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. ' ISS^TED ^ l. m. grist & sons, Publishers. 1 % <jfantilg Jftujspager: (Jfor the jSromotion of the political, Social, Agricultural, and <Eommertrial Jntqres's of the JSoufh. j te*m|i"no,le ce *nce' established 1855. YORKVILLE, S. O., WEDNESDAY, MAY 3, 1899. 3STO. 35. IN THE DEBA BY EBWAI Copyright. 1899, by the Author. CHAPTER XII. BOT QCAKTKK8 Lieutenant Oakuian followed Mrs Benware into the spacious bnt scantily furnished sitting room, where she placed the candle on the circular stand in the middle of the apartment A hickory wood fire was burning on the broad hearth and diffused its cheerful warmth to the farthest corner of the room. One of the evidences of the poverty brought by wartimes was that in. many such families candles took the place of the lamps to which they had been accustomed A second lady followed the officer stepping so lightly that he did not sus pect her presence until Mrs. Benware introduced her sister. Miss Davis The ladies were of nearly the same age aud showed a striking similarity of features The lieutenant remained standing until they were seated, and the hostess mo tioned him to the rocking chair at the side of the table supporting the candle. "Mary has it. " added the elder The unmarried lady drew a folded paper from the bosom of her dress, and without a word handed it to the officer. l~T*/^Trririar ita fln?hpH and accepted it with a slightly tremulous grasp. "With your permission." he said, bowing to each in turn They nodded, and without further ceremony he nn folded the single sheet of paper and proceeded to examine it with an in tensity of interest that could not have been intensified, the women meanwhile watching his countenance with an in terest almost as great They saw his eyes expand with wonder, while a low admiring whistle came from betweeu his lips "What a prize!" he muttered. "Gen | eral Sherman would pay $10,000 to lay his hands on that" The extravagant assertion was warranted. for that sheet of paper contain ed a list of all the forces gathering to dispute the advance of Sherman, with the names of the officers and the exact strength of every regiment. Included in the statement was equally valuable information as to the cavalry and artillery. not to mention a number of minor matters. Finally on the back of the ' I "What n prize!" he muttered. document were written in a hand as fine and legible as copperplate uiinnte directions for Lieutenant Oakuian himself. directions which if followed wonld carry him into the Union lines before 8herman reached Savannah "So the old man is going to Savannah!' mattered the delighted officer "He wouldn't let as know, and we gnessed all sorts of places. I take some pride to myself that 1 stack to Savan nan ? As softly us the moving figure over the screen the door leading from the hall was shoved inward and two men in the ragged uniform of Confederate cavalrymen stepped into the room Each held a revolver, and the foremost, with a deftness bom of long practice, leveled his weapon at the astounded Union officer "Up with yonr hands. Yank' We hain't time for auy fooling!" Never was the lieutenant caught so completely at fault These horsemen, turning back on their own trail, had followed him to the house, tied their animals and entered the building without attracting notice By what possible means could they have gained their information? Oakman did a daredevil thing Dearer to lnm than his life was the safety of that document in his hand, for its capture meant death to others besides himself He wonld have Hung it into the flames had he not known that his cap tors wonui snatcn n nirin ueiore u was more than scorched He attempted a piece of strategy whose andacity could not have been surpassed "I surrender under protest, he said, rising from his chair hut instead of elevating his hands he coolly folded the paper and shoved it into his inner pocket "What are yen doing?" thundered the man with leveled weapon "Merely putting away a letter That being done, up go my hands!" With which he laughed and reached toward the ceiling "What is in that letter?" "Would you like to see it?' "Trot it out The lieutenant shoved his hand nnder his shoulder and brought forth the letter written by Captain Wager Trenholm "At your service. It will interest you." Had the other document been the only one in his possession, thus robbiDg him of this trick, he would have whipped out his