Show aj 2507 w y CHAPTER VI continued it dawned upon john s mind that his escape must have been discovered and the overseer sent out by squire granger to arouse any neighboring dcamp carlp that searching parties might kocour the neighborhood perhaps the man shrewdly suspect ed that john would return to the scene of his capture divining that he had some object in visiting the deserted mansion of old fletcher ridgeway men were soon scouring the gardens and passing among the trees they entered into the spirit of the game ft ith great zest joking and laughing aa as they thrust bayonet or sword into each and every ever clump of bushes tn in a reckless manner not at all conducive to the peace ot of mind ot of the man for whom they were searching it was vas too late for john to retreat since his movements must be seen he realized reali sed the desperation of his position and the probable fate that awaited him upon discovery there was a slender chance that he might reach the house A fringe of trees offered slight encouragement in this line and he immediately endear ored to make the most of the in order to further the deception john secured a threefoot three foot splinter of wood and with this he made sundry savage thrusts into bushes and showed considerable enthusiasm in the hunt for the hiding yankee all seemed t to be going well and he had almost reached the house when an six accident bocc erred that was not down dovin on the bills and upset his ls plans not seeing a trooper crawling under some bushes john made a jab with I 1 his pointed stick there followed a shout of rage and a human cyclone descended upon him with mith arms flying i like flais flata and a bellowing voice de mar eata satisfaction J t as disgusted seeing dincov ery in r is incident he might still have fled but that was not according 1 0 14 if aa 7 ak ayo arzi 2 va ra S 4 to his disposition so he met his ad rj face to face and a furious hand to hand struggle ensued attracted by the row others came hurrying up and it vas nas speedily dis covered that the trooper troopers s adversary the man who fought with the skill shill of a professional boxer was an utter stranger a surround them both by my life weve we ve cornered the fox shouted the major and john caught more than ordinary satisfaction in his strident tones thus he be soon found himself again a prisoner and roughly handled to the fire with him I 1 am curt ous to see this lackee spy who has T in one night run across my path and blackened my chances chance tor for future hap said the major and john could only dimly guess what hat it all meant though his mind at once revert ed to mollie do you ou identify him demanded the officer as the overseer bent forward and into the face of the prisoner positively it s the same critter major bad tor for him im afraid mollie will be wife and widow in one night here comes crockett well we 11 have his opinion in the matter and then organize a drum head court these unpleasant features of war are best done as quickly as possible john caught the name and no longer wondered at the lights in the house crochett crockett ridgeway was a cousin of his hi they had not met since boys to gether but there had never been much love lost between them he shut his teeth hard and waited for what hat new developments the case would show A short consultation en sued among the confederate officers john with his hands bound and a guard on either side appeared to tal e little interest in the proceed until he was again brought forward to the fire and foun 1 several pairs of keen heen eyes upon him lour name Is john was vs ae asked ked that Is true A federal colonel doing duts duty as a sp I 1 am an officer in the union army but den deni the last part of your tion then why are ou here concealment was useless since he felt that his cousin had already guess ed his identity I 1 desired to see my old home and believed this place to be neutral ground be he replied boldly the major laughed harshly dively john thought and he could un der stand why since it had developed that this man was as a suitor for the hand of mollie granger the georgia girl who only a few hours before had been made his wife through the decree of her father you are john emmett ridgeway a cousin of capt crockett here pur sued the confederate it would be useless to deny it my presence here at my old home sets the seal of truth upon my assertion I 1 am no spy that remains tor for us to decide I 1 am given power for s ich an air emerged cy as this you will have a chance tor for your life my dear colonel but I 1 would not want mant to discount your prospects for living it was a singular adaven ture this night nights s v w ork of yours but if basil worden has any power in the game our pretty mollie need not wor ry long 01 er the incumbrance forced upon her by the fortunes of war at once the drum head court con all was conducted with the ut most decorum governing such ghastly tribunals and yet et it seemed a hollow mockery mod ery the end did not surprise john he was sentenced to be hanged at the break of dav CHAPTER VII the B rd flown four hours to live it was not a very long time but a man with an ac mind may cons der his whole life in less than apat that john was nas placed under guard and just as he expected soon faced his cousin the other was a man whose face could hardly be talen as