Pittston Gazette

              c """""i"'."'! Oldest Newsuauer in the Wyoming Valley. PITTSTON, LUZERNE CO., PA., FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 1890. A Weekly Local and Familv lournal ZZ." (.From the Scran ton Troth.] The Dead Minstrel. (Suggested by the death of John Boj le O'Re.lly ) He it Dot dead whose song surv.veg. E'en though we strew his grave with flow'rs; His voice outlasts a million Uvea Whose precious memory is ount: The falling tear, the breaking heart That tell of him who passed away, ▲re tributes to the poet'-* art, And speak of his immortal sway. "Tati't; - esob; proviaeati&i coincidence," said Captain , Jones, of the Eighth Texas. "I wear that size myself.'!in torrents, ro unusuai expenenoe wun me, but as I had no overcoat and was depressed by what I felt to be the humiliation of my situation, I suffered from the cold and disoomfort as never before. which liko its wearer, had never scon servico in tho field. Qo was of medium height, slender, smooth-faced and with light gray eyes, and a certain something in his manner that denoted a culturo, even refinement. left him by a chaplain who had been recently exchanged, and, with the former under us and tho latter over us. letter to General Carter, and as fh« enemy was not believed to bo within fifty miles of tho place, ho told me to take an ambulance, find my cousin, and have him sent to our hospital at the Gap, where he would be sure to get good care. I started off, under the guidance of old McKee, and, in reaching the valley 1 found myself in Frank Iirent's hands. My cousin had been dead for a month, but Brent forged tho letter so as to trap me. But the end i3 not yet." And Howard Scott's eyes flashed and ho began biting his mustache. ished. There were a lot of loose bricks besido the figure, and a black hole back of tho hearth told thB place they had been taken from. EPISODF. OF THE HAT. Broke the Bell. In the days of the chestnut bell a lot of us were waiting at Trenton for the Long Branch train, and one of the men began telling about his experience on a wrecked vessel in mid Atlantic. Near by, on a passenger's trunk, sat a pale faced, weary eyed young man of twenty summers, who was going down to the Branch with his ma. He wore a chestnut bell, and this was perhaps the first tim» he had had a chance to ring it. Th« gentleman was proceeding with his storj when ting-a-ling! went the bell. He stopped and looked ground, and then continued, but after half a minuto thC young man belled him up again. ThC man looked annoyed but went on, and during the quarter of an hour he wai talking that bell rang about fifteen timw When he had finished he looked over to the weary young man and asked: "Indeed?" H'w » Pretty Woman Won a tot* of Thank* in a Philadelphia Theatre. "Yes, indeedy; and ye'd better git up aforo Wharton comes along, for he's nigh barefoot, and that's his size, too. Now, old feller, I'm not gwin' to rob yqu of your boots, but I'm 'bliged to have 'em, and I'll pay you thar full price. Let mo bootjack you." "Is that you, Johnston?" whispered tho man. A stately and handsome example ol tho well bred young lady attended a theatrical first night and occupied, with her escort, seats in the third row of the orchestra. She was so fair to look upon that a large share of the audience watched her as she went down the aisle and settled gracefully in a chair. It was then observed with much interest that she raised her arms and detached from her head the fashionable hat that became her so well. Her hair was bright golden, and under the radiant lights it fairly flashed in its beauty. It was an hour after dark before we went into camp and another hour before fires were lit. The old sergeant who acted as my guard was an Irishman, and had beea in the regular army in Texas when the war broke out. I had talked with Fhelin during the day and was not a little surprised to find him an out and out Confederate, with unbounded faith in the outoome of the cause with which he was associated and the profoundest oontempt for the Yankee.Turner must have had the record ot every Union officer present, yothe wont over all again, and while ho asked the now very familiar questions as to State, regiment and rank, Ross and Sergeant Turner—"Black George" tho men in prison called him, went through all our pockets and very few bundles. The thoroughness with which this work had boon accomplished was shown by the fact that on the whole twenty prisoners present not one contraband article was "YfDs," I replied. "Is all right?" "All right. Scott's