revolver and fought the battle then and there to the end. The cavalryman gingerly unfolded the letter. TABLE LAND. 1X3 8. EXjXJIS. "Here, Bill." he said gruffly to his companion. "I never conld read writing Out with it while I keep the Yank covered." Oakman wondered that they did not disarm him. but when three more grizfcled troopers tramped through the hall and entered tne apartment ne saw me little need of doing eo. The one who held the letter leaned sideways to the candle for a minute or two and then picked up the light the better to read the writing. His companions looked on attentively while waiting for him to speak. Finally he emitted an oath after glancing at the signature. "I'm blowedl" he exclaimed. "Do you know who wrote that, boys?" "How should we know?" was the appropriate question that followed. "Why. Captain Wage Trenholm. " "Read it out." The man complied, while the others stood gaping and wondering. The letter. it will be recalled, was a declaration that Lieutenant Ledyard Oakman was a Union officer for whom Captain Trenholm had been exchanged and that he was entitled to courteous treatment and a safe conduct to the Union lines. When the group had somewhat recovered from their shock, the one who still held the document in his hand looked at it again. "I wonder if the captain did write that. Miss Harriman. you know his writing." ' i "Very well indeed." 1 Lo. directly behind Lieutenant Oak- ! man stood Miss Marian Harriman. 1 /Jotoofotinn nf tVm TTninn nffirer a VVUUOO Ut UV.O uu mvu v* vuv w.v v?? fortnight before brought so scathing a rebuke from Mr a Eldridge and her ' daughter. "Heavens. you bere!" he exclaimed, facing her. ' "Yes," she said, with a sneering smile. "1 am here, and I rather suspect you wish you were somewhere else." i "I always do when in your presence.' She had on her hat and held a riding whip in her hand, as if she had just ridden up with the party. Could it be i that it was she who had conducted ' them to this house that she might betray him to his death ? She ignored the slur and. taking the letter from the hand of the soldier, who held the candle for her. examined it with the utmost care from the beginning to the signature at the bottom. "Yon know. " she said in conclusion, "that the captain never loses the opportunity to visit the heme of General Eldridge. I am familiar with his handwriting. and. therefore, much as I regret it. I am compelled to say that this letter was written by him. " "No doubt about it. Miss Harriman ?' asked one of the disappointed group. "Not a particle. I suppose it will hardly be safe to disregard what he says, or rather what he has written This prisoner is in uniform, and therefore cannot be regarded as a spy, unless"? "Unless what?" asked two of the guerrillas in the same breath. "There are papers on him to show that he is acting as a spy. Why not search him so as to make sure?" "Good idea! You've got more wit than all of ns! Go through the Yank, boys!" CHAPTER XIII. A BREAK FOR UBF.RTY. A deep High und partly suppressed moan brcke the sudden silence that fell upon the group They were from Mrs Ben ware, who moved backward a step, as if to recoil from the impending tragedy "Yon seem interested in the prisoner. " was the cutting comment of Miss Harriman. but the woman addressed gave no answer She and her sister, who seemed equally affected, but in better control of her nerves, moved toward the door leading into the hall. Their action suggested to the other woman the propriety of all withdrawing for a brief while, and they passed out of the room into the wide hall. Lieutenant Oakman. without any evidence of emotion except a slight paling of his countenance, said to the leader of the party "Search me if you choose. I shall offer no resistance. " "It makes little difference whether you do or not. " grimly replied the Confederate. who without ceremony began the work, which was simple in its nature From thj inner pocket of the prisoner's coat he drew forth several letters and folded documents. Thev included two missives from his mother, another from an army friend with General Grant in Virginia, and that was all. Every other part of his clothing was searched, including his cap and cavalry boots, which he was compelled to draw off. There was nothing contraband in them, and the heels of his boots, which were tapped and examined, gave evidence of being solid and devoid of any secret receptacles. Of course his