The Wealth makers of the world. (Lincoln, Nebraska) 1894-1896, February 21, 1895, Page 6, Image 6
THE WEALTH MAKERS February 21, 1895 pjapyrtght, ISM, by Amrlaa Prw Aesoala- tion.J . CONTUTOBX CHAPTER m A DKVOTED CONFEDERATE, On the morning of the general ad Yanoe of the Army of the Cumberland drixrlinir rain set in which lasted at interrala during the whole campaign. Day after day the men tramped through i the mire, often to lie down at night with no means of lifting themselves out of pools ezoept by cutting the wet branches from the trees, and on these making a bed in drenched olothec. The artillery soon cnt np the roads so that the guns sank to the hubs of the wheels. The right continued to march toward the left and in the direction of the base of the Cumberland plateau, where Miss Betsy Baggs and the others were pass ing between the lines. Tie Unionists were moving upon gaps i the f t bills held by the Confederates, and l c essary to the latter to prevent their e a mies getting on their right, and tl as compelling them to leave their fortifl a tions at Tullahoma and fight on open ground. It was the day that the Union men attacked these gaps that Miss Baggs passed under Confederate protection, and the fanner and the two young peo ple with him were also pursuing their route south. Fortunately for him, tho farmer, being ou the flank ' the two armies, was not forced to pass over roads out up by either. After Major Burke had administered thr oath not to divulge anything they had seen con cerning the Union forces to the farmer and the young girl in the wagon with bim (he considered the boy too young to treat in the same way), the party were suffered to deport and proceeded down the road. "Jake," said the farmer, slapping the horses' backs with the reins, "what hev you l'arned at skule?" "L'arned how ter play 'hop scotch and 'shinny. " "I don't mean thet kind. I mean real rarnin." "Jakey was at a great disadvantage, pa, "remarked the girl on the rear seat, "because he was obliged to go in classes with little bits of boys. You remember he didn't know his letters when he went to school. " "No more did you, " said the father. "Oh, yes, I did. I began to study them a month before I went away, and I taught Jakey, so that he knew some thing about them, too, when he got there." ' "Air theydoin much talkin 'bout the war up no'th?" . "Well, it isn't at all like it is down hyar" (no southerner will ever ohange the pronunciation of this word). "They take lots of interest in it, and all that; uuk, nana, v o vu "'s 6" "f - morning and read the papers 'bout bat tles and such things, and another to have soldiers running all over you, 'speoially taking the garden truck and the horses onten the barn I mean out of the barn. Teacher, she had the hardest work to break me from saying 'outen for 'out of. ' It seems she hasn't quite done it yet" She spoke the last words with a sigh. "Lordy, Souri, y' talk like a fine lady oompared 'ith what y' did afore y' went no'th. Jake, would like ter drive em?" : i . i . " ' " ."Reckon." .. The father handed the reins to his on. who. considering that he had not driven a horse for a year, handled them with considerable skill. "How did yon leave ma?" asked the daughter. ' " " Waal, y'r maw she war a heap lone some 'thout y nnB, and she's been worritin fo fear y'd git sick up thar 'ith no one ter tend ter y but senoe the time fo' v'r oomin hum hez drawed nigh she's puckered up pretty peart The boom of a gun came faintly from far down on the lower level, and the cannonading heard by Corporal Ratigan and his charge began. Taking np the whip, the countryman gave his horses a cut ': "I want ter make hum afore somep'n happens. Thar's goin ter be a big fight 'bout Tullyhoomy. Thar's forts all round the place and big guns on em. " The horses trotted on briskly for short distance, when, looking ahead, the farmer oould see the picket post He got his pass ready, and when they reach ed the post an o IS car same out to ex amine it , ' "Is your name Ezekiel Slack?" he asked of the farmer. "Zeke Slack; yaas, thet's my name. "And yours?" to the girl, raising his forage cap admiringly. "Missouri Slack." "The other name on the pass refers to the boy, I suppose. Yon nave a name, sonny, haven't you?" he asked absently, while he was studying the pass, though it is questionable if the inquiry was not Intended to show some faoetiousness be fore the pretty girL "Hevlgotha'r?" "Oh, Jakey," said