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About The North Platte semi-weekly tribune. (North Platte, Neb.) 1895-1922 | View Entire Issue (March 12, 1912)
I f U It r U bkdff-j1 - hy JEay&am jRAzzf&jy : J Author of wjibtc ytwamm&s Wa Kino gu r t h h j f llJUO I IU1I IVIIO LHirCtllUil I. VVILLItlTMVJW ?fohelow SioKf or A Gray Jacket HILMi tt-StKr 1 i fl H .,t. . 1?' i: i r p r. ii a IV. 14 8YN0P3I8. Tlio story opens In a Confcdcrato tnnt at a critical atago of tlie Civil War. Don. Leo Impurts to Capt. Wayno an Important mcBHOKO to IotiKStrect. Accompanied by Rorgt. CralK, an old army scout, Wnyns starts on lita mission. They est within tho lines of tho enemy and In the dark ness Wayno Is taken for a Federal of llcer and a younK lady on horsuback Is Klven In his chargo. Slio la a northern f:lrl and attempts to escape. One of the inrses succumbs and Crnljr rocs throuch with tho dispatches, wlillo wayno and My Lady of tho North are left alone. They seek shelter In a hut and entering It In tho dark a hugo mastiff attacks Wayno Tho Rlrl shoots tho bruto Just In tlmo. Tho owner of tho hut, Jed Uurway, and nls wlfo appear and soon a party of horsemen approach. They aro ld by a man claiming to be nwl Lowrlc, but who proves to bo MaJ. Bronnan, a Federal officer whom tho Union rlrl recoa-nlzos. Ho orders the arrest of wayno as a spy and he Is brought beforo Sheridan, who threatens him with death unless lie ro YStii? ,l. ocru' message. Wayno bellovcs Ldlth llrennan to bo tho wlfo of MaJ. Bronnan. Ho Is rescued by Jed Hiincny who starts to roach den. Lee, wlillo Wayno In dlsgulso penetrates to the ball room, beneath which ho had been Im prlHoned. Ho Is Introduced to a Miss Jli WW? V4lre,y escapes belnir unmask, ed. Kdlth Dronnan, recopnlzlnff Wayno, ?..Hl,",..w,11.,Bavo l,,"- Securing a pf.ss through tho lines, thoy are confronted by hM,i!5IlnwWilJ? " ,!u,ocked senseless. Then, KSi'm? Edith adlou, Wayno makos a doa ill. "tltyr Uo encountors nungay: they infniL0 r.camp nnd aro sent with ro' wi,m ranao5n,.,tll regiment Is ovr nuimi. '. ta?.A WQyno- while In tho hos Pltol, is visited by Edith Drcnnan. CHAPTER XXIV Continued. Then a hand thrust nultlb tho can van, nnd a fnco peered ln. I caught n faint Bllmmer of stare, but could distinguish llttlo olso. "Uoyo." sulci tho leader, kindly, "1 wish 1 might glvo you bottor transpor tation, but this Is tho only form of vo hlclo wo can find. I reckon you'll get pretty badly bumped ovor tho road you are going, but I'm furnishing you all the chnnco to get away In my pow er. Wo shall guard you as long as nocoeoary, and thon must leavo you to (ho kindly ministrations of tho drlvor." Ho reached ln, leaning down from hlB Baddlo to do bo, drow tho blanlcot nomowhnt closor about mo, and was gono. I caught tho words of a sharp, ahort ordor, and tho heavy wagon lurched forwnrd, Its wheels bumping ovor tho Irregularities In tho road, each Jolt sending a froah apaBtn of pain through my tortured body. May tho merciful Clod ovor protect mo from such a ride again! II Boomed Intormlnoblo, whilo each long tnllo wo travolod brought with It now nnd greater agony of mind and body. Tho hours that followed wero nil but ondloss, 1 know wo hnd reached tho lower vnlloy, for tho road bocamo more levol, yet tho slightest Jolting now was aufflclont to render mo crazed with pain, and I had lost nil power of restraint. My torturod norvea throbbod; tho fovor gripped mo, and my mind began to wander. VIslorin of dollrlum camo, and I dreamed dreams too torrlblo for roe ord: demons danced on tho drifting clouds beforo mo, while whirling sav ages chanting In horrid discord stuck my fronzlod body full of blazing brands. At tlmoo I was awako, call ing In vain for wator to quouch a thirst- which grow maddonlng, thon 1 lapsed Into a seml-consclouonoss that drovo mo wild with Its delirious fan cIob. I know vaguely that tho Major had crept back through tho darkness nnd paBBod his ctrong arm gently be nonth ray head, I hoard him shouting In his deop voice to tho drlvor for something to drink, but was unawnro of any rosponso. AH bocamo blurred, confused, bowtldorlng. I thought It was my mother comforting me. Tho faint gray daylight