revolver was confiscated. It would have gone ill with the lientenant had that document which he received from the hands of Mrs. Benware been found, but. strange as it may seem, it had vanished, the thorough search of his captors making it impossible for it to remain hidden about his person. It would appear that, the search of the prisoner having resulted as stated, his peril bad disappeared. Such would have been the fact had he been in the cnstody of a company of regular Confederates, but. unfortunately, these men were ir1 regulars, known as Wilkins' cavalry, who did not consider themselves bound by the usages of civilized warfare. "Well. VanS." coolly remarked the leader, "yon seem to be what yon claim, and Miss Harriinan says that this letter (handing it back to him) was written by Captain Trenholm. but it happens that the captain doesn't command onr company." "1 do not see what that has to do with my case." replied the lieutenant, who. nevertheless, was quite certain of the drift of the words. "You'll be likely to see pretty soon,' was the significant remark of the leader. "These are not the times to show much consideration to the like of you. I'll own that the question isn't clear in my mind. I'll have to talk it over with the bOTs. While we're doing so. you can withdraw. Stay with the women. c No donbt they'll find yoor company 1 agreeable. Bill, go along and keep an eye on him all the time, remembering that, if he hasn't any weapons except his sword, the fact won't hinder him from rnnning. if he gets the chance." The soldier addressed as "Bill" motioned to Oakinan to follow him into the hall. The prisoner did so, the two joining the three women, who were seated near the stand or table upon which was the candle, with their arme folded, grim, silent and waiting. They turned their eyes toward theccnple. but not a word was spoken by any one. All the chairs were occupied, and the men kept their feet. Bill wished to follow the debate that was going on in the next room and placed himself near the I door that he might catch the words g spoken, an easy thing to do. since there was little or no attempt at secrecy by the others. While posted thus the soldier motioned for Oakman to take his place in front, that he might observe his every a movement, the guard me. - while keep- c ing his hand on the revolver at his hip. j. Less than five minutes later a scream . rang out from Miss Harriman. and the startled comDanv in the adjoining room ^ dashed into the hall to learn its cause. ] She was in her chair, gasping and struggling. with a frightful attack of hysterics : Mrs. Benware and her sister, as * white as death, sat silent, upright and evidently on the point of swooning: ? Bill, the cavalryman, was stretched on his back, to all appearances as dead as , dead could be. The open front door left , no doubt whither the prisoner had gone, and with fierce imprecations the raiders Btreained outside and made for their horses. ^ Not a minute was to be lost, for in , the vivid'moonlight he was seen in the ^ act of swinging himself into the saddle ^ of one of the animals that had been , tied at the side of the lane, fully alive to the fact that his life depended upon v using every second at bis command. Not doubting what the verdict of the men would be. Lieutenant Oakman. 8 while in the hall with his jailer, deter- 8 mined to discount it. The fact that his c guard did not suspect any such wild ? purpose increased the chances of the officer. Without his motive being dis- c trusted by the man whose attention 8 was centered upon the discussion in the adjoining room the lieutenant stepped , up near him. The next instant he was , throttled with such lightninglike . quickness that he sank to the floor and collapsed without being able to make ? an outcry. Lieutenant Oakman would have strangled the life out of him without 8 any compunction bad he dared to linger for that purpose, but the door at his side was likely to open any moment, when it would be all over with him. 8 As it was he came near shutting off the wind of the fellow for good. but. seeing , him senseless, he snatched away his revolver. rose from his feet and tiptoed c hnrripHlv nut nf the donr. The whole thing was begun and ended so quickly that the daring fellow seemed to be gene ere the women understood what it all meant. Then a moment passed before they did anything, and the form on the floor had begun to show signs of returning