Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1913-04-25

NAVObtAb iAuAuB Hdpiulg w Auo EOhu
One of them left the others and. com
Ing to the house, called. Ella opened
the window, and he asked II she had
seen anything Of a young fellow in a
butternut suit. She said she hadn't,
and, riding on, he Joined his comrades.
Some twenty minutes later, when It
was quite dark without, she saw a
face Mt the window. II was very pale
and wore a frightened look. Moreover.
It was the face OF the young man In
butternut she had met on the road the
morning before.
Bob Meriden had got within the Con.
federate lines through a gap In the
plckets. had gone about gathering in.
formation, but had excited suspicion.
He had become aware Of his danger
and hid himself in a wood from whence
he had seen the men who had suspect.
ed him riding rapidly on the road and
felt sure they were after him. Find
ing a picket DOING on his post, Bob
effected an exit and, skulking over
wooded ground. had brought up at the
house In question.
The two youngsters held a confer
ence, and Bob told Ella that the Con
federates had tried to force him to en-
list in their cause, but he had succeed
ed IN getting away from them. He did
not dare remain In the house-he would
skulk in the ~woods-but II the next
morning she would meet him on the
road within range Of the Federal pick
cts he would see what he could do to
ward getting her through the lines
and sending her north to her aunt
She thankfully accepted his PROPOSE
ton, and Bob skulked away to hide
from those seeking him.
1t was about 10 o'clock in the morn.
ing that Bob having passed through q
cornheld, mounted a fence at a rise in
the ground and looked about him. On
the road he saw walking a figure that
he judged to be Ella Carneal. De
scending from his point Of observation,
he made toward her, and she waved
her hand to him. He soon Joined her,
and they walked together toward the
Union picket line.
Bob knew that at that time his com
mander, who was preparing for a move
ment, was very particular about allow.
ing citizens in his camps. SO. conclud-
ing that 1t would be necessary, in or
der to get his protege through and sent
her on her way north, that he should
vouch for her, he told her that he
would tell the general that he had
found in her a cousin and instructed
her as to the part she should play
She was very grateful to him for this
though she regretted hat the decep.
ton should be necessary. On coming
to the picket Bob asked the officer in
command to inform the general Of his
coming and ask permission to bring
another person to headquarters. The
officer was directed to bring the two In
at once.
Bob had gathered just the informa
ton his commander required. Ella re
manned outside the tent while Bot
went in and reported. As soon as he
he had done so he informed the general
Of his meeting with his cousin and
asked permission to send her north
The general was surprised at the co
incidence and looked incredulous. But
Bob assured him that the girl was an
unsophisticated little thing, barely six
teen, and the commander gave his con
sent. He suggested, however, that one
of his star take the girl in charge,
Bob WINGED at this, but was forced to
obey, and babe goodby to his little III
in with regret, promising that as 5000
as the war was over he would look
her up.
That was the last that Bob saw Of
Ella Carneal till the text day, when
he received an order to report in per
son at general headquarters. What
was his establishment to find his cousin
there with a soldier on each side Of her.
I'm you two" said the general, 'are
a pair OF knaves. You go south to do
secret service work for me and bring
back a cousin to do secret service
work for the enemy"
what do you mean, generalT' cried
the astonished Bob.
~ suspected your cousin whose sto-
~ was very hlmsy, and gave her the
run Of our camps. But l set a watch
upon her. She was taking down notes
of our forces and making sketches Of
our defenses when she was interrupted
in her work and brought to me-"
you don't mean It, general| ex-
claimed Bob.
According to the rules Of war, It is
my duty to order a drumhead court
martial and hang her"
Great heaYensl"
"There was an impressive silence,
which was broken by the general. "The
information you brought me Is very
valuable. What reward do you ask
for getting it,"
Bob took the hint and said eagerly,
~ ask a pardon for this little girl"
''That let's me out" replied the gen
eraL at Is my duty to hang her, but
since you claim her life as your reward
for a service in which you risked the
death that is due her she is pardoned.
When the information she has acquir-
ed shall have become useless she shall