just gono down, Bo careful," said tho guard. I slipped into the hole feet first, and with the aid of a ropo dropped into the cellar under tbo hospital. Our tongues are dumb: our tear? alone Must plead our bitter grief for him Who was. in truth, the People's own. For whom the peoples' eyes are dim: Bia magic swaj ed the min.is of men And righted many a cruel wrong. His heart went throbbing through his pen, Hii stir t through his deathless scng. Before I could ask for an explanation Captain Jones backed up, seized my feet alternately between his thighs and jerked off my boots, and with equal rapidity ho threw off his own worn footcrear and assumed mine. It was intensely dark, but as eoon as I reached the bottom I felt a hand on I felt too much humiliated to tell my friend of the part I believed this same old McKee played in my capture; but I did explain my own situation, and asserted my belief that if Frank Brent were hanged I should bo treated in the same way by tho Confederate authorities. , my shoulder, and a mouth at my ear asked: •• rou kinder think I'm goin' through you bad," said Jones, looking down at his feet with an expression of groat satisfaction."Who is this?" But Phelin, like many of his oorayatrlots "to the manor born," had a warm heart under a rough exterior. Goon after the fires were started he brought me some corn bread and bacon and then found me a place of shelter from the rain In one of the wagons, in which he proposed to spend tho night himself. found. "Captain Watts." For that dear land beyond the sea He rimied hla life, he dared a grave; No ancient knight of chivalry, With soul aflame, more dared or gave And this dear land, whose shelt'rlng shore Welcomed the minstrel and the mtr. Lives in his song; he proudly wore The proudest name, Ambbican. God rest his soul I Brave, loving heart. The w Drli la lonesome since he left; His smile was more than all his art To those who are so sore bereft: His manlv breast with love was filled For all GoJ's children, far and wide, Yet his great pathos never thrilled The heart! of men as when he died ! J. E B. As tho men wore examined they passed up a rough wooden stairway to the second story, from which camo an uproar which I could not comprehend till I had taken tho samo way. "Watts!" This in surprise. Then Howard Scott whispered: "As you've discovered tho socrct for yourself, I am not to blame. But you must explain tho matter to Colonel Ross; and now that you are here, you must go to work." The old gentleman sitting behind her settled back comfortably in his chair and congratulated himself that he had been placed behind such a thoughtful creature, for now he could not only see the stage but a splendid head of hair as well. "You ara playing the part of robber without any risk," I said. "They'vo condemned Sawyer and Flynn to death, but the two men are here in Libby. Let them begin the retaliation, Captain Watts, and they'll soon learn that that is a game two can play at." "See har, Captain Watts, I ain't no damn thief. 1 need these and other things, so I took 'em. If I didn't every Infernal home-guard from here to Richmond would go through you. Tell me the price of your boots, pants and overcoat, as well as any greenbacks you've got about you, and I'll make a clean swap for Confed. greenbacks." SCKITB AFTER SINK P. M. AT LIBBT "What is that bell for?" I can not think it was design, but certain it is I was the last man examined. After I had boon searched and PRISON. I readily agreed to this; and after a few words, in which ho told of the tunnel they wero building out of Libby, he led me across tho floor, the stones of which appeared to be covered with a Substance liko loose fodder. After leaving me standing against tho wall for lomo minutes Howard came back and said: "Chestnuts," was the reply. "How do you mean?" we lay down against the brick wall that separated is from the Upper Potomao room. "Why, you know, when you hear anything old you—ting-a-ling on the bell." "Oh, you do. I guess Til try it once." Be got,up, shook the young man out ol Jjis coat and collar at the first shake, and then whirled him around, ended him up, and gave him a toss over a heap of baggage. The bell boy got up covered with dust and a wreck, the bell broken by th« shock and his collar hanging by one end, and as he disappeared into the ladies' room we heard his mother exclaim: "If we only had a little money fcween us," explained Phelin, as he threw himself on a pilo of corn sacks beside mo. "I know where I could get something that'd keep out tho cold better nor a overcoat." "But what good will that do me after I am hanged?" I asked. Presently two or three young women in the immediate vicinity quietly removed their hats, having noted the admiration that the originator of tjjie scheme had excited. The prisoners at the other side of the wall—all of whom were fine fellows, as I subsequently learned—were I think the noisiest crowd I ever encountered. As soon as the last tallow dip was out, one Upper Potomao man began barking like a doff. and this aroused scores of roosters and ducks, geese and turkeys innumerable. Then a child began crying, and a hundred men shouted heroio prescriptions for allaying its colic. "I'll fix it!"