animation, when Miss Harriman nttered her penetrating scream, the party crowded into the hall. and. without pausing to ask questions, made for the fleeing prisoner Lieutenant Oakman was as cool as he ? was active. There was no time in which to select the best horse, and he untied r the one nearest at hand. They were a partly in moonlight and partly in shadow. but he saw the old building dis- a gorging its terrible contents, as he ^ turned the head of his animal down the lane toward the highway, and he knew the battle for life was on. There would e be no surrender or quarter shown in c this business The instant the animal broke into his gallop in the middle of the lane Oak- J '^ i The next I instant he was throttled. man filing himself forward on his neck. 3 as he did when beset by Tim Masters 1 and Jim Ackers. In their eagerness to check the fugitive fully half the men i \red from the porch of the dwelling. ^ halting for breath, while scrambling f after their horses. They were sharpshooters. every one of them, and had s the circumstances been slightly more a favorable they must have made a sieve c of their target. As it was, he heard the a whiz of the bullets and felt the vicious I lipping of two of them as they grazed k lis clothing. \ f With his head still on the horse's leek he peered from nnder his cap and t jammed the spnr on his boot into the r lanks of the beast, which mnst have t >een mystified by the curious turn of e sventa. The situation was too hot for the a ieutenant to seek to guide the horse, s ind. knowing so little of the country, d le let the reins lie loose, while he de- t roted his own energies to getting all i: he speed he could out of the animaL fa wViifh heincr uncontrolled, nnon de- K >ouching into the highway, turned to 81 he left This, it will be remembered, t] ook him in the direction of the home ?f General Eldridge, which the fugitive ci lad left earlier in the evening. It seem- ^ id to his rider that this was a mistake C in his part, but it was too late to cor- a ect it " After the first scattering volley, the d ;avalrymen ceased firing, and ran with ill speed for their horses. Accustomed E o such stirring work, they were in the n laddies in a twinkling and tearing t? lown the lane like a whirlwind. Of lecessity one of the men had to stay at a he rear, since tljere was no animal for tl lim, and it was i singular coincidence ^ hat the steed thus taken was the per- ^ onal property o^ the dazed Bill, trying ^ 0 rouse himself I to a sense of things in v he hall of the house left behind. b Another coincidence was disquieting. n Jill's horse was ^he poorest of the whole n proup. i h , n T CHAPTER XIV. A FRUND IN NEED. CI Lieutenant Oakman was too skilled 1 horseman to remain long in ignorance if the woeful mistake he had made. He tad taken the worst horse of the whole ot, ana one or tne mevitaDie certainties if the immediate future was that he yould be beaten in his flight for freelom. Glancing over his shoulder at the tarty dashing down the highway after lim and noting that they were surely raining, the fugitive perforce did some lard thinking. "This can't go on much longer. I lon't think they will need a court mar- J ial next time to decide what to do J vith me." > The pursuers were close enough to ' umble Oakman from the saddle, but le knew they would not do that, since < >y waiting awhile he must fall into i heir hands.' while there was danger hat in firing they might wound the lorse. Even though he was the least T raluable of the lot. the party were not rilling to lose him. tl Oakman glanced keenly to the right B ind left. *in the hope of discovering a omething that might be turned to ac- o: :ount in his flight. The open character ri if the country was discouraging, but ii le recalled indistinctly a small stretch n if woods through which he passed when h ifoot. which he thought might serve lis purpose. ^ It soon loomed to view in the moon- ? ight. and he again pricked the flank of " lis horse, who was unable to increase a: lis pace by a single hoof beat. E "It's do or die." was his thought, b ["hen a moment later he added with b he wonderful coolness that had mark- C d everything thus far done by him. P 'And I gness it's die " n The timber was not only less exten- h ive than he had supposed, but was so ipen that if ho should leap from the tl iack of his horse and dart among the d rees. even when favored by the gloom, lj le would be scarcely out of