his sister, "don't fall back into that habit of asking ques tions instead of answering them. You know how hard they tried to break you of it at school. And say 'hair,' not ha'r.'" "I got a name," said Jaka "D'y' reckon a boy 14's goin ter git on 'ithout a name?" . "Well, what is it?" asked the officer, smiling. "Jake." "Jake what?" "Slack," answered the farmer. "These two nns Is my children. Thoy been ter skule np in Ohio. They got lots o' rarnin. Reokon they'll down the old man." "Union or Confederate sympathies?" "Union." "All right Go ahead." Leaving the picket, they came to an opening in the country which enabled them to got a view of the region lying to the west The farmer, though de sirous of getting on, could not resist a temptation to rein in bis horses and watch the fighting, or the distant evi dences of it that morning going on at Hoover's Gap, Volleys of musketry were mingled with the deeper tones of cannon. Then the firing ceased for awhile, when the booms began again, continued and rapid. A white smoke rose above a ridge on which Confederate cannons were shelling the advancing Union troops on the ground below. Souri Slack thought of the lives that were passing from under that smoke and covered her faoe with her nanos. When the sounds ceased, Farmer Slack drove on and soon reached the Confederate picket The party were sent in charge of a trooper to the headquar ters of an officer commanding a body of cavalry on the Confederate extreme left His headquarters were in a house beside the road. It bad onoe been in the cen ter of a neat country place. The fences, the outhouses, the walks, had all been in excellent condition prior to the first passage of troops. Now of the fences there was an occasional upright post left; the walks were overgrown with weeds and grass; the outhouses had nearly all been torn down. The plaoe was a picture of desolation. Neverthe less the general who temporarily resided there was making himself very comfort able. The wagon drew np before the house, and the conducting trooper sent in word to the general that a party, who had come in from the Union lines, were waiting outside, desiring permission to go on south. ' An order came to Bend the party all inside. The three travelers entered the house to find a tall man with an iron gray beard reoliAng in a rooking ohair with as much apparent unconcern as if war were simply a pastime. "Yon have just come from the ene my's lines, I hear," he said to the farmer. ."Yaas, sir." ; "What force did yon see in the re gion through whioh you passed?" The farmer explained that he could not answer the Question, inasmuch as he had been permitted to pass after tak ing an oath not to give any information. "H'm, You are quite right not to answer under the circumstances, " ob served the general. "Did your daugh ter take the same oath?" "Yaas, general," said Souri. "Surely they didn't administer an oath to a boy of your age?" he said, turning Jakey. "Reokon th' thought I war too little toswar,"said Jakey. He thrust his hands in his pockets, a Bure sign that he was steadying himself for a conflict of wits and words. But the general was not acquainted with the peculiar char acteristics of Jakey Slaok ana preparea to question him as unoonoernedly as he would pump water from a well. "What route did yon comer' he asx- ed of the farmer. ' ' 'I met the children at Galletin, " re plied Slack. , "I driv' 'em from thar through Lebanon and liberty. "Souny.said the general, turning to Jakey, "did yon pass any troops on the way?" "Lots." "Infantry?" "What's thet?" "Soldiers who walk and carry guns." "Didn't see none o them kind." "Did you see any artillery?" "Don't know what them nns air." "Men with great big guns-s-cannon." "No, sir. Didn't see no 'tillery." "Then what yon saw must have been tavalry. " ' "Didn't see none o' them nns nutn The general looked surprised. "Then what did yon see? That's all the arms of the service I ever heard of, and I am an old soldier." "Critter companies." "Oh, I seel" exclaimed the general, remembering the mountain Tennessee ana' name for cavalry. "How many sol diers belonging to the 'critter compa nies.' as you call them, did yon see?' "Waal. I counted 20. 'n thet's 's fur as I got at countin in skule." Souri was about to remind her broth er that he had proved himself one of the best boys in the school at mental arithmetic, but desisted. "H'm 1" The general thought a mo- meat and beat a reveille with his fin sera on the arm of his chair. "What were they doing within the Federal lines just before yon left the outposts?" . "WaaL I onlv noticed one man. 