Bridgeton pioneer., 1913-04-17

hc HlSnt una nef on ner return Gn0
he might not.
Leaving her. Bob pursued his way
down the road, thinking more of her
than his mission. Just before coming
TO depression in the road that would
hide her from him he turned for q last
.ook. She turned at the same moment,
and they both smiled. Then Bob, see
ing a cluster of white tents before
him, began to remember what he was
there for
The next evening about dusk Ella
Carneal, the girl Bob had met on his
way south, looking out through a win
dow, saw half dozen Confederate
troopers riding rapidly up the road.
One of them left the others and. com
ing to the house, called. Ella opened
the window, and he asked if 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 il
was quite dark without, she saw a
face at the window. 1t 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
pickets, 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 an6
| felt sure they were after him. Find
ing picket doing on his post, Bol.
effected an exit and, skulking over
wooded ground, had brought up atNthe
house in question.
| The two youngsters held a confer
ence, and Bob told Ella that the Con
| feGerates had tried to force him to en-.
( list in their cause. but ne had succeed
ed in getting away from them. He die
not dare remain in the house-he woulC
skulk in the woods-but if the mex;
1 morning she would meet him on tn,
| road within range of the Federal pick
| cts he would see what he could do to
| ward getting her through the line,
and sending her north to her aun,
She thankfully accepted his PROPOSE
ton, and Bob skulked away to hid,
from those seeking him.
| 1t was about 10 o'clock in the morn
ing that Bob. having passed through /.
cornfield, mounted a fence at rise il
the ground and looked about him. Or
the road he saw walking figure tina
he judged to be Ella Carneal De
scending from his point of observation
he made toward her, and she wavee
her hand to him. He soon Joined hel
and they walked together toward tn
Union picket line.
Bob knew that at that time his com
mander, who was preparing for move
ment. was very particular about allow
ing citizens in his camps. So, concluG
ing that it would be necessary, in OF
der to get his protege through and sent
her on her way north, that he shoult
vouch for her, he told her that b
would tell the general that he ha,
found in her a cousin and instructe,
her as TO the part she should pla,
1
though she regretted that the dece,
ton should be necessary. On comm
to the picket Bob asked the officerei
command to inform the general of hi
| coming and ask permission to brin
another person to headquarters. Th
officer was directed to bring the two i.
| at once.
Bob had gathered just the inform;
ton his commander required. Ella r.
mained outside the tent while Bo
went in and reported. AS soon as b
he had done so he informed the gener
Of his meeting with his cousin an
asked permission to send her nortl
The general was surprised at the c.
incidence and looked incredulous. b
Bob assured him that the girl was a
unsophisticated little thing, barely six
teen, and the commander gave his con
sent. He suggested, however, that on'
of his staff take the girl in charge.
Bob WINGED at this, but was forced I,
obey, and bade goodby to his little cous
in with regret. promising that as 500.
as the war was over he would looE
her up.
That was the last that Bob saw ol
Ella Carneal till the next day, wher
he received an order to report in per
son at general headquarters. Wha'
was his astonishment to find his cousin
there with soldier on each side of hei
"In you two" said the general. ''ars
a pair of knaves. You go south to d.
secret service work for me and brint
back cousin to do secret serviG
work for the enemy"
What do you mean, generalY' cried
the astonished Bob.
| Il suspected your cousin whose st"
ry was very fiimsy. and gave her th,
run of our camps. But l set watci
upon her. She was taking down note,
of our forces and making sketches o.
our defenses when she was interrupte'
in her work and brought to me-
| You don't mean it, general!" ex
1 al