sight. More- ? iver. if hi? pursuers so desired they n ould readily surround the wood and it ake him at their leisure. f1 It was a shock to the officer as he P ped with arrowy swiftness through V he darkened lane without slackening it he speed of his animal and speedily de- s< >ouched again into the unobstructed ci uoonlight. The one thing upon which le had pinned his hope was gene and li lis immediate future could not have n ooked darker. Glancing to the rear again, a notice- iJ ,ble change struck him. The party had Irifted back a few rods, as if their ani- si nals were growing tired or they had greed upon some new strategical move, y fhat the latter was the fact was prob:ble because one of the pursuers was rell in advance of his companions and y learing steadily down on the fugitive, tl He had most likely asked and receiv- y d the privilege of running to earth the n ifficer who had played so clever a trick m them tl "If I were sure those other fellows pould show fair play." muttered the s< i u 1. t?1L.1 h, leutenant. "iHiioum wan toriuai geu- leman and have it ont with him. I h lon't know whether he suspects I have n he revolver of the man in the hall, but le is in a fair way to learn it pretty h oon." T So far as Oakman could judge there tl vas little to bo gained by postponing * he fight upon which the pursuer had et his heart, though it was good genralship to draw away the man from lis supportera A vague idea of securng the horse which showed superior h< leetness was in the mind of the lieu- b enant. when, looking back and observ- tl ng that his enemy was about midway E >etween him and his party, he for the a: irst time since starting on this desper- tl ite flight drew rein and so slackened T lis pace that the other overhauled him n 'hand over hand." "No use, Yank I You may as well 8( rive in! You're devilish sly. but it p: von't help you out of this muss." o1 "Are you willing to fight me?" call- P; :d back Oakman. retarding the pace of ti lis animal still more. 8; "Nothing would suit me better if w rou had a pistol instead of that tooth- & )ick at your side, but"? "I have a pistol." was the startling tl nformationof the lientenant, who now n vheeled his horse about and fully con- * ronted his enemy. tl The latter was plucky, and. though a lightly disconcerted by the unexpected c< iction of his antagonist, he whipped cl ?ut his revolver and fired point blank E< it him. Oakman felt a slight twinge in n lis shoulder, instead of through the train, as would bave been tbo fact but or the restlessness of both animals Before his foe conld fire a second ime the lieutenant let fly. The ojther eeled and slipped ont of his saddle to be ground, dead when he struck the arth. Whatever parpose Oakman had of eizing the horse of his enemy was poiled by the brute, which wheeled and ashed back at headlong speed toward he company at the rear, whinnying his terror as he dragged the form of is late master for a few rods, when is boot, disentangling itself from the birrup, left him lying in the middle of tie highway. It was flight again, with all the hances against him. bat. since there ras nothing else for him, Lieatenant lakman jerked his animal's head round, and. with the merciless gougag of his spur into his bleeding flank, rove him to his utmost. No use now of looking to the rear, le knew the whole party, after a mo-, lent's pause, would be after him. hotjr than ever. Something desperate must be done, nd the fugitive was on the alert for ae first opening, no matter how slight, yhile there's life there's hope, and he rae casting about for the last chance, rhen on a slight rise of ground in adance the form of a man on foot and areheaded loomed to view in the loonlight And then it was that Oaklan discovered he was close to the ouse of General Eldridge and recogized the man as Captain Wager 'renholm, his "exchange." That officer was running, when as he ime up the swell of ground he saw 7ie other reeled and slipped out of his saddle, dead. ae Union fugitive almost npon him. [e held ais revolver in his right band, nd if ever there was a Confederate (ficer in the very excess of sublime ige. it was the captain, who. discoverlg the plight of the lieutenant, had ashed out of the house and into the ighway to his defense. The officer had snspected something ras amiss, and. issuing from the dwell]g just as Miss Eldridge was retnrnig, he demanded to know what was LOOT, one torn aim. wiiauut reserve, mowing of the presence of some memers of Wilkins' cavalry in the neighorhood. the chivalric nature of the onfederate was aroused, and he comrehended for the first time the immient peril of Oakman which had caused im to resort to secret flight. The return of Pete with word that le fugitive refused to use Miss Elridge's horse appealed still more strongr to the chivalry of the captain, who iw. without understanding the true, nderlying motive of the refusal, that : was because of his objection that the lgitive had thus been deprived of the robable means of securing his safety. 