stolo ln at last through the cracks of tho wagon cover; I could dimly dlatlngulsh n Jnrk face bonding ovor mo, framed by a heavy gray board, and thou, merciful unconsciousness camo, and I routed as ono dead. CHAPTER XXV. A Lost Regiment. It waB a bright, Buimhlny any in early spring. Birds wero awoetly sing ing In tho trcos lining tho road I wub traveling. I must have shown my lato Illness greatly, for tho fow I mot, ns 1 tramped slowly onward, mostly bo. dlers, gazed at mo curiously, as If thoy mistook mo for tho ghost of some dead comrado; and I doubt not my pao face, yet bearing tho doep imprint of pain, with tho long, uutrlmmed hnlr framing it, and tho blood-atatnod, ragged uulform, tho anmo I woro that florco day of buttlo, rendered mo an object of wonder. All through thoso long, woary win ter wcoks I had beon hovering bo tween Ufa and death ln an obscure hospital at Richmond. Tho momont tho door was oponod to permit of my pasalng forth Into tho world ngaln, 1 sought eagerly to dlscovor tho prosont station of my old comrades in arms, yot could learn only that tho cavalry brigade with which I bad formorly served was In camp aomowhoro nenr Appomattox Court House. On foot and moneyless, I set off alone, my nolo anxiety to be once more with friends; and now, at tho beginning of tho bog ond day, I was already beyond Peters burg , and sturdily pushing wentward. As tho road swerved Bllghtly to tho left, passing through a grove of hand some treea, I came suddenly opposite a large house of Imposing aspect. A group of Confedornto orricorB stood in converso bcsldo tho gato leading Into tho open drlvoway, and as 1 paused a monicnt. gazing at them and wonder ing whom I had hotter address for 1 recognized nono of tho faces fronting mo ono among tho group turned sud denly, and took a hurried stop ln my direction, ns though despatched upon an errand of Importance. Ho was a tall, nlondor man, wearing a long gray moustncho, and I no sooner viewed his face than I rocognlzed him as having been ono of those officers pres ent In Gonernl Leo's tent tho day 1 was sont out with dispatches. Ho glanced at mo curiously, yet with no sign of recognition, but beforo ho could pass I accostod him. "Colonol Maltland," I said, "you doubtless remember mo. I am Book ing my old command; would you kind ly Inform me whero It may bo found?" Ho stopped Instantly nt sound of my volco, nnd Btnrod at ttn In odd bo wlldcrfnont; but my wordB had nl rondy reached tho oars of tho othors, nnd beforo he had found an answer nnothor volco spoko stornly "What 18 all this? Who aro you, sir? What masquerade puts you into that parody of n captain's unlform7" I turned nnd lookod Into tho flush ed, Indignant face of Qonoral Leo. "It Is no masquerade, sir," I an owored, Instantly romovlng my hnt; "It is tho rightful uniform of my rank, greatly as I regret Its present condi tion." "Whore aro you from?" "I was discharged from St. Mary'a Hospital ln Richmond day beforo yes terday, and am now seeking to rejoin my reglmont." "Suroly," ho said gravoly, "I have Been your faco beforo. To what regl mont wero you attached?" "The th Virginia Cavalry." Tho buzzing of volcos about mo In atnntly censed, and Qonoral Leo took a stop nearer. "Tho th Virginia? You wero a captain 7 Suroly this la not Philip Wnyno?" So deeply surprised was his tone, bo uncertain his recognition, I scarcely know what to answer. Had I lost my very ldontlty? waB thlB all n dream? "I nm Captain Wayno, Troop D, th Virginia." Ho graspod my hand warmly bo tweon both his own, nnd his kindly face lit up instantly with a raro smile. "Captain Wayno, I cannot tell you how greatly I rojolce at your sofa re turn. Wo certainly owo you an apol ogy for this poor recoption, but you woro roportod as klllod in notion many months ngo. I doubt not Colo nol Mnltlnnd truly boliovod ho lookod upon a ghost wbon you first accosted him." For tho momont I was unablo to speak, so deoply did his words afToct mo. "I fear, Cnptulu Wayno," ho con tinued gravoly, yet retaining my hund within his own, "that I must bring you Bad nowa." "Sad news?" Instantly thoro camo to mo tho thought of my widowed mother. "Not from homo. I trust, sir?" "No," with