses will
give out entirely, already"
70 that SOP" I-asked in surprise at
lis words. A single swift glance
around convinced me he was correct.
for the mounts were exceedingly soft,
and already looked nearly played cut
from our sharp pace. Very well,
We will halt here"
With q sigh of relief he drew back.
and as he did so my eyes fell for the
first time upon the guide AS live,
&c was Jed Bungay. and when stared
ut him in sudden amazement he broke
ito a broad grin.
"Durn If didn't begin ter think as
Row ye'd gone an clar forgot me,
Cap"
mot bit OF It. Jed" and l rode up
t. BIN and extended my hand. but
kew came you here? Are you the
giide?"
Sure thing, cap; know this yere
kintry like a buk faded horsemen
from the west, at evening to the castle
pressed By gum, you put Beelzebub
an me through a blamed hard jolt Of
st so fur"
"Beelzebub?"
"Ye bet. Their mule: reckon as how
SO amt gone an forgot him, hev yer"
"Bungay, what has becoms OF Ma,
iia?"
The little mans eyes suddenly filed
with tears.
Il jist don't know, cap" he answered
mcrrnfully. "Whin I got hum Their
% cabin he'd bin plum burnt down,
nary stick o. IT left, by gum! an Ma.
riar she wuz clean gone. Haln't seed
neither hide ner hair o her since.
thet's fac An sorter drifted back
tor you uns cause 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
como OF those houses"
r., looked at me In surprise. II
sckon. cap, as how 20 don't know
i.Ich bout whuts a goin on in Their
valley for ther las few months" he
laid soberly, rubbing down his mule
as he spoke. Tell 20 what. thar fist
hain't no plantation houses left thar
now, thets fac, leastwise not north
q Their lines We uns sorter hor onto
yit. Sheridan he played hell with his
cavalry raids. an whut the blue.bellies
left Their burned guerillas an bush
whackers wiped up es clean es a slate
Durn n crow wudnt starye ter death
IN ther valley now. Why, cap. them
thar deserters an sich truck Is or
Banized now TIL they're mighty nigh
nn army, an they don't skeer fer nuth.
in les ner a regiment. I see more ner
n hundred an nifty ia one bunch I'D
on ther White Brlar two week ago. an
they're worso ner a parcel or pirates.
] reckon as how they got Mariar. but
I'll bet she Civ EN- q hot OF time afore
she done quit
Rumors Of this state OF affairs 20
the north and west Of our defending