7hilo still debating what he could do ' indeed he could do anything, the >und of the pistol firing brought the aptain into the road. "Out of that saddle quicker than ghtning!' he commanded, as Oaklan came face to face with him. The Union officer was on fbe ground i a twinkling at the side of his friend. "You area brave man, captain! I'll ;and by you to the death!" "No. you won't! Into the house witl oul" "And desert you? Never!" "You infernal fool! I don't want our help! I'm in no danger. It is you aey're after, and, if you stay here, ou'll be a dead man inside of three linutes!" "But what of you. captain?" asked ae bewildered fugitive. This time the captain swore, and. ;izing his companion by the shoulder, e swung him about and precipitated im so violently forward that he came ear falling. "Off with you! Into the house! I'll old these people back till you're eaf& hen I'll join you. and we'll stand iem off together I What in thunder re you waiting for?" CHAPTER XV. A 8ECOND FRIEND IN NEED. Lieutenant Oaknian had let his tiled orse go free. and. leaping the fence, e ran swiftly toward the grove of trees lat inclosed the mansion of General ldridge. At the moment of darting mong the shadows he glanced toward le highway, where he saw Captain reuholm surrounded by the enraged liders. The fugitive felt some qualmo at de:rting the man who had given such roof of his chivalry, but the captain's tvn words left no doubt that the aparent desertion would in reality con ibute to the safety of his gallant foe ad friend. But for that, Oakman ould have stood at his side to the last rt.roTnit.v There are crises in men's lives when je brain works with marvelous swiftess. It was while Lieutenant Oakman as running with his utmost speed for ae shelter of the house that it flashed pon him there was a way by which he juld not only increase his own prospect P escape, but at the same time save that nod family an infinite amount of anoyance He would not enter the dwelling at i all. hut pass into the woods at the rear. The opportunity to do so was his r while Captain Trenholm was holding a bis vigorous debate with the raiders in I the highway. If the captain could not C keep off the angered guerrillas, the latter in their desperation were likely to I force an entrance into the dwelling, in t order to take vengeance on the man i that had shot their leader. They would iffer no violence to the captain himself f fvhile the debate was under way. since a all were fighting under the same flag, and the officer was therefore strictly truthful when he declared himself to 1 be in no danger. But. with Oakman in sight, neither the rage nor the threats J nor the resistance of the captain would 1 CC~ frnnn. t UtJ BUUiUCUli bU pCTClAU uuo uv*vo v*w|/ era from abooting the Union officer. "He may hold them in check for a J brief time." thought Oakman. "but 1 they will not allow me to escape There ? will be more fighting if I stay and ? some of these people will be hurt. The 1 right course is for me to take to the 5 woods"? He was passing the farther end of c the mansion, with the intention of reaching the forest, from which he had taken his first survey of the place, when some one called to him in a guarded undertone: "Cue moment, lieutenant I" He stopped short and looked around. A "Good heavens. Miss Eldridge! What brings you here at this time?" 8 She paused a couple of paces away, where she could be seen only indistinctly in the gloom. That her voice was " tremulous and that she betrayed much 0 excitement was no reflection on her c bravery. Ignoring his question, she said re- ? provingly: . 