great tenderness, "your mothor, I bollovo, remains well; yot tho words I must spenk aro novortho loaa and ones, and must provo a sovcro Bhock to you. Thoro Is no th Vir ginia." "No th Virginia?" I echoed, scarce nblo to comprehend his moaning, "no th Vlrglnln? I bog you to explain, sir; Btiroly" and I looked about mo upou tho vnrlous uniforms of tho sorv Ico prosont "tho war has not yot ceased wo havo not surrendered 7" "No, my boy," nnd tho old horo reverently bnred his gray head In tho "Surely This Is Not Philip Wayne?" sunlight, "but tho th Virginia gavo ltsolf to tho South that day In the Shenandoah." I must have grown very whlto, for a young aldo sprang hastily forward and passed his arm about mo. Yot I scarcely realized the action, for my whole thought was with tho dead. "Do you moan thoy aro all gouo?" I questioned, tremblingly, hardly able to -grasp the full droad Import of such ghastly tidings. "Surely, Qenoral Leo, some among thorn must havo come back." "So few," ho responded soberly, his hat BtMl retained In his band, "bo few that wo could only scatter them ln other commands. But you havo not yot fully recovered your strength. You must not remain longor standing horo. Major Holmes, will you kindly conduct Captain Wnyno to my head qnartors, and boo that ho la furnished with n uniform sultnblo to his rank. For tho prcsont ho will servo as extra nldo upon my porsonnl staff." I turned away, the Major leading mo as If I had been a child. I walked aa a man stunned by Bomo sudden, unxo pected blow. When I finally Joined tho mess upon tho following day, clad now in fit uniform, I had regained no small meaauro of sclf-reotralnt, and with It camo likewise renewnl of tho military spirit. My welcome proved oxtromely cordial, and tho conversa tion of tho others proscnt soon placed ln my poBsosslon whatever of Incident had occurred since that disastrous day of battle in tho vnlloy. No nttompt wns mndo to conceal our weaknoss, nor to dlsgulao tho fact that wo woro making a last dcaporato stand. It wns evident to nil that nothing now re mained but to fold our tattered battle flags with honor. Directly oppoalto mo, nt tho long ond rathor scantily furnished moss table, was seated a captain of Infan try, qulto forolgn In appearance a tall, slender man, woaring a light-colored moustacho nnd goateo. His MM IURm 1 "I Was Upon My name, ns I gathered from tho conver sation, wns Carlson, and I was con siderably surprised nt tho fixedness with which his oyes woro fastenod upon mo during tho enrllor part of tho meal. Thinking wo might have mot somewhere beforo, I ransacked my momory In vain for any rocollcctfon which would servo to account for hla evident Interest In mo. Finally, I ven tured to usk, as pleasantly as poasl bio: "Captain Carlson, do I remind you of soiiio one, Binco you regard me bo intently?" Tho man InBtnutly flushed all ovor hla fair face at this direct Inquiry. "It vas not dat" (ho almost stain raored In suddon confusion, speaking qulto brokonly), "bot, salr, It hnt como to mo dnt you vos an Insulter of worn ona, an had refuse to light mil mens. 1 know not; It seems not bo." I was on ray feot ln nn Instnnt, scarcoly crediting my own ears, yot on fire with lndlgnntlon. "I know not what you may mean," I said, white with angor. "But I hold you personally accountable for those words, and you shall discover that 1 will fight 'mlt monB " Ho pushed his chatr hastily back, hla face fairly crimson, and began to stammer nn explanation; but Malt land lnto'rfored. "What dooB all thla moan, CarlBon?" be exclaimed, sternly, "Sit down, Wayno thoro is somo strnngo mis tako here." 1 resumed my chair, wondering It thoy had nil gono crazy, yot resolved upon taking Instant action it somo sat isfactory explanation wore not nt onco forthcoming. "Como, Carlson, what do you mean by nddrossing such language to Cap tain Wayno?" "Veil," said the Swedo, so agitated by tho oxcltoraent about htm ho could scarcoly find EngUtm In which to ex press himself Intelligibly, "It vos dls vay. I vould not insult Captain Vane; oh, no, bot It vos told to mo, an' I vould haf him to know how It all vos. It vos two monthB ago l go rait do flag of truce Into do Fcdoral linos at Mlnorsvlllo. You know dat time? 1 vos valtln' for answer ven a Yankee rides oop, an' looks mo all ofor llko I vos a hog. 