Newspapers / The Roanoke Beacon and … / March 22, 1912, edition 1 / Page 3
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MyL THE 10VE STORY OF A GT?AY JACKET w .Author cop TVHEN WILDERNESS WASHING" SXjf -XL.1 Illustrations bjcArlhurTA illiamsoiv Jr SYNOPSIS. The story opens In a Confederate tent at a critical stage of the Civil War. Gen. Lee imparts to Capt. Wayne an Important message to I,ongsireet. Accompanied by Burst. Craig, an old army scout. Wayne tarts on his mission. They pet within the lines of the enemy and In the dark less Wayne is taken for a Federal of ficer and a youriK lady on horseback is fiven in nis charge. She Is a northern Irl and attempts to escape. One of the orses succumbs and Cralsr xoes through Ith the dispatches, while Wayne and My ndy of the North are left alone. They ek shelter in a hut and entering It In ffte dark a huge mastiff attacks Wayne me Kirl shoots the brute Just in time. Thi ownpr nf th hut Jo1 Runffav nrl hla wife appear and soon a party of Horsemen approach. They are led by a man claiming to be Red Lowrle, but who proves to be MaJ. Brennan. a Federal officer whom the Union srirl recognizes. He orders the nrrest nf W nvno na a nv and he-i brought before ghnridan, who mreatens mm with death unless he re veals the secret message. Wayne believes Edith Brennan to be the wife of Maj. rennan. ue is rescued by Jed ilunea mirav. who starts to reach flpn. I.pb while le Wayne in disguise penetrates to the ball Toom. beneath which he had been Im prisoned. He is introduced to a Miss Minor and barely escapes being unmask ed. Edith Prennan. recognizing Wayne, ays she will save him. Securing a pass through' the lines, they are confronted by Brennan, who is knocked senseless. Then, bidding Edith adieu. Wayne makes a rfash for liberty. He encounters-Bungay: they reach the Lee camp and are sent with reinforcements to Join Early. In the battle of Shenandoah the regiment is verwhelmed. and Wayne, whil in the hospital, is visited by Edith Brennan. Wayne and Bungay are sent on a scout ing detail, and arriving at the Minor place. Wayne meets Miss Minor and Mrs. Bungay, and later Edith appears. CHAPTER XXVIII. Continued. "I say, Cap," he said, jerking the words out to the mule's hard trot, and grasping his saddle pommel desper ately, "I sorter reckon as how ther'll be some fun back thar afore long 'less all signs fall." "Why?" I stared at him, now thor oughly aroused to the thought that be had important news to communi cate. "Wal," he explained slowly, "whin ye wint off, I sorter tuk a notion ter look 'bout a bit. Used ter be an ol' atompin' ground o' mine. So Dutchy an mo plumb thet big hill back o' whar we halted, and' by gum, down thar in ther gully on V other 6ide thar's a durned big camp o' fellers." 1 reined up short, and with uplifted band signalled the men behind to bait. "Why didn't you tell me this be fore?" 1 questioned sternly. "How many were there? and what did they look like?" ' He scratched the back of his head thoughtfully, and answered with care ful deliberation. "Dura it, I didn't jine ye till after y'd started, an' I reckon as how it took me all o' tew mile ter git this yere blame muel up ter whar I cud talk. Thar's quite a smart bunch, but they had some pick ets out) an' I cudn't git close 'nough ter tell zackly. Dutchy thought thar wus nigh onter two hundred o' 'em, but I jist don't know. They wusn't dressed like sojers o' either army, an' 1 reckon they're out o' ther hills." I glanced at my little handful ot men, scarcely knowing what decision it misht be wise to make. Undoubt edly they would fight if occasion arose, but the odds were terribly heavy; besides, if Brennan came, and his party got away that same even ing, as was planned for them to do. then it might not be necessary for U3 to strilie a blow. I was certainly in no mood to expose my small command merely to save the empty house from destruction. "Eber3," I said, turning toward the Sergeant, who sat his horso with ex pressionless face, "you were with the guide when he discovered this camp. How many do you think it contained? and who were they?" " "Vel, dere vos more as two gom panies. Captain, und dere vos some horses, but dey vos dressed vot you calls it? all ober not ner same." "Not in uniform?" "Dot vos It." "Have any of the rest of you seen anything that looked suspicious?" I asked, glancing around