11 "The captain told you to come into ? the house." "He did, and he is a brave, honorable soldier!" replied Oakman, eager to render this tribute to the gallant officer. "But I shall be safer in not obeying ? mm. "Do you not believe we can hold jj them at bay?" . There was something thrilling in her . reference to the defenders as "we." "If bravery alone were sufficient, I 5 should be safe in the hands of you and the captain. Bnt this house was never ? intended for a fort, and, if they persevere, they may burn it about our & heads." "They would not dare do that" "Ordinarily they would not, but I e shot their leader, and they are deter- ? mined to get at me. It will be easy to a reach the woods at the rear of ycur ? plantation, and I am sure they cannot S find me thera " G "Your plan is a good one. but there a is a better." ^ "What is that?" ? "Take my pcny. Jack, and ride away. I There isn't an animal in Georgia nor ^ in the whole south." she proudly add- C ed, "that can overtake you." "Where is he?" 0 "When Pete brought me word that b you refused to use him, I told him to * return him to his hiding place in the A woods. Hunt up Pete. You know where S to find him. Let him conduct you round 1< to the road, and then don't spare Jack." The seconds were of measureless val- C ue. In the stillness of the night the ii angry voices were plainly audible in 4-V*r? n?V*TTTQT7 Po^+oiTi ohAtro r all the others, and it must be admitted s that his profanity was impressive in its a way. Evidently the arguments and pro- I tests were at a crisis. n Despite all this. Lieutenant Oakman J could not help saying: p "I will accept your offer. I thank you from the bottom of my heart and d pledge myself that, if it be possible, Jack p shall be returned at the earliest hour.' t "I shall be grateful to receive him, p but I beg you to give the matter no g thought, and not to delay your depar- p ture another moment " t She was growing nervous over his t! dallying. e "Well, goodby. Miss Eldridge. I hope c we shall meet nnder happier circum- t stances, but if we are never to see each a other. God bless you I I shall never, v never, forget the noblest daughter of t the south." t He extended his hand, and she met it a In the excess of his feelings he was g pardonable if his pressure was fervent and was prolonged a few seconds longer g than was necessary: but. offering no e objection, neither did she respond. Her h dainty hand lay limp in bis warm palm, and she did not speak. He let it gently t fall and slipped away like a shadow g among the trees. tl Miss Eldridge stood for a full minute, b listening after the sound of his guarded tl footsteps had become inaudible. If she g( had any misgiving that he would re- d turn, it quickly vanished. Then she fi gave a faint sigh and walked in the op- M posite direction. c Tliot nrViif.Vi iittractod hpr TTQfl t.hn U sound of the angry voices in the highway. Captain Trenholm was never h noted for his angelic temper, and all the signs indicated that an explosion was impending' Her fear lest this should oc- S( cur hastened the steps of the young wo- a| man. v 'The first one that crosses that thresh- a old without invitation is a dead man!' j shouted the captain as he resolutely c placed himself in front of the horsemen. L) revolver in hand. "And, to be sure I don't make any mistake, I'll shoot him w on his attempt to pass through the K gate!" ti "No one questions your bravery, cap- ? tain, but your bluff won't work. We're bound to string up the Yank who ahot Captain Dick." "He shot him in fair fight, as he had ' a right to do, but"? ? At this juncture Miss Eldridge, who had passed down the short lane in front of her home leading to the highway, ^ was recognized as she ran forward. Her tt appearance hushed the turmoil for the " moment, though it was apparent that it could not placate the wrath of the raid- 11 ere. w As the horsemen saluted she said: Jjl "If you will excuse me for a minute, * I will say something privately to the e' captain." % l' They nodded, and the foremost grnffly emarked that it was all right Then, is the captain inclined his head. Miss Sldridge told him what Lieutenant )akman bad done. "Good!" exclaimed the officer. "He tad more brains than both of us to hink of that Will he take your torse?" "He promised to do so. He has found 'ete before this, and they have gone fter the animal." "Will Pete let him have Jack?" "Yon forget what took place earlier his evening." Captain Trenholm could not conceal lis exultation. Perhaps it would have teen more prudent to wait longer, but he task wus too hard. "Boys. " he said, "if yon can find hat Union officer, yon're welcome to iim. I invited him to go into the house nd wait for me. but he was too smart or that. He's gone, and yon're a set of nfernal fools, every mother's son of on! And. if yon don't believe it I'll ight every sconndrel. one alter the itherl" TO BR CONCLUDED NEXT SATURDAY. ^Miscellaneous Scari ng. INTER-STATE OONPtRENl'E D. A. R. ld InteroHtlnjt Meeting Held In Kennedy Library Yesterday. partanburg rierald, Friday. The Inter-state Conference D. A. R., oder the aspices of the Cowpens l . 