an index to his character for it was that of a human sphinx my dear fellow believe me I 1 am sorry to find you in such a trap re marl ed crockett but you voted with the rest said john quickly it would have made no difference the majority was against you QU and looking around cautiously I 1 had an object in making them believe we were old time foes his words and manner might have deceived some men and aroused hopes that would never be but colonel john remembered this cousin of old remembered that he never act ed without some deep motive bach back of it hence he maintained his cool manner then you really take an interest in my welfare 9 it pleases me to know it crockett pvn vak are of the same blood I 1 should be sorry to have a ridgeway hung and here on the old grounds of all places in the world that is encouraging can you do anything to prevent the lit ie le ceremony it Is in my power to effect your es cape ah that Is generous I 1 have wronged you ou in my mind my dear fel low wait alt I 1 confess there is a motive in this I 1 know what brought you here to night the deuce you do returned the other with a start as the truth flash ed upon him and he remembered that lights had recently been moving from room to room in the house believing that this house might be burned when atlanta falls into sher man s hands as it will to morrow you have come here to secure certain pa pers that were secreted somewhere in the old building jears ears ago john made no answer anser your silence tells me I 1 am on the right track now listen to my tion tell me where I 1 can find that pad et which is as valuable to me as to you and I 1 swear on my honor as a gentleman and a confederate officer to manage your escape before morn ina u ghe me time to think it over just five minutes no more I 1 shall not approach you again on the subject it if you refuse you I 1 now the penalty at any rate I 1 believe I 1 can yet find what I 1 want without your assistance he stood holding his watch in his hand already john had decided that it was folly to think of putting any con floence in this man whom he knew 0 old besides another thing helped him to decide As his eyes ranged over the busies he lie caught a fleeting gl apse 0 a head that was momentarily raised and then as speedily dropped out of sight not before he had recognized the homely features of sergeant shanks the time is up cousin said crock ett I 1 have nothing to say remarked john calmly the other looked at him closely you are a fool john ridgeway well have your own way and stretch hemp with which he turned upon his heel and walked off time passed on once more the lights were flashing about the windows of the old mansion for crockett inspired with new zeal after his interview with his cousin had again entered upon a search tor for the missing packet more afore than once john glanced that way a little uneasy lest the other might by a turn of fortune disc discover r the loose stone in the hearth thus he waited having confidence in the ability of the sergeant to ac com something tor for the other was an air old campaigner the night was nearing its end and present in the east would come the blush ot of early morn already the mocking bird s twitter could he be heard among the trees heralding the coming of the day when major worden word en arose and called to one of his men fetch the rope bob this is an un pleasant duty but soldiers must gel get accustomed to such things one the less yankee to enter atlanta counts for or something anyhow seri senes es him right tor for coming here now to rid my self of 0 a rival and mollie of a bus band bob evidently knew where to find the rope tor for he soon appeared with it in his hands A limb belonging to a monster live oak oal close to the fire ot of fared a fine opportunity and the same bob proceeded to cast the rope av over er it which feat was accomplished after a few ineffectual tosses let me make the loop said the in major ajor eager to have a hand in the execution tor for somehow he had taken a sudden hatred for this federal sol dier whom desany had thrown across his path jealousy is a deton demon that reel ons lit tie of consequences when the flame has been once aroused and this was the true cause of worden s hatred bring the prisoner came the nex next t order several men started forward to obey then came a sudden hout maor major worden guessing that tha something as wrong sprang in the diree alon n from whence the cry came he saw his men gathered around a bound and gagged figure but P to his amazement and chagrin instead of lecog mizing the man doomed to die at dawn he found himself looking upon the guard who had been left to watch 11 the other colonel john was gone the guard being released was dimmei i overwhelmed with questions but could tell little about it all he had received a sudden severe blow on the head caught a glimpse of a gaunt face bending over him and felt rough hands laid on his person when ness relieved him of his senses contusion confusion ensued but the search was as fruitless having had plenty of time in which to make their escabel escape the fugitives were now far away peri perl haps within the union lines major worden could only gnash lit fisl teeth with rage and renew his oath to make the charming mollie a widow should the opportunity ever come com within his reach again to be continued |