'Vol,' I say, plain llko, 'vot you vant?' Ho Bay, 'I heard dor vob Rob officer como ln dor lines, an' I rides down to see if ho ros dor hound vot I vanted to horaovlp.' 'Vol,' I say, for It mado mo much mad, 'maybe you llko to horsovlp me?" 'No ho says, laughing, 'It vos a damn pup In dor th Virginia cavalry, named Vayne, I am after.' I say, 'Vot has ho done?' Ho says, 'Ho Insult a voman, an' vould not fight mlt mo.'" He looked about him anxiously to ego If wo comprehended his words. "And what did you say 7" from a dozen oager voices. Tho Swodo gazed at them In mani fest astonlshmont. "I say I knowed nottlng about dor voman, but If ho say dnt an omcor of dor th Virginia cavalry vould not light mlt him he vos a damned liar. I vould havo hit him, but I vos undor dor flag of truce." .- I reached out my hnnd to him across the table. "I thank you, Captain Carlson," I said, "for both your mdssage and your answer. What' did this man look llko?" nri Willi Feet In an Instant." "Ho vos a pig vellow, mlt a black moustache and gray eyes." "Do you know him?" questioned Maltland. "Hla name la Brennnn," I answered slowly, "a major In tho Federal serv ice. Wo havo already mot twice ln rough nnd turablo contests, but tbo next tlmo It will bo with stool." "Gentlemen," aald Maltland at last, graVely, "this Is evldontly a personal mnttor with which wo havo no direct concern. Captain Wayne's reputation Is not ono to bo questioned, either ns regards his chivalry toward women or hla bravery ln arms. I pledge you his early meeting with this major." Thoy drank tho toast standing, and 1 read In each faco beforo mo a frank, Eoldlorly confidence nnd comradeship which caused my heart to glow. CHAPTER XXVI. The Scouting Detail. This premeditated Insult. which Bronnan evldontly dispatched broad cast In hope that through somo un known channel It might reach mo, changed my entire relationship with the man. I have nevor felt that Bren nnn was at hoart a bad man; ho was hard, stern, revongoful, yet I havo no doubt undor different circumstances I might oven havo valued him highly ns a comrado or a friend. There Is no demon llko Jealousy; and his early distrust of mo, fostered by that mad dlacaso had apparently warped his entire nature. Yot not oven Tor love could I consent to leave my honor un defended, and after thoso hateful words thero could bo no rest for me until our differences wore settled by "tho stern arbitrament of tho nakod blado. All prudonco to tho winds, no opportunity of meeting him should now to bo cast aside. .. Tho coming day was barely gray In tho oast when I was nwakoned by a heavy pounding upon tho door, a Bmart-looklng orderly stood without. "Coptaln Wayno?" ho asked. IMJN "That Is my name What have you, my man?" "Compllmonts of Colonel Maltland, chief of staff, sir," ho said, handing mo a folded paper. "Dear Wayne:" tho private note read, "Bollovlng you would bo glad to havo tho detail I have just ar ranged to send you at onco upon some active service. Plcaso report at thoso quarters immediately, fully equipped ror tho field." Glad I It waB tho very mcdlclno I most needed, and within twenty min utes of my receipt of this communi cation I was with Maltland, thanking him warmly for hla thoughfulness. "Not another word, Wayno," ho In sisted. "It la not much, a mere scout ing detail over neutral territory, and will provo dull enough. I only hopo It may help to divert your mind a trlllo. Now llBten you aro to proceed with twonty mounted men or the escort west as far as tho foot-hills, and are expected to note carefully thrco thlnga: First, tbo condition of for ngo for tho sustonanco of a wagon trnln; second, whnt forces of Feder al troops, If nny, nro nlong the Honey well; and third, tho gathorlng of nil In formation obtalnablo as to tho report ed consolidation of guerillas for pur poses of plunder between tho lines. If time suffice, -you might cross ovor Into the valloy of tho Cowskln and learn tho condition of forago thero aa well. A guide will accompany your party, and you aro to avoid contact with the enemy as far as possible. Your men carry flvo days' rations. You under stand fully?" "1 do, sir; I prosumo I am to start at once?" "Your squad, under command of Sergeant Ebers, Is already waiting out side." "Are you all ready, sergeant?" 