1 .. 11 . . 1 napier, conveneu at 11 a. iu. iu vueir lub room. The decoratioos were beautiful aud ppropriate. The national colors were a evidence everywhere, while palms nd cut fioweregave additional attracion to the scene. Regents and delegates were present rom Rebecca Motte Chapter: Mrs. F. 1. Jones, regent, Mecklenburg cbaper; Mrs. Stonewall Jackson, regent, Jatawba chapter; Mrs. Hugh Buist, egent, Elizabeth Steel chapter, Salisury ; Nathaniel Green chapter, Mrs. esse Smith, vice regent; King's fountain chapter, Miss Leslie Witherpoon, rjgent; Columbia chapter, Irs. Richardson, regent; Esther Marin chapter, of Aiken, and Andrew 'ickens, of Edgetield, were not repreented. Among the wellknown ladies present /ere Mesdames Waring, Scriven, Robrtson, Gibbs, Childs and Miss J. D. fart in, from Colombia; Mrs. Moore nd Miss Witherepoon, from Yorkville; fesdames Rodgere and Cleveland, imith and White and Miss Earle, treenviile; Mrs. Latta, Miss Mallory nd Miss Latta, Charlotte; Mrs. Childs, tsbeville; Mrs. Erekine, from Tryon ; Ire. Brock, Anderson; Mrs. Copeland, ^aurens; Mrs. Rice, Bamberg; Mrs. Vbite, Fort Mill ; Miss Wardlaw, laffney ; Mrs. Walton, Gastonia. The meeting was opened by Mrs. leorge W. Nichols, of Cowpens chaper, who welcomed the visitors in /arm and fitting terms and introduced Ire. M. S. Waring, state regent of k)uth Carolina. She made an excel ?nt address, both fit and appropriate. Mrs. Latta, state regent of North Carolina, responded in a happy, charmag and interesting address. Very interesting reports were then ead from the different chapters repreented, which were followed by two ble papers; one from Mrs. Buist, of lock Hill, on "How to increase our aembership," and the other from Miss . D. Martin, of Columbia, on "The urpose of the organization, D. A. R." Topics of general interest were then iscussed, after which a souvenir was resented to the delegates present in he form of the "Year Book" of Cowens chapter which is a dainty little ^ em aud quite worthy of tbis^nterirising chapter. Mrs. Robertson, of he Columbia chapter, also presented be delegates present with the March dition of "The New South," which ontains a sketch of three "real daughers" which that chapter numbers mom? its members. An invitation 0 /as then read from the Cowpens cbaper, inviting ail D. A. R's. in the city n be present at a reception to be given t the residence of Mrs. W. S. Montomery. A standing vote of thanks was then iven Cowpens chapter for the most ntbusiastic D. A. R. confereure ever eld in the state. At 6 p. m., the hour appointed for be reception, Mrs. Mrs. W. S. Montomery's handsome parlors were bronged with perhaps the most notale gathering of representative women bat has ever graced the Piedmont ection of our historic state. The ecorations were elegant and the re eshmeuts most dainty. The visitors /ere profuse in their praise of the harming hostess, of the city of the partans?its fine institutions, its beauiful homes and above all, its generous ospitality of Cowpens Chapter D. A. R. Summer Care of Horses.?As the eason grows warmer, the horses bould be fed sparingly on corn. Oats, /ell crushed, make the best grain feed, s corn contains too much oil, and prouces fat and animal beat, with musle. If oats are moistened previous j feeding the demand for water after :eding will be lessened aud too much ater at that time often carries the rain from the stomach into the intesnes, where it cannot be digested, 'oru often causes sweating when given l large quantities. p&T The British Medical Journal, in recent issue, sounds an alarm conerning the rapid spread of the cocaine abit in England, where it threatens to ecome the third scourge of humanity, Icobol and morphiue being the first nd second. All ranks of society are eclared to be crowded with its viems?both men and women?many of bom are literary people, who take [>caine to stimulate their imagination, 'he Journal advises that most string* at measures be adopted to eradicate lis blighting vice.