'nhe war doin somep'n very partickeler. ' "What was it?" "He war lookin at the sky through a flat round thing what looked like a big squashed apple. " "Not a fieldglass, was it?" -"No, sir. Reckon 'twam't thet" "Was the man of high rank?" "Reckon he war. He had stripes on his arm." "Tut tut he wore chevrons. He was only a noncommissioned officer. Can't yon describe more nearly the object through which he was looking?" "Waal, I think I hearn some'nn call it a can can" "Not a canteen?" "Yes, thet's it" The general looked sharply at the boy, who looked stolidly stupid. He determined to try another route tnrougn whioh to lead Jakey's infantile mind. "Were the troops yon saw in camp, or on the march, or in bivouac?" "Don't know what thet ar' last air, but the trees 'n brush war so thick I oonldn' see plain." "Can't yon tell me if yon saw any infantry. Soldiers who walk and carry guns, yon know?" "I never looks at them kind o' so lera," replied Jakey contemptuously. "I only notices 'em when th're on critters' backs." "That will do," said the general. Then, turning to a staff officer near him, he Bald: "Captain, you may pass these people south," and added in an' undertone: "Ride over to division headquarters and say that nothing has yet been obtained of the enemy's movements in this vicin ity by questioning citizens. Only one party has come through a farmer, with his son and daughter. The farmer and bis daughter took an oath not to give any information concerning the dispositions of the enemy, and the boy is profoundly stupid. " There was a sound of hoofs without mingled with the rattle of wheels. Looking through an open window, an officer was seen to dismount and hand a woman from a mud covered, paint rubbed buggy. All recognized Miss Elizabeth Baggs. The general arose from his chair and went one to meet her at the front door. From there he oonducted her into a room where they oould confer together alona "What luck?" "I struck their wires within their lines midway between Murfreesboro and MacMinnville at midnight and no one was near. I threw my wire over the line and made my connections with my instrument I waited till nearly day light before any messages of impor tance came along, though dispatches were passing all the whila At last one came in oipher. I took it down, but as we haven't the I key fear it will avail us nothing." "Let me see it," said the general. Miss Baggs handed him a piece of paper on which was written: McRntEEBBORO, Tenn., Jane 28, 1868. Yetnnteers Garfield with circling between you possession turn an be cob Bumble at to get that possible by move Benjamin pony chief ramditv around that put of the hours ready shingle to notice enemy 'a Tullahoma your point the by of polliwog of plateau Niggard If desire and hope forward to nana move we ngnt l command and mountain order staff. The general read the dispatch over carefully, and then, looking up at Miss Baggs, remarked: "Balked!" ' "Can't it be interpreted, general?" "I fear not without the key. It is doubtless an important dispatoh, and I shall send it at onoe to general head quarters. If they can decipher it, they are welcome to do so. I don't care to toy it." Calling an aid-de-camp, the general bade him carry the message to the army telegraph station, a short distance to the rear, and repeat it to General Bragg. "General," said Miss Baggs in an undertone, "if yon will let me have the original or a copy, I will try to decipher it I may find a clew that will aid me hereafter, though I fear it will be too late to take advantage of information contained in this ona " "Certainly. Lieutenant, return the dispatch I have given yon to this lady after it has been repeated. " The officer departed. The general turned again . to Miss Baggs with a se rious look. 1 '"' ; ' ' "Do you know that you are engaged in a very hazardous servicer" s "Perfectly." "And do yon understand the penalty if caught?" "Death, I supposa "There's no telling whether it would be death or a long imprisonment in the case of a woman. A man would hang. Miss Baggs' countenance changed from an expression of indifference to one of those flashes of the superhuman attributes that lurk within the human souL ' "Am I to make anything of my life when thousands of the south's defend ers are giving