into the dif ferent faces. "Mayte I did," answered one of the troopers named Earl. "As we rede up the first hill after leaving the house my horse picked up a stone, and I tad to stop and get it out. I reckon I leil behind a quarter of a mile or more, and just as I started I looked back, and a party of. ten or twelve fellows was just riding in through them big gates onto the front lawn. But them fellows was soldiers for sure; they rode regular like, and all of them wore caps. It was so far faff 1 couldn't tell the color of their clothes, but them caps made me think they was Feds." i chose my course at once. This un doubtedly must have been Crennan's party. "Thank you. my man; it would have been better If you had reported that to me at once," I said "However. I understand the situation much better now. Sergeant, we will go into camp bere. Fast pickets in both directions, but put your most careful men on that hill yonder. Let them report promptly any signs of fire to the southeast, or cny sound of guns." We completed all our cooking be- tore dark, ind when the night finally 1 closed down about us it proved to be an exceedingly black one, although the skies were clear. Sleep was an Impossibility for me, as my mind was in constant turmoil. Ebers was lying next me upon the grass, solemnly puffing at his huge pipe, and I held my watch to the glow In its bowl in order to see the time. It was nearly midnight "Those fellows ought to be at it before this." I said to him, "if they intend to accomplish anything to night." "I dink so too," he answered 6lowiy, "I vill see dot der guard is all right, an' den vill get some sleep, for I am pretty moch done op already." ' ' ' He arose ponderously to his feet, and stretched out his short arms in a prodigious yawn. As he stood there, his pudgy figure outlined against the sky, there was borne to our ear the sound of a furious struggle on hilltop to the south a shout, blows, a volley of cursing, then silence. An instant later we were both running through the darkness toward the scene of trouble. "What is it, Sands?" I questioned breathlessly, as I came suddenly upon the little group. "A fellar on hossback,". was the an swer. "He come up on us like a streak out o' thet black hollor, an' he'd a sure got away ef Mason hedn't clubbed him with his gun. I've got the cuss safe collared now." "Who are you?" I asked sternly, striving in vain to see something of him through the darkness. "Where were you riding?" I had scarcely spoken when our prisoner thrust Sands roughly aside and took one hasty step toward me. "My God, Wayne! Is It possible this Is you?" he cried excitedly. "Caton?" 1 exclaimed, as surprised as himself. "Caton? What is it? What is wrong. Are you from the Minor house? Has it been attacsed?" "Yes," he answered, panting yet from hi3 exertion and excitement. "We were to start North with the la dies at nine o'clock, but the house Ms It Poscible This Is was surrounded as soon as it became dark. Those devils supposed it to be unguarded, and advanced without pre cautions. We fired and drove them back. He had repulsed three attacks when I left at eleven, but three of our men were already hit." "You were after aid?" "I was striving to reach our ad vance pickets at McMillan. It seemed the only possible chance, and none of the men would volunteer to make the ride. One was killed trying It belore 1 started. God knows how I, hated to leave them, but It had to bo done. How many have you?" "Only twenty; but if we could once get inside along with your fellows, we might hold the house until rein forcements came." "ThanK God! I knew you would!" he cried joyfully, grasping me again fervently by the hand. "You are not one to hesitate over the color of a uniform at such a time as thi3. Only. Wayne," and he hesitated an instant, "it is right I should te!l you that Bren nan is there, and in command." "I know it, bu those aomen must be saved nevertheless." I answered firmly, my mind pert "This fs no time icr personal quarreiinc and whatever color of cloth we wear those outlaws are our common enemies, to be hunted dowb liko wild beats. 