Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1919-09-26

Armstrong, lieutenant" he ques-
toned, toying with an oficlal-looking
paper In his hands,
"Only about three weeks, sir, IL
came north on the Enterprise, with .
dispatches from General Gaines"
81 remember; you belong to the
Fifth, and without orders, l promptly
dragooned you into garrison service"
His eyes laughed. "Only sorry can
not hold you any longer 1t seems you
have an application pending for a fur
| lough."
Eyes, sir"
at is my pleasure to inform you
that It has been granted-sixty days,
with permission to proceed east. There
has been considerable delay evidently
In locating you"
A sudden vision arose before me OF
my mothers face and Of the old home
among the hills as l took the paper
from his extended hands and glanced
at the printed and written lines.
"The date is a month ago."
"That need not trouble you, Knox.
The furlough begins with this deliv-
cry. However, as I shall require your
services as far as St Louis, l shall
date this acceptance from the time OF
your arrival there"
(Which is very kind, sir"
"Not at all. You have proven OF
considerable assistance here, and ]
shall part from you with regret. l
have letters for Governor CLARK OF
Missouri and Governor Reynolds OF
Illinois; also one to General Atkinson
at Jefferson barracks, detailing my
views on the present Indian situation
These are confidential, and l hesitate
to intrust them to the regular mall
service. / had intended sending them
, down river in charge Of noncommls-
, stoned officer, but shall now utilize
I your services instead-that is II you
are willing to assume their carer"
, every gladly of course"
81 thought as much. Each of these
: is to be delivered in person. Captain
Throckmorton informs me that he will
y be prepared to depart within an hour
e You can be ready In that timer
q / smiled.
an much less. I have little witt
G me but field kit, sir. 1t will not re
! quire long to pack that"
q "Then return here at the first whistle
and the letters will be ready for you
. That will be all now. Travel az
:, civilian if you please, lieutenant, bu
1 suggest 1t will be well to wear thu
! uniform of your rank when you deliye
o the letters"
Fifteen minutes sufGiCed to gathe
together all my belongings ant
change from blue into gray, and. as
u emerged from quarters, the officer
'e of the garrison flocked about me Wit
words of congratuation and innu
merable questions. Universal envy o
u my good fortune was evident, but thi
Is assumed no unpleasant form, althoug
ot much was said to express their be
Il lief in my early return.
u shook hands all around, and LEI
them, Fastening across the parade
the office. Ten minutes later l crosse
the gangplank and put foot for tn
~ first time on the deck Of the Warrlo
u Evidently the crew had been avail
Up ing my arrival to push off, for instan
~ ly the whistle shrleked again, and In
III mediately after the boat began
~ churn it's way out into the river Gu
p rent, with bow pointing down strear
" Throckmorton leaned out from Il
III open window of the pilot house an
We hailed me.
Tx "Put your dunnage in the thin
cabin, Knox-here, you, Sam, lay no
Gu and help"
ty' 1t was nothing to boast of, TIL
Ke third cabin, being mere hole, mea
we uring possibly about four feet
we seven, but sufficient for sleeping qua
we ters, and was reasonably clean.
failed, however in attractiveness ST
lir, fcient to keep me below, and as 500
me as l had deposited my bag and l
wo dulged in a somewhat captions scr
ok, tiny of the bedding very Willingly
be- turned to the outside and clamber
md up steep ladder to the upper dec
to Judge Beaucaire was standing at t
my low rail- Our eyes met inquiring
and he bowed with all the ceremo
of Of the old school
ven "a new passenger on board, | thlr
sir" and his deep, resonant voice IL
pleasant impression. you mi
ing have Joined our company at f'
Armstrong;?
"Your suppositlon is correct"
you swered, some peculiar constraint p
venting me from referring to my IN
of tary rank. my name is Knox, ant
the have been about the island for
erly weeks. | believe you are Judge BE
ross caire of Missouri"
the He was a splendidly proportion