1 asked of tho rather heavy-weight Gor man who stood fronting mo, his broad, red Taco as Impnsslve as though carved from stone. "Ve vos, captain." "Whore 1b tho guide?" - "Dot Ib him, mlt der mulo, ain't It?" he answered, pointing, with ono huge hand down tho road. "Very well, wo will pick him up then as wo go." I cared so llttlo ns to whether or not ho accompanied us at all, that wo had advanced somo distance beforo tho thought of blm again occurred to me. 1 know tho gentry fairly well, and had experienced In tho past so many evi dences of their stupidity, if not actual dlsloynlty, ns to prefer my own knowl edge of tho country to theirs. My thought, indeed, for soveral miles was not at all with tho llttlo party of troopers Jogging steadily at my heels, nor, ln truth, was It greatly concerned with tho fate of tho expedition. That wns but servlco routine, nnd I rode forward carelessly enough, nover dreaming that every hour of progrcsa was bearing mo toward tho most Im portant adventure of my life. It wns tho German sergeant who recalled mo to tho responsibilities of command. "Captain," he exclaimed apologet ically, riding up to my side and wiping his round, perspiring face with great energy, "ve are riding too hard, ain't ve? Mcln Gott, but der horses will glvo out ontlroly, already." "Is that so?" I asked ln surprlso at his words. A alnglo Bwlft glanco around convinced mo he was correct, for tho mounts wero exceedingly-soft, nnd already looked nenrly played out from our sharp pace. "Very well, wo will halt hero." With a elgh of relief ho drew back, and ns ho did so ray eyes fell for tho first tlmo upon the guldo. As I live, It wns Jed Bungay, and when I stared at him ln sudden nmnzoment he broke into n broad grin. "Durn If I didn't begin tor think ns how ye'd gono nn' clnr forgot mo, Cap." "Not a bit of It. Jed," and I rodo up to him and extended my hand. "But how came you horo? Are you tho guide?" "Sure thing, cap; know thla ycre klntry llko a buk. 'Jaded horsomon from tho west, nt ovonlng to tho castle pressed.' By gum, you put Beelzebub nn' me through a blamed hard Jolt of It to fur." "Beelzobub?" "Ye bet, tber mulo; I reckon as how yo atn't gone an' fergot him, hov ye?" "Bungay, what has become of Ma ria?" Tho little man's eyes suddenly tilled With tears. "I Jlst don't know, cap," he answered mournfully. "Whin I got hum ther ol' cabin bed bin plum burnt down, nary stick o" It left, by gum! nn' Ma rlar she wuz clean gone. Hnln't seed nolthor hldo nor hnlr o' her since, thet's n fnc'. An' I sortor drifted back tor you uiib 'cause I didn't hov uowhnr else tor go." "Did you hunt for her among the old plantations along tho valley?" I asked, deeply touched by his evident feeling. "She very likely sought retugo In somo of thoso houses." T0 DC CONTINUED.) One of Life's Mysteries. Why la It that tho same remark which draws n laugh If mado by one Is a sura sign for a tight U mudo b another? S When I I Buying Baking I Powder I For this is g tho baking g f powder that g 'makes tho g baking better." g M It leavens the food g cvcniyiurougnoui; a nnfTq It nn tn airv putis it up to air lightness, makes I 7. g delightfullyappetiz- M n ing ana wnoiesome. fl m Kcmemocr, v-aiumci ta 2 is moderate in price highest In quality. Ask your grocer for V Calumet. Don't take B a substitute. g I 1 prize of $500.00 offered by th heaviest yielding oats. Our new liejuvenated Whlto Bonams. Oalicavo during 1010 and 1111 sworn-to yield ranging from to to I5W buihelt per acre. Doe well everywhere, cot o particular u to tolLs and cllmei . A package ot our Famous Oati , together with a nt nf Athsn ha aT ( v wt, vttib into imiu CU KIM pies, as also our Mammoth Catalogue. if nil naif (nn snm a (OHM A. BALZZ3 B3XD CO., BOO 8. 8th Bt..laCrojlt,Wli. Nebraska Directory CURED ln a few days without vain or a sur gical operation. No pay until cured. Wrlto OR. WUAY. 307 Boo llldfr., Omaha, Nob. 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