1 have seen --specimens of their fiendish cruelty that make my blood run cold to remember. The veiy thought of those who are now exposed falling into such bands is enough to craze one; death would be preferable a thousand times. How many fighting men have you?" "Seven fit for duty." "Will you ride forward, or go back with us?" "We must send word" and the gal lant fellow's voice shook "but God knows, Wayne, I want to go back. If we both live I am to marry Celia Minor." "I understand," I said gravely. "Ebers, who is your best rider?" "It vos dot funny leetle vellow Glen, Captain." "Glen, come here." The trooper, a mere boy, with freckled face and great honest gray eyes, but wiry and tough as steel, pushed his way through the group and faced me. "Glen," I said, "your Sergeant tells me you are the best rider In the troop. 1 am going to intrust you with the most Important duty of all. The lives of every one of us and of four help less women depend entirely upon your riding. You take . two horses, kill both if necessary, but stop for noth ing until your duty is done. You are to carry a note from me, and another from this gentleman, who is an officer in the Federal army, and deliver them both to the commandant of the first njllitary post you find. Insist upon reaching him in person. It makes no difference which army the post be longs to, for this is a matter of hu manity. The Federal outpost at Mc Millan is the nearest to us; make for there. You understand?" The boy saluted gravely, all mis chief gone from his face. "I do, sir," he said. "But I'd a darn sight rather stay here and fight." "You will be back in plenty of time to take a hand, my lad. Now, men" and I turned to the dark, expectant ring about me "this is no ordinary duty of your enlistment, and 1 wish no one to accompany me 'tonight who does not volunteer for the service. Seven Federal soldiers and four, wom en, three of them Virginians, are at tacked at the house we have just left by a large party of bushwhacking guerillas, the offscourings of hell. Every one of you knows what that means. Will you go with, me to their Tescue?" No one seemed anxious to be first to speak. I could see them look aside uneasily at one another. "Bungay," I said. "I feel sure you will go, for your wife 13 there." "Mariar?" "Yes; Miss Minor told me this after- You?" He Cried Excitedly. noon, but 1 had forgotten to mention it." The little man sprang into the air and came down with a whoop. "The bloody devils!" he cried ex citedly. "Ye bet I'll go." "Come, Sergeant, speak up; what do you men say?" "I like not to fight mlt der Yan kees," he admitted candidly, "but der vomens, py Chiminy, dot vos ar.oder ting. I vill go. Captain; mein Gott, yaw." "We're with you, sir," Epoke voice after voice gravely around the dark circle, and then Sands added: "We'll show them thar Yanks how the John ny Robs kin fight, sir." Ten minutes later Glen, bearing hi3 two messages to the Blue and Gray, was speedlngiy recklessly through the black night northward, while my little squad was moving cautiously back over the road we had so lately trav ersed. CHAPTER XXIX. A Mission for Deelzebub. & we picked our way slowly for ward through the gloom I gleaned lirom Caton all he knew regarding the situation before us. My own knowl edge of the environments of the Minor house helped me greatly to appreciate the difficulties to be surmounted. He had succeeded In his escape by dodg ing among the negro cabins where the attacking line appeared weakest, but expressed the conviction that even this : slight gap would be securely closed long before we reached there. "Have they sufficient men, then, to cover thoroughly all four Bides?" I asked. "To the best of my Judgment, there must be fully two hundred and fifty In the gang, and apparently they operate under strict military discipline. It is a revelation to me, Wayne, of the growing power of these desperate fel lows. I knew they were becoming numerous and bold, but this surpasses anything I could Imagine. More, they are being constantly recruited by new arrivals. A party of at least a dozen came In while I was hiding behind the stables. I heard them asking for the leader." "What did they call him?" "Lory, or Laurie, or something like that. They claimed to be deserters from Lee's army, but two or three of them wore our uniforms." "It's Red Lowrie," I said gravely, more impressed than ever with the seriousness of the situation. "I heard of him two years ago he killed a man in the Sixth North Carolina, and took to the hills. Since then he has devel oped into quite a leader for such scum, and has proven himself a merciless monster. You