theirs everyday? Have not seen our homes laid desolate? Have I not seen my brothers, my friends, those I have loved, those I have played with as children, out down by either bullet or disease? For months I have devoted mvself to the care of the sick in the hospitals. There I learned to dread a long continuance of this strug gle. There I conoeived the idea of do lus something to win success lor our KHxrmtuuJiiJirntrrtnuiiiiunmTg 969696 I PHOTOGRAPHIC YIEWS. E & 1 0 0 G a Our Own Country SEND US $1.15 For One Year's Subscription to "L thing of beauty and a joy forever." ji Bite of Volume. UHzl la. Situ njiTiiriitriiiufuiiinuma mia The Wealth Makers $ BEFORE MARCH 1ST, and we will send yon free, post-paid, a volume containing 96 Photographic views of Historic Places, Character Sketches. Majestic Mountains, Roaming Waterfalls. Beauti ful Gardens, Glorious Landscapes, Homes of People, Grand Canyons. The descriptions are not short foot notes, but in the form of a classio narrative, enriched with anecdotes, adven tures, legends, historical sketches, characteristics of the people, etc., the whole forming a Grand Picturesque American This offer is extended to our present subscribers as well as new ones. By sending 91.15 your present subscription will be advanced one year. If your subscription does not expire for several weeks or months, send m your renewal now and secure this beautiful book free. . . t-This Offer is Only for a Limited Time. ; . Subscribe Now! Subscribe Now ! . . Address, THE WEALTH MAKERS, , LINCOLN, NEB. In remitting, gay you want "OUR OWN COUNTRY" as a premium. Illegitimate than trying to conquer a people fighting for their independence?" The general made no reply for a tima ' "Yours is a singular family," he said presently. "Yon are all alike, and yet you differ." "We are united in the cause; we differ as to the means. " The interview was interrupted by the I ringing of a dinner bell m the halL The general called a negro and bade him show Miss Baggs to a room up stairs, to which she retired for a few minutes. The servant brought in her belongings from the buggy, together with the little box. - When she came down stairs, the party were waiting for her before going in to dinner. Souri, who had seen her covered ; by the sun- The Omaha Weekly 63 Guilts Pr Year . 12 Pages Every Week . . Bee The largest, brightest and best Newspaper published in the west j The Bee for 1895 will ba a better paper than ewr before. Special Features 'Kfiftar1" ' -For lover' bonnet and her eyes screened with glasses, was astonished. She saw a woman three or four years older than herself, the beauty of her head and neck contrasting with the homeliness of armies by giving them an advantage i her costume. Miss Baggs noticed Souri 's not nossessed by the enemy. I consulted one high in rank. 'How can I give my life to the best advantage?' I asked. In the secret service. 'Point the way. ' 'Do you know anything of telegraphy? 'No, but I can learn. ' 'Go and study a month and then come to me. For a month I studied night and day. I learn- ed to read words from the olioking of the keys as readily as I can read letters. I returned to my adviser. You know the rest" The general paoed the floor with a clouded brow. "I dread a catastrophe," he said, "in the case of one inspired by such no ble sentiments. I dread to see a woman exposed to ignominy, perhaps death. " ! "If that time comes, general, God will give me strength to bear it " The general was silent a moment and then asked abruptly: "Is your brother aware of what you are doing?" "He is." "And he consents?" "He does not We are individuals. He is one of the noblest of the south's legitimate defenders, but he is not re sponsible for my acta, one of its illegit imate machines. "The pitoher that goes often to the well is at last broken." Then some one else will spring up to carry on the work. " God grant that the day may Do xar distant that it mav never come. I can hardly approve of it, though yon are working in my cause. " "General," said the woman, her lace again lighting as if inspired by some absorbing thought, "each side has an organized secret service. What general would dare report to his government that he had acquired information which would enable him to destroy bis ene my, but it had been obtained by Illegit imate means, and be would not take advantage of it? Yet what general would care to be called a spy himself? We are engaged in a terrible