Year: 1868

81 think you are alittle better than green gos-
ling, Brack," said Walsh moodily. "A woman
can turn your head any day.


"And how, are you any better, Mike?" asked
his friend retorting, but with good humor. ibid
not Miss Isolette make . fool Of yon in the same
way? If she made fool Of me-which deny
what did she make of you? p


'She didn't feather my eye, replied Walsh
composedly She went to the Colonel Of my regi-
ment and begged me out of o difficulty. Curse it |!
the whole matter was this; left the camp without
leave, and when came back


'sWhen you was brougE back, you mean,
Mike brought back under guard" interposed
Brack. II know all about it. They sentenced
you to wear ball and chain for three months. "


"Yes!" replied Walsh, with aterrible and bitter
oath from heart burning with sense of faucied
wrong II wore it until it wore into my flesh, and
Miss Isolette, who had made as great fool Of our
upstart Colonel as she has made of you, took my
part. Shewas always driving down to where our
regiment lay, flirting with the officers and finding
out army secrets. She saw me limping about the
camp and begged the Colonelso hard for me that
curse their souls-they did for her what they would
not do for pity and justice, and took off my ball
and chain month before my time was out


"And that's how you and Miss Isolette became
acquainted" asked Brack.


Acquainted, be cursed p rejoined Walsh con-
temptuously. "Don't make a fool of yourself,
Brack! Its not for you and me to be talking of
being acquainted with such az Miss Isolette. She
took my part against them that misused me, and
that's the way came to know her when see her.
She spoke civilly to me every time met her after
that, and lift my cap to her with much better
will than to the upstart officers Of the regiment
When I was passing along the street one day, she
called me into that fine house of hers and fed ME
like lord but she didn't turn my head as she has
turned yours. When she limited at wishing to
send letter down to friend in the Yankee fleet,
I told her, without being mealy-mouthed about
it, would carry letter to Jericho, if 1T would on
| ly help to ruin the Confederacy and its upstart
military officers That is the way happened to
be carrying dispatches to the fleet. Miss Isolette,
with those quiet blue eyes of hers sees everything,
watches everything caoles the officers out Of eve
ry important army secret, watches every blockade
runner, and knows as much Of what is going on in
the city and harbor as General Beauregard's night
cap


"She is keen, shrewd, close one, anda beauty at
that!'' exclaimed Brack, enthusiastically. "You
can swear to that Mike"


"Brack, what have you to do with Miss Isolette s
beauty?' asked Walsh contemptuousy. "The
less you say about it, the less you think about it,
the better for you. Men of more brains than you,
have made themselvesdrive fools about women
so high above them, that even their contempt
could scarcely reach them. Be on your guard y


s'Strange things happen sometimes, Mike" re-
piled Brack coloring up and looking disconnected
and chagrined. ''Woman have married their car
rage drivers before now"


"Only when the devil drove them, Brack," re-
sponded Walsh. Don't think about Miss Isolette
any more, only as one who is in league with US a.
gainst our enemies.


"Ah, Mike, they are no enemies of mine, and
you may safely swear that" answered Brack II
wish no harm to the country, man and, if had
my way, the Yankees would soon all have their lit
tie six by four farms. But, to tell the truth, it
don't make much difference to me which side
whips. have to work for my living, any way,
and my plane will run just as fast and smooth un-
der the Yankee, as under the Confederate govern
ment. But you say you don't intend to make but
one more trip to thehect-are you going to give up
the service?"


"Yes; I intend to make my knife red to the hilt,
and then leave this country for good and all, re-
piled Walsh hoarsely.


"Why, what's in the wind now?" asked Brack,
with awakened interest. "You don't intend harm
to any one?'


"None in the world" answered Walsh quietly,
''but met an old enemy this morning, who once
tried to swear my life away, and tried to make mat
ters hard for Inc with the Provost by raking up
old stories against me.


"But you came off clear, Mike, and he did you
no harm" suggested Brack.


"No thanks to him, or the young popin jay eth
er who was in his company, and Joined with him
in raking up SANDERS against me to influence the
Provost When make my knife red in the blood
of one or the other of them, will be ready to show
this place clean pair of heels.


"Who are they, and what tales did they tell OF
you?" asked Brack


"What no man dare for his life repeat!' an
swered Walsh with savage energy. Zone Of them
is Harvey Haley-you don't know him-and the
other is lad I never saw before, but l will not
forget him. I know where to find them both, and
they shall hear from me sooner than they think
1t will not be safe for me to remain here after
have met them, and when I have finished the JOB
I shall Join the fleet until can do better"


"It is bad business Mike, and may lead you
into trouble" rejoined Brack. Better give it
|upl'


1T is useless to talk about it, replied Walsh.
my mind is made up. shall not sleep comfort
ably until I have had my revenge. But willhave
to leave you now, Brack. 1 must get some rest,
, and tomorrow shall watch for my revenge, which
is sweeter to me than food or sleep. Where shall
l find you Tomorrow


"Ah, cannot tell you that, " answered Brack.
II will have to report in camp tomorrow morning,
but if can coax the lieutenant to extend my leave
of absence, you will find me fishing near the bridge
the greater part of the morning.


"Can YOU not meet me tomorrow night2" asked
Walsh.


'I cannot say as to that, replied Brack; "I will
have to meet Miss Isolette about dusk, and if
am not obliged to carry out dispatch to the fleet
I can meet you where you please
t 'sI will see you at the bridge, in the morning.
suppose" rejoined Walsh. keep still tongue
in your head, Brack, and don't think too much
about Miss Isolettes beauty. warn you against
; that! There is one who, if heknew you had q
lH i