have no suggestion to offer as to how we had better attempt to get in?" He shook his head despondlngly. "What station does Brennan de fend?" I asked. "The front of the house; the main point of attack has been there." We could distinguish the sound of firing by this time, and its continuous volume convinced me that Caton's estimate of the number engaged was not greatly overdrawn. As we topped the summit of the hill a great burst of red fire leaped suddenly high into the sky. "Great God, Wayne! we are too late!" he cried widly. "Those devils have fired the house." With ' fiercely throbbing heart gazed down at the flames far below in the black valley. "No," I said with eager relief. "It ts the stable which is ablaze. See, the light falls full upon the white side of the house. Thank Heaven, we are not too late." As I sat my horse there, gazing down upon that scene of black rapine, unwilling to venture into its midst until I could formulate some definite plan o action, fully a dozen wild schemes thronged into my brain, only to be cast aside, one after another, as thoroughly impracticable. "We shall have to make a dash for It, and trust in God," said Caton, guessing at my dilemma. "No," I answered firmly, "there would be no possibility of success in such a course. Those fellows are old hands, and have pickets out. See, Caton, that is certainly a picket-fire yonder where the road dips. Every man of us would be shot down before we penetrated those guard lines and attained the house. We have got to reach, their inner line some way through strategy, and even then must risk being fired upon by our own peo ple before we get within cover." Even as I was speaking I evolved a plan of action desperate it certainly was, yet nothing better occurred to me, and time was golden. "Ebers," I said, "didn't I see an ex tra jacket strapped back of your sad dle?" "It Is no good," he protested ve hemently. "It V03 for der rain come." "All right; hand it over to the Lieu tenant here. Caton, throw that uni form coat of yours into the ditch and don honest gray for once. Sands, come here. Take your knil'e and cut away every symbol of rank on my jacket; tear it off, any way you can." In another moment these necessary changes had been accomplished. "Now," I ordered, "pile your sabers there with mine beside the road; then hobble your horses, all but the mule; I shall want him." "Does we go der rest of der vay on foot?" questioned the Sergeant, anx iously. "Certainly; and I desire you to re member one Important thing: let me do the talking, but If any of you are asked questions, we are deserters from Hill's corps, tired of the war." "Mein Gott!" muttered the German, disconsolately. "I hope It vos not long off. Captain; I am no good on foot In der dark, by Chiminy." "You had better manage to keep up tonight, unless you are Eeeking to commit suicide. Now, men, mark me carefully! Load your carbines. Are you all ready? Sergeant, see that each man has his gun properly charged and capped. You are to carry your arms as thoroughly concealed as possible; keep close to me always; obey my or ders Instantly, and to the letter. We are but twenty men pitted against over two hundred, remember, and when we strike, it must be both quick and hard." 1 mounted the mule, counted the dim figures in the darkness, and then gave the order to march. As we moved slowly down the bill I was aware that Caton walked upon one side of me, while Bungay plodded along upon 'the other; but my mind was so filled with the excitement ot our adventure and all that depended upon its successful culmination, as scarcely to realize anything other than the part I must personally play, oood fortune and audacity alone could com bine to win the game we were now en gaged upon. A tall heavily beared mountaineer stood squarely in the middle of the road to the north of the picket lire. I could make out but little of him as the light shone, excepting that he wore a high coonskin cap and bore a long rifle. "Stop right thar!" he called out hoarsely, upon hearing us. "Who ara you uns?" As be challenged, a dozen others 6prang up from about the flame and, guns in hand, came toward us on fc run. "We uns are doggoned tired o' sol dierin', an' a gittin' nuthin' fer It" 1 said i& the slow Southern drawl, "an wanter Jine yer gang, pervidln' thar's any show fer it" "How many are ye?" asked on of the