struggle. Before its close any and all means will be used to conquer. Cities will bo burn ed, vast districts will be laid waste. Must I cease to employ the most effect ive method of all because I am doing illeeitimate work? Is my work more 1 A l- Al surprise, and going up to ner cook duui her hands and kissed her cheek. "You sweet child," she said feeling ly, "you can't get over my appearance when yon met me on the road this morning, oan you? What a fright must I have Beemed to youl I don't oare for those Yankee officers, but bless your innocent heart I can't bear to have shocked you." Souri did not reply in words, but she looked at Miss Baggs admiringly. "Don't think hard of me, " the latter went on. drawing Souri aside and mo tioning the rest to go on into the dining room. "I do only what I believe to be duty, for you must suspect that I keep a secret You could not play a part be neath you. child. You are too loving, too innocent, and yon wonder how any other woman can. "I did once." "When?" "Before I went to schooL" "For your country?" "No." Miss Baggs looked into Souri's deep eyes and asked softly: "For love?" Souri dropped her eyes to the floor, but her questioner, who by this time had put an arm around her, received no reply. "Came, " she said, "let us not torture each other. I see we both have our se crets. " She led the way to the dinner room, where the General and his staff were af.nnriirio- waitinff for the tWO WOmen, The party were joined by Farmer Slack and Jakey, and all sat down at a signal from the general. Special subjects for Women. Special subjects for Children. Special subjects for the Farm and the Farmer. One or more good stories each week for everybody in the family. Reliable Market Reports. Together with the news from all over the world. And all for less than any other Weekly paper in the country- Send 65 cent money order, express order or bank draft for a year's sub scription. If you send silver or currency, register it or you send it at your own risk. Address orders to THE BEE PUBLISHING CO., Omaha, Neb. V I I f ! V ; OUR FIELD WAYERLY EAOLB PANA11A AL.VO MURDOCK GREENWOOD DAVBY RAYMOND CERESCO MALCOUt and LINCOLN The Earth Isn't Big Enough For somt people In their business dealings; they seem to want an additional one aU to themselves. That is theory in praotloe, however, It s the wise ana modest who own the earth In small seotlons and who are the suoeessf ulj ones. small field, thoroughly and Intelligently oultlrated will produce more than a law on Jl0f given "a lick and a promise." We own and control eleven newspapers within a radius oi thirty miles of Lincoln, Nebr., each having a large circulation. If you wish to plant aa' advertisement in our field, we assure you It will bring forth a splendid yield. For rates and Information write to J05. 3. BROWN, rtgT. Interstate Newspaper Co. mS-ao M St., Lincoln, Neb. TO EE CONTENDED. Faster Time Better Service. The Black Hills passenger now leaves tally at 1:25 p. m. aad will land pass gers at Hot Springs at 8:05 a. m., aad at Deadwood at 11 a. m. next day. From Chicago two fast trains arrive here week days, one Sundays. For farther information apply as be low. A. S. FreLDruG, City Ticket Agfc, 8. A. Moshkx, Genn Agt, 117 So. 10th 8. Send Us Two New Names- With 9. and your own subscription will be ex tended One Year Free of Cost. THIS CUT ' npreMntft on o! our pai van ned Bteel Tanks, a tank that will last ! for a lifetime, "If not, why notr Writ B. B. WINQBB, th Wind Mill Han, Cbloago, for tau, sum aaa pm. A laircomplexion, free from pimples, may be had by the use of Ayer's Sarsap-rffla. Hot Springs Special This is the title of the new train to Hot Springs, Arkansas, inaugurated by the Missouri Pacific from St. Louis and which affords passengers perfect service from Lincoln. These Hot Springs are not situaned in the polar regions but passps a climate in January as mild as South Dakota cli mate in June. Illustrated and descriptive books fur nished free on application. City ticket office 1201 0 St. F. D. Corneld, C. P. & T. A. Homeseekers' Excursions On March 5th and April 2nd, the Mis souri Pacific will sell tickets to Arkansas, Texas, Oklahoma and other southern points at one fare for round trip plus $2.00. For illustrated and descriptive pam phlets oHurther information call at city ticket office. 1201 O St. .F. D. Cornell, C. P. & T. A. That Ism Baen can Te rured with Sr. Miles' NEB YE PLASTER. Only 25c