! screamed the imaginary mother. This was followed by the vigorous dashing of something against the wall and a roar of savage laughter. Howard both arms around mj neck and wSispered: 1 subsequently learned that Jones was the champion poker-player of Wheeler's Cavalry Corps, and this accounted for the large amount of money he bad stuck in his pockets, and even in the lining ot his clothes. "Don't lose heart, old fellow; if thej don't hang you mighty soon I'll show you the road out of Libby and lead you on the trail to freedom!" "What is it?" I asked. "The boys are a Tilt surprised, but they'll bo glad to have you join in. Now, ask no questions, but do as you aro told." "Whisky," ho whispered. "One of the teamsters has a two gallon jug that he shtole last night from a gin'ral officer, an' ho'll sell a quart chape." Prom this the movement spread until hatless feminine heads were discoverable all over the theatre, even to the rear rows of the circle. Between the acts a paper began to circulate about among the people occupying the orchestra.Bcranton, Pa, Aug. it, 1OT0, II CLOSE GULL Tho more I tried to get the Lieutenant to explain tho more mysterious h« became, till at length, to avoid my importunities, he called a stranger, introduced mo and turned away. He pulled out great wads of bills and said: "How cheap?" He led me up along the wall to where I felt soft earth under my feot and heard a number of men whispering —every communication was whispered. "It's worth its weight in solid goold a night like this, but he's only axin' twinty dollars the bottle," replied Phelin. "Why, darling, didn't I warn you t« look out for the locomotive?" "Pay yoursdif, ole feller,- and don't b« too d—d bash.'ul, but then you're a Yank and thar vln't no uso givirg yon any advioo. It's too bad that mar' got plunked; she was a beauty." Ho compressed his lips and nodded at my dead thoroughbred. LIBBT PRISON. And the man who had told the storj added: answered the usual questions, Major Turner read over two shoots of letter paper—they had evidontly accompaniod the report of the officcr who had turned over the prisoners, and referred to me, for still holding them in his slender, white hands, he asked: This stranger was Colonel di Cesnola, of the Fourth New York Cavalry, a handsome, dark-faced man, who was distinguished from every other offloer in prison by tho fact that he wore a warm, bluo cavalry tunic trimmed with fur. Tho Colonol woa explaining to me that this most dosirablo garment had been received under flag of truce, when suddenly it seemed that every man in prison began shouting my namo. "I am going in," said Howard, "and as you are groen to the business, you must stand hore and fan." Each gentleman as he received it read something that had been written on it and then smilingly signed his name, after which he passed it to his immediate neighbor. A STOBY OF LOVE AND WAB 1 drew a one hundred dollar bill from the wad obtained from Captain Jones and told the sergeant to buy the whisky and keep the balance, an arrangement that gave him an Immediate respect for at least one Yankee. "Best to take such cases at the start and administer strong medicine. H« might have rung that bell on somebody who'd have got mad and damaged him beyond repair."—New York Sun. "Where's Botty, of Berks?" "Look behind the big gun and find Teed, of Read* ing!" "Who stole Ruive's stays?" "I, move that General. Neal Dow give us a lomperanco talk to-morrow. All in !avor say 'Aye!'" A thundoring "Aye!" (oliowed this. "All opposed say 'No.'" "The house is divided!" "Call the roll!" 'Captain Moss, this joking is monotonous. Give us a song with a chorus!" I felt an irrogalar opening cut into and through the atone foundation. Thla was tho entrance to the tunnel. A man standing at the opposite aide gf tht opening passed over to me the two corners of what felt like a blanket, and whispered: "Steady; keep it up slow and steady." BT ALFRED a CALHOUN. Without counting the money, 1 took a bunch of the gray and fclue backs Jones handed me, and said contemptuously;In a few moments the paper came back to the old gentleman that had started it. Bending forward he politely addressed the golden haired girl, handing to her at the same time the paper. She read it, and as she did so a deep blush and a smile crept over her face. The paper was a vote of thanks signed by thirty or more of the mala spectators. Its text was as follows: Although a Itentuckian, I cared nothing for whisky, had never wet my lips with it before the war, nor tasted it a dozen times sinoe, but I swear it did me good that night, and it might have had the same effect on Phelin had he not felt that it was his duty to drink while there was a drop left, and then to go off howling like amaniao through the camp till the provost marshal bucked and gagged him and left him to cool off in the rain. (OOSTUrCKD ) "Ain't you a Kentuckian?" "I am," I replied. Dodging tlio Order. chapter vjn. "You know ono Captain Frank Brent of the Partisan Bangers?" "I do." Little Hattie, 4-years old, had, for somt misdemeanor, been told by her mothei not to go out of the yard. Having become wearied of her own companionship and seeing two playmates enjoying themselves in a yard across the street, she called: MoEoe proved to bo a man of unusual intelligence. Acting under his advioe and guidance, I succeeded in surrounding and surprising the Partisan Rangers. We swept into their camp without encountering any pickets, and the men, many of them old friends and acquaintances, surrendered without firing a •hot. "I may find this stuff useful, Captain, but it isnt very pretty." "Wa'al," shouted Jones, as he stuck the remainder of the wad into his breast pocket. "I'll allow the money ain't purty, -bUgP tho man that despises it is • fool. Let me give you a bit of advice, my son, for you're goip' to be with us some time. Paper is mighty valuable in the Confederacy, and when ever you come acrost a picoo that's got tho pectur of a locomotive or a woman onto ■ thnn'a two of the d—st fastest tbtn£H ia .-.-cation, freeze onto it—that's m icy." "Captain Watt3! Captain Wattsl Captain Harry Watts!" I did not need to be told what I was to do nor why it was to be done. The duty of myself and of tho man who held tho other side of the blanket was to move our arms so as to force air into the tunnel, for on this depended the life of tho brave fellow working like a mole within. "And you know that he is now a prisoner in the hands of your people?" "I know all that." A minute of silence, then a voice, quiet by contrast, replies: "My doctor has forbidden me to sing on an empty itomaoh." "It is evident you are wanted by the prison authorities," oxplained Colonol di Cesnola. "And that he is condemned to death?*' "Yes." "Charlie, come over here." "Oh, I can't," replied the ungallant Charlie. But despite the medical injunction, Captain "Ed" Moss starts up a song, and its chorus about "ham fat sizzling in the pan" makes my mouth water. Tho last note is dying out, when a deep baritone voice strikes up Julia Ward Howe'a Battle Hymn of the Eepublio. Even the guards stop their paoing to listen. It rings through all the rooms of tho wretched prison till the chorus is reached. Then from fourteen hundred recumbent men the "Glory, glory, Hallelujah" goes up with a mighty, and not unmusical volume, and I feel a glow of heat and forget the cold wind whistling through the iron bars near by. Acting on his direction, I made my way to tho head of tho stairs leading down to tho pri6on oGlce. Here I found Little Ross, and on making myself known, ho said: "We, the undersigned, desire to express our respectful admiration for a most beautiful and considerate young lady, name not known, who by removing her hat from her bright golden head has set the fashion for others, thereby rendering it possible for a delighted audience to witness the details of a stage performance." "You should know the latter, for you are responsible for it. I have a full account of your connection with that case here. To-morrow I shall call the attention of General Winder and the Government to it. You may as well know now, sir, that if a hair of Captain Brent's head is injured, you'll dio like a dog. That's all. Ross, send this man up." Among the prisoners was a sergeant named Burns, from Lexington; indeed, he was in command, and him I questioned at once as to the whereabouts of Frank Brent at the time John Harding