newcomers, striding forward be tween us and the sentry. "A right smart heap o' a bunch; bin a pickln' o' 'em up ever since we left Charlotte," I returned evasively. "They be bandies ter fijht, an' I reckon as tow ye kin use em. can't ye?" "Maybe; who did ye want ter see?' "Wal, they sed as how a feller named Lowrle wus a runnln this yere gang, an' if thet's ther way o' It, 1 reckon as how it's Lowrie we're aftef. Be you Lowrle?" "Naw." The answer was so gruff and short. and the fellow hesitated so long in adding anything to it I began to thinl: it was all off. "Wal," he consented to say at last. ungraciously, thare a blame pile o' "That Feller Thar Is Captain Wayne, 0' My 01' Reg'ment." ye klm In lately, an' I calcalate e got 'bout 'nough fer our business, but 1 reckon as how R-ed will use ye some whar. Anyhow you uns kin come 'long with me an' find out, but ye'll diskiver him 'bout ther ornerest man jist now ever ye run up again. He's plum mad, Red is, fer sartain." He turned and strode off, without so much as giving us a backward glance, and, with a hearty congratulatory kick to the mule, I and my company fol lowed him. A hundred yards further in we passed through the fringe ot trees and emerged into an open space from whence we could see plainly the great white house still illumined by the flames which continued to con sume the stables. Shots were fash ing like fireflies out of the darkwesa on every side of us, the smell of burn ing powder scented the air, and I could distinguish the black forms ot men lying prone on the grass in some thing resembling a skirmish line. "Makin a fight o' it. ain't they?" I asked of our taciturn guide, as we picked our wy carefully among the recumbent forms. "Damn 'em, yes, a hell o' a fight" he admitted bitterly. Just beyond musket-shot from the house, and nearly opposite the front entrance, quite a group of men were standing beneath the black shadows of a grove of trees. In spite of the gleam from the fire I could make little of them, but as we approached from the direction of the rear, one of them ex claimed suddenly: "Who comes thar? What body o' men Is thet?" "It's 'nether party o' deserters, as wants ter jine us," said the guide, sourly. "They's Johnnies from Lee's army." "Oh, they dew, dew they? Who's ther boss o this yere crowd?" I swung down from my seat on the mule's backhand stood facing him. as he advanced. "We uns hain't got no boss," I an swered, "but they sorter fell In ahind v x .1 J I . A U J o me cause 1 wus asirauuie o tuia muel. Be you named Lowrie?" "I reckon; I'm Red L-owrie," proud ly " 'Spect maybe, ye've heerd tell o me, an' if ye hew ye know ye've got ter step damn lively whin I howL Whut wus ye in ther army?" "Corporal." The flames of the burning barn leaped suddenly upward, as if fed by some fresh combustion, and flung n brighter glare over the rough faces clustered about us. I saw Red Low rie plainly enough now, a3 he peered eagerly forward to scan my face, a heavy-set. coarse-featured man. with prominent nose, and thick, matted red beard. He wore a wide-brimmed sou army hat, under which his eyes shone maliciously, and he grasped a long rifle in one big. hairy hand. As 1 gazed at him curiously, some one hastily pushed a way through the group at his back, and the next In stant a tali figure stood at his side. 1 recognized the newcomer at a singlo glance, and for the moment my heart fairly choked me it was Craig. "Lowrie." he said, pointing straight at uie, "tnars sometmn wrong yero That feller thar is Captain Wayne, o my cl' reg'ment." (TO BE CONTINUED.) Rhode Island's Small Vote. Rhode Island, says the Providence Journal, casts a smaller vote, propor tipnately to its population, than It polled la any other northern stat. Quite 80. "Pa, what la a tldy fortuner" , "A clean, crisp, ten-dollar bill tscf son." tO DEXYE OUT MALARIA . AND UlIVU IIP TI1E BYSTETl Take the Old Standard (JROVH'S T AST kSLbuJ CHILL TON 10. Von know-what yon are takia. The forma la la. plainly printed on every botu ho wing it la imply Quinine and Iron In a taaUtlM form, and tbe most effectual form. Vot gwomm people and children, 60 cents. 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The Roanoke Beacon and Washington County News (Plymouth, N.C.)
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March 22, 1912, edition 1
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