Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-02-06

haired. wrinkled. tottering old man Of
the present day. Bob Meriden entered
the Union army at eighteen and came
out at twenty-five. When he was mus
tered into the service he was a rosy
checked boy with a perpetual smile on
his face. To LOOK at him no one would
have thought that he was going south
10 stand up to be shot at Yet the
only time when he looked serious was
at being ordered north on recruiting
service. He was afraid he would miss
a fight
But this was in the beginning OF It.
The enthusiastic young men OF that
period got quite enough OF lighting be-
fore they were through with campaign
ing. and those who struggled with dis
ease and wounds had a harder time
still. But this story is of the earlier.
reckless. devil may care period when
the youngsters who went into the war
felt that they were OF on a picnic.
Bob Meriden was as full of the ro-
nance OF war as any soldier in the
northern army. He had read stories of
spies and their doings and was espe-
cially ambitious to do secret service
work. So he told his captain that If
there was any call from headquarters
| for volunteers to go south for informa-
! ton to let him know. One day Bob
was notified that such service was re-
quired. and II he cared to undertake it
he was to report in person at head
quarters. he lost no time in doing so,
and the general after looking him over
said to him:
Can you talk like southerner?"
Reckon" was Bobs reply.
Let me hear you say New York"
"Nieu Yauk."
81 expect you'll get on in that re-
spect Have you ever done any secret
service workT
No, general"
The general was silent for a few
moments He realized the dangers
t4e boy was about to meet and hest
tated to send him. He told Bob that
be ran a considerable risk OF being
hanged and advised him not to under
tnke the job. But the young soldier
begged to be permitted to go, and the
general finally consented. Bob was to
proceed south to the Confederate lines,
note the positions and numbers of the
troops and secure such 'ther informa-
ton as would be vail 4 to his COM
mander.
That evening after dark the spy,
dressed in a suit of "hutternut" and q
faded straw hat, presented a pass at
the picket line for Abner Shock. He
was permitted to go forth and after
walking a few miles. in order that he
might not be found near the Federal
lines, went into bivouac in a wood.
In the morning he was awakened
E by the sun shining through the trees
and. sitting up, looked about him. The
/ birds were chirping in the trees, the
air was balmy. Indeed, the scene was
( as peaceful as any the young man had
ever experienced. 1t was difficult for
, him to realize that he was between
I two armies, whose business it was to
slaughter each other, and that If he
were known to be a Union soldier in
disguise he would be swinging of
from the limb of tree.
. Arising from his earthly bed. he
made his way to the turnpike and
z walked southwark Coming to a farm.
house he asked for a breakfast and
received some corn pone and a cup OF
chicory in lieu OF coffee. Being asked
where he came from and where he
was going, he said that the Yanks had
destroyed his fathers farm and be
was going down to enlist in the Con
- federate army.
After breakfast, for which he paid in
Yankee shinplasters OF the period, ht
took to the road again. He had mo-
gone far before he met slip of CIR
walking in the opposite direction She
. was a country girl of the better class
: and quite pretty. Bob. who had seeT
nothing but men since he came to Vir
ginia, was not minded to let this younl
creature go by without a word will
her. She was carrying basket on he
arm containing eggs and butter, anC
y Bob, by way of opening conversation
7 asked her If they were for sale. Sh,
q replied that they were not, but he wal
at liberty to help himself He had NJ
IT Then they sat down beside the roaC
and began to chatter like magpies.
The girl. much to Bob's surprise, tolC
him that she belonged to Union fsm
- lily; that they were all being treated
It very badly and that she would like L
go north to Harrisburg, where an aun
Of hers was living. But she feared sh
l. would not be permitted to pass through
the Union lines and wouldn't know hoy
TO travel if she were. Bob asked he
where she lived, and she said her hom
70 lay within the Confederate lines no
. far below. She was taking the butte
and eggs she carried to a house sh
y pointed out. What she would do mex
she didn't succeed in making clear t
Bob.
The upshot OF the dialogue was ths
n Bob changed bis mind about enlistin
g. In the Confederate army and told tn
girl that be would be back that wa
in a day or two and he thought
might help her on her way to her aur
y In Harrisburg To this she replied tha
h an