Y LA
TME S0UTIHI
r
. By Randall
COPYRIGHT, 1909. BY
CIIAFTER XVI.
FROM BATTLE TO LOVE.
I HAW tlieru rise swiftly to their
feet mid slip noiselessly along
ttie protecting side of the cabin,
the dull gray of the eastern sky
jUady rendering things slightly vis
ible, but I waited for nothing more.
We likewise had our work to nccom
jfllsb. A dozen swift steps brought
to the horse herd, nor did we fire
Bhot, the single guard being so sur
prised at our unexpected appearance
iw to fail even in speech.
t"be horses were tied along a rail
flouco, completely equipped, exactly as
i4icy were captured at the time of first
uttack. and my little party swung
hastily Into saddle, gathering up the
hrldle reins of as many other horses
hb we could safely lead. As I held
my own bunch back n moment, so as
to give all the men time to gather
more closely In, three shots two the
Sharp reports of carbines, the third
the gruffer note of a musket sounded
tHjyond the negro cabins, while in the
dim light of the dawn I caught
riHmpses of men gathering around the
earner of the house. Then more shots
trgan to sputter along the north side,
two of the swiftly running figures
popping in their tracks, with spits of
flame shooting forth from the black
shadow of bushes lining the driveway.
The surprise was complete, the two
mroads performing their work thor
onghfy. Now it was our turn.
"Forward!" I cried, my voice barely
Hfldiblc above tho hubbub of hoofs.
'Hold them to It, boys!"
The others mot us at the corner of
Uo house, the daylight sutllclent by
"'SVL ta mn'fe Identity certain: sllnglng
their carbines, they grasped tho near
est reins and sprang up into the sad
dles. They could fight now in their
own way with the reckless dash of
ho trooper.
We swept down the broad driveway
hi two lines, the men widening their
Sstances so as to give room for saber
play. The gray dawn already revealed
mr surroundings clearly the ash cov
ered rondwayk the bushes along Its
edge, the row of trees beyond, a long
tobacco shed at the left, the half open
gate almost directly In front.
As we whirled recklessly about the
wjrner, every man riding low, every
eye forward, we saw the enemy at the
dge of a grove, some kneeling, others
utandlng. It was merely n glimpse,
and then they fired an instant too
quick perhaps tho irregular cracking
bowing lack of discipline, the cloud
of craoko hiding them again from us.
I felt my horse leap as If touched;
two or three In our front rank went
flown, but there was no halting. My
mount cnugbt his stride, and I drove
tn the spur, yelling tho charge, hear
Hig the thunder of hoofs behind niln
tfftKl with nn exultant cheer from the
men.
IJ'e drove through the rising smoke
lUe n thunderbolt and were on them,
oiff revolvers spitting viciously to
ight nnd left, our horses pawing nf
Hfp fleeing figures nnd nt the clubbed
inuskets with which they sought to
fight us bnck. We went through them
3 If they had been paper; some ran
for the fields, scrambling over a
ftuiee, but the main body, still
hunched together, firing ns rapidly as
they could reload. Dodd cursing in
Mie midst of them, made for the shel
ter of tho grape arbor. The fierceness
of our rush carried us through the
Ktovo out on to the turf of the open
Itwn, tho men struggling with their
Horses In nn effect to reform. Out
ftom tho front door sprang tho four
troopers left wlthiu, running eagerly
for the riderless animals, while the
two guards from tho negro cabin
cumo spurring madly around the cor
at of the house, anxious to Join
ttiolr comrades. Half formed, the men
Bjwrring their frenzied horses Into
Of
4
.3
1 j 'if?
IPaeuresw
A. C McCLURG & CO.
Some Kcinbbiiice or Vine
Ave " swept
down upon the fleeing guerrillas, seek
ing to overtake them before they
could attain shelter. It was a belter
skelter race, the bang of musketry
punctuated by the sharp revolver re
ports and the shouts and yells of the
combatants. We reached the rear
runners, riding them down remorse
lessly, but our horses swerved at tho
arbor entrance, two plunging f Drward,
throwing their riders, the others de
Douching sharply to the left, the troop
ers sawing at the reins In vain effort
at control.
It was fully daylight now, every
surrounding object clear to tho eye
and my little squad circled about. In
stinctlvely forming themselves for
another charge. I swept them with
my eyes, debating whether to try an
advance on horseback or to dismount
and endeavor on foot to dislodge the
enemy. Suddenly O'Brien swept his
hand to the east, nnd I perceived a
party of horsemen emerging from the
woods, breaking Into a sharp trot the
instant they attained the op.cn ground
Tho movement was plain enough
Thellen had, arrived, already under
stood tho situation nnd was purhing
his force forward to strike us In the
rear.
"Close un. men! Hy fours into line!
Bldo for the gate and the road beyond
('onim-.-.!. take the lend, nnd I will
cover the rear. Don't ppare your
horses."
Kvcry.man knew, realized fully, tho
peril threatening us. Podd'n gaii;; bad
not yet perceived the advance o" re
enforcements and were holding tln-lr
fire, expecting us to charge. Instead,
we wheeled to the right and rode
straight at the open gate. Behind us,
but not yet within shooting distance,
we could already hear tho pounding
of tho hoofs of Thelleu's column as
they spurred forward In pursuit. A
few inuskets barked from the grape
arbor. Some fellow lying hidden In n
corner of the fence let drive, sending
the corporal headlong. Then we were
outside on the hard packed road, the
men riding recklessly, bent low over
their pommels, urging their horses to
the utmost.
I must have been fifty feet to the rear
and. trusting to my horse, half turned
about In the saddle so as to watch
our pursuers. I never knew what hap
pened, whether the animal stumbled
or fell from n wound, but everything
blotted out In on Instant as I came
crashing down to earth. My last mem
ory was of seeing Thellen's horsemen
crowding through the gate, a hundred
yards away, yelling and shaking their
guns.
I was In an Invalid's chair when I
- consciousness, lying as
d. yet fully dressed,
aouie way ax uiy uanas Brrjrrr Terror,
telling mo this, for everything was
speckled before my eyes, I thought of
Judge Dunn and of the chair lu which
he sat when I last saw him. I felt a
dull ache extending through both body
and head, and slowly the disfiguring
mist cleared from before my eyes, and
I began distinguishing objects. The
room was large and square, having
four long windows, three of tho cur
tains being drawn, the fourth sufll
tlently raised to permit a gleam. of
sunshine to extend partly across tho
rich carpet of dark green.
The situation puzzled me. My cap
tors would not show much mercy, for
we had certainly cost them dearly,
and I could not Imagine Calvert Dunn
or Dodd bringing me Into such com
fortable quarters as theHe. Either oth
er Influence had prevailed or else Fed
eral re-enforcements had arrived In
the nick of time nnd driven the guer
rillas from the field. This was the
most reasonable sup'wsltlon. for by
now I was beginning to guess where
I was this must be the front cham
her of tho Dunn house. 1 bad ex
plored It In tbo dark, yet recalled
enough of the interior arrangement to
feel convinced of Its Identity.
I moved my limbs, testing them,
touring I inusl be burl more seriously
than w:is apparent to account for all
th:s care, yet discovered them equal
to every requirement. 1 was partly
ur.o.i 11 : y fert. with a h:;nd g replug
the of the ch .ir because of a
Bligh; sensation of dizziness, when the
dour was pushed silently bail; nnd 11
woman took a single fa'p within, lu
s'.auily pausing, her eyes upon me. It
was a face I had seen but once before,
vet instantly ivognhu'd the rather
weak face of Lucille Dunn, its only
claim to beauty the large dark eyes.
My sudden return to life and activity
must have greatly surprised her, for
she Mood staring at me in speechless
bewilderment: then. I efote 1 could
move, she slipped back into the hall
and disappeared. I had advanced half
across the room when Jean came lu
quietly, closed the door behind her and
'need me, her lips firmly set, her eyes
upon mine.
I had not anticipated so rapid n re
covery, site saiU. "ou were huh un
conscious wlieu I left n very few mo
ments ago." '
"You have been my nurse?"
"Lucille nnd I together; perhaps 1
mav call myself the .head nurse."
"Am I a prisoner, Miss Deuslow
"You are not Colonel Donald and I
are not entirely ungrateful. You have
been left here wounded and lu our
care, but at liberty to depart whenever
von are able and desire to do SO. We
do not care to feel under obligations
to you personally."
"You sneak very coldly."
"As I have ample reason to. If
Lieutenant Elbert King will be seated
I will explain tho situation ui&re In de
tall."
1 sunk back Into the chair, Instantly
aware that she knew mo now, that the
moment I had dreaded so long had ar
rived. There was a certainty in uer
tone that convinced me any denial
would be useless.
"First I will explain briefly your pres-
out nnsltinn." she beuaii. so tuni
henceforth there can be no mlsunder
Rtandina between us. During the re
treat of your meu-the majority or
whom got safely nwny-your horse
was shot and you were thrown upon
vour head and rendered unconscious.
That occurred soon after daylight this
morning, and you have remained in
thnt condition until a few moments
ago. It Is now late in the afternoon.
The mounted men followed your troop
ers. skirmishing with them as far as
the rldsre road, but some of those on
foot, finding you still alive, brought
vou back here. Through the autuoruy
of Colonel Donald you have been left
horn m-iiPt trail v uncuarded. We have
no desire to be outdone In courtesy by
a Yaukee."
"Colonel Donald, then, has recovered?
Does he remain here?"
"lie has regained sufficient streugtli
to resume command. Ills chler lieu
tenant was killed during the action,
nnQ lie Tell obliged to accompany Id
men for the present."
"And Lieutenant Dunn?"
She smiled slightly, a welcome relief
to the fixed sternness of her lips.
"He would have liked greatly to re
main as your guard, but was persund
ed to convey the prisoners and wound
ed to tho Confederate camp. 1 imag
ine tie may return when that duty bus
been completed. There seems to be
some hatred between Lieutenant Dunn
and Lieutenant King."
"Eutirelv upon the part of the for
mer. nitiiiiugn, 1 comes, 1101 iiooj
... 1..J1,.
without cause. The exigencies 01 war
have compelled me to handle Lleuteu-
nnt Dunn somewhat roughly on tv
occasions, yet that should be excus
able between fighting men. Thel
may be other reasons."
"What, may 1 ask
1 met her questioning eyes fairly,
convinced that a certain amount of
boldness would not be amiss and eager
to learn the real nature of her feel
ings. Principally Miss Jean Denslow."
"Oh. Indeed!" very prettily simulat
ing surprise. "And what possible inter
est can you both have in that young
lady?"
"You ask seriously?"
"Most ussuredly. Who could be
more deeply Interested than I?"
"Then 1 will answer frankly, if I
mistake not, you were ut one time en
gaged to Lieutenant Dunn."
"Very true."
"And you are now married to Lieu
tenant King."
She leaned back against the dresser,
her check flushed, evidently struggling
for self control.
"Are you not mistaken? 1 had sup
f osed my husband to be Sergeant King
of Reynolds' battery."
I leaned toward her across the chalt
arm, endeavoring to Bee into the depths
of her eyes, but she veiled them be
hind lowered lashes.
"lie was Sergeant King at tho time
of your marriage, yet I think you have
no doubt as to who ho Is now.
"I have not had a great deal at any
time." she said, looking at me directly
"although I could not bo sure. The
night of that unfortunate occurrence
you seemed to regret my predicament
and expressed n desire to mako m.v
burden as llcrht as possible. Would It
not have been best when you cniin
here to have Informed me as to your
Identity?"
"Yes. If the relationship between us
hud been tho same."
"Had been tho same! What do you
tneun?"
I took a deep breath, mustering my
courage to face whatever fate might
have in store.
"This. Miss Jean," I said gravely
my voice trembling iu spit of cverj
effort to hold It firm. "Since then I
have learned to love you."
For a niomeut her Intenso surprise
robbed her of all power of speech, her
round throat swelling, one hand press
ea upon her heart. So still was every
thing I could hear a bird singing with
out and the r.istTe Jf ViuJTmoilli ilw
leaves.
"You have learned to love me me?"
she faltered at last incredulously. "1
d.'d !)'t expect to bear you say that.
Lieutenant King."
"Yet 1 have said it," I luslsted. "le
cause it Is the truth, nnd it is tiaic. Is
it not, that the truth should be known
between us?"
Uer head drooped upon her bands,
her arm supported by the d;esser, and
site remained silent, her slight form
trend ing perceptibly.
Do you blame me for what occurred
that night?"
She uplifted her eye-: quickly, look
Ing l'raukly iuto my face.
"You perhaps did the most natural
thing, although 1 sincerely wl -h it bad
never occurred. No. I do not blanm
you; I I have never felt In that way
toward you. It is strange. Is it not?'
straightening up and now looking rie
again fra!rkfy!u iTie eyes. "TTiere Is
certainly every reason why 1 should
feel otherwise. 1 have no sympathy
with your cause; nil I love is connected
with the south and I am a thorough
rebel. Seeking to serve your flag you
did me as grievous an Injury as a
man could do n woman. At first 1
was nngry, Indignant. I could have
killed you nnd fo my anger Just. I
can never understand the change that
came over me, for when we finally
parted that night we were almost
friends. I have never been nblo to
think of you since as an enemy."
"You have thought of me, then?"
"Could I do otherwise? Sergeant
King certainly wrought havoc enough
to make Immediate forgetfulness Im
possible. Then Lieutenant King ap
pearedthe artilleryman changed into
a cuvalry officer but In voice nnd
manner contluually reminding me of
the former. 1 did not know you were
tho same, but suspected it. 1 wanted
to avoid you, yet that was Impossible,
and I have been compelled to accept
your help, to trust and coutide lu you.
Not only am I personally Indebted to
you, but you have served others who
are near and dear to me. 1 bad al
most forgotten you were a Yankee,
except for tho constant reminder of
your uniform. 1 even felt that we
were destined to friendship, In sptto
of nil tho barriers between us, but
now now you havo spoiled every
thing."
"1? flow?"
"Uy your avowal your expression of
feeling toward me. You must have
spoken those words in Jest, and yet
they are not easily forgotten."
"In Jest!" nnd 1 nroso to my feet,
Indignant that she should even sug
gest such a possibility. "Miss Dens
low, you do not mean that; surely my
sincerity cnu be felt. Perhaps I ought
not to have spoken thus; It may be
you have no right to listen. But I In
sist I have said no more than the
truth. I realize now that from the
moment of first seeing you while con
versing with the old negro in the shed
on your father's plantation, 1 was uu
usually Interested In you. That first
Impression might, Indeed, have pussed
away had we not again been thrown
together upon terms of peculiar Intimacy.-
A ccrtain'tlc was contracted
between us which caused me to think
of yon even while we were absent
from ench other. I could not remain
Indifferent under such clrcutnstances
could you?"
She hesitated, drawing slightly back,
yet her honesty compelled a frank
avowal.
No, 1-1 could not be entirely In
different."
"Iluiimn nature would prevent," I
went 011, encouraged by even tuis
slight udmisslon. "But our relation
ship was not destined to end even
there. Some strange fate seemed to
draw us together. My duty led me
here, to meet you again under peculiar
circumstances, and lu the midst of
peril compelling you to trust me. 1
believe now. Miss Denslow, that tho
seeds of love were In my heart from
the moment of our first meeting, but
the Intimacy of the past few hours
has brought the blossom. Legally, 1
niu your husbaud. and 1 cannot for
bear telling you that my heart is yours
also, although 1 feel I have no right
to sny this or to force myself between
you and another."
(To Bo Continued.)
4 Insure your farm property 4
in tho Farmers' Mutal Fire &
4 and Live Stock Insurance 4
J Company of Cass County, 4"
4 Nebraska. Limited to Cass 4
4 county only. Incorporated !
I- in 1891. Only one as- 4
4 sessmcnt of 2 mills made
I- during "the entire time. 4
4 Amount of Insurance In 4
4 force $1,303,955.00. Amount J
J of money in treasury. $4,
j 857.69. Membership fee 50
j cents per hundred for 5 4
4 years. For particulars 4
4 write 4
4 J. P. FALTER, Secretary, 4
4 Plattsmouth, Neb. 4
4!H-I4H-HW-H--H"W
Th is is the season of tho year
when mothers feel very much
concerned over the frequent colds
contracted by their children, and
have abundant reason for it as
every cold weakens the lungs,
lowers the vitality nnd paves tho
way for the more serious diseases
that so often follow. Chamber
lain's Cough Remedy s famous
for its cures, and is pleasant and
safo to take. For sale by F. G.
Fricke & Co.
ALEX HUNTER MIKED FORTH Mil
TIE PRISON CEIL
The Evidence Against the Prisoner Failed to Show That He Kill
ed John Wagner, or That There Was the Least Motive for Him
to Do So, After the Examination of Numerous Witnesses.
From Wednesday' I i 11 y.
Ale Hunter was released front
prison and walked fori Ii front the
(ilenwiioil cottrl room litis morn
ing' a free man, tin presiding
judge of lite district having, on
molion of ilefeinlanl, on (lie as
sembling of fotirl this morning,
instructed n jury to bring in a
onliel for Hie defendant, aeiiuil-l
ing him of the crime charged
against him.
The Irial of Alex Hunter, charg
ed willi Hie murder nf John Wag
ner, whose body was found on
September 15 last, lying beneath
Hie curved Ireslle west nf Pacific
Junction, has been going nn since
last, Monday in tho district court
of Mills county. The slate took
tip all of yesterday presenting its
case, twelve or more witnesses
being sworn, and all of I lie ma
terial testimony for Hie slate was
heard except that of V. J.
Streighl, who dressed Wagner for
burial, and Mr. Slivight not be
ing in (llenwood when his testi
mony was reached, lie was not
placed on the stand.
(lenung-iv- Oonung, the allor-
neys who appeared for Hunter,
filed a motion yesterday at the
close of the day's hearing, asking
the court to direct n verdict, and
argued the phase of the case thai
no motive for the killing had been
shown, which was material, nnd
the court, look the matter under
advisement, until this morning.
So confident was Mr. Homing that
his theory of the case was correct
that nfter Hie court adjourned lie
'phoned fi. 1). McMaken of this
city to notify his brother and nil
of I he witnesses subponeaed for
the defense not, to cotno to (llen
wood in (he morning, as the case
was practically ended, nnd that
Hunler would lie uccpiuittod.
This morning, on inqiuiry, Mr.
Lands for Sale.
i 40 acres in southeast Green
wood county, Kansas; fenced and
cross-fenced; 80 acres of rich
creek bottom land in cultivation,
balance finest native prairie grass
(linii'soil) . Fair 5-room house
stabling, etc. Some bearing or
chard. Lots of line living water,
which is furnished by a large
creek which runs through north
side of ranch. Creek is skirled
with timber; cattle come off grass
into deep water. This is consider
ed to be one of the best little stock
ranches in the county. School
close by; fine smooth road to
town. Just 5 1-2 miles from
ranch to town; a nice well im
proved country all the way. For
quick sale $18 per aero buys this
-i iO acres; no trade taken on this.
Has a mortgage of $3500 thai has
yet three years to run. IM420 buys
the equity. Nothing belter for the
money. Givo me to your friend if
you don't want me, I must sell.
W. A. Nelson, Ilea! Estate
WATER
By the bursting of a water pipe on the floor above
us last Saturday morning we suffered a slight dam
age by water to some of our goods. We offer at a
discount asfollows:
Stetson Hats 10 off
Manhattan Shirts 25 " "
Pleated Shirts (our own brand) 30 " 14
Cashmere Hose.; 20 " '
Fine Dress Hose 20 " "
Linen Handkerchiefs 20 " "
About 10 dozen plain white handkerchief at 5c each
5 " beauties, assorted 19c "
" 4 " suspenders 22c "
" 5 " Fitneck mufflers 39c "
Cash
G. E. Wescott's Sons
ALWAYS THE HOME OF SATISFACTION
II FIE III TOUT
! Cietnin- itifivi-med the Journal that
the court directed a verdict for
the defendant this morning. In
talking with Mr. (ienung wo
learned Unit the stale failed to
show anything except that the de
fendant and Wagner were to
gether and both drunk on the day
Wagner was last, seen alive. Tho
notions of Hunter al'ler the dis
covery of the liodv 'of Watrner
wore hardly that of a guilty man.
On the day that. Wagner's body
was brought to Plattsmouth,
about l o'clock in the evening,
Hunter appeared at the homo of
Jesse Miner, and then said ho
wanted to see. (luy McMaken early
in the morning as he, expected to
get a job with him on tho
Glarinda paving job. "Mr. Miner
was alone at the lime and invited
Hunler to remain over night,
which he did, and left the next
morning about ! o'clock to go fo
the McMaken office.
Hunter's attempted escape and
lliglil afterward was explained by
his attorneys in a very plausablo
way. Munler, who was addicted to
nc ovor-nniu genco in i no use 01
alcoholic loiiior, had been threat
ened by the authorities that ho
would he sent to an inebriate
asylum al, Oskloosa, Iowa, and
when nny stranger came along t
Munler imagined the stranger to
be un officer and would dodge out
of the way.
The lack of motive and the fact
that Ihe slate made no attempt to
show the manner of Wngner's
death or what was the probablo
cause of his death, served to
make the chain of evidence eo
weak that the court did not be
lieve it would sustain a verdict of
guilty, hence the action of tho
court in instruct ing the jury to
nciiuit the defendant.
Hrokcr, Fall River,
County, Kansas.
Greenwood
In County Court.
From Weilnesdny'H Dnlly.
Ill the county court, today Judge
Ileeson was engaged in hearing
the flnnl account of the admin
istrator of the Fdizabelh Hosier
estate. Attorney William Delles
Mernier and William Huster of
F.lmwnnd were in court looking
after Ihe matter.
There is no better meoicino
made for colds than Chamber
lain's Cough Remedy. It acts on
nature's plan, relieves the lungs,
opens the secretions, aids ex
pectoration; and restores tho
system to a healthy condition.
For sale by F. G. Fricko & Co.
For Sale.
300 split buroak posts, carriage
and buggy. Seo Lloyd Gapen, ad
ministrator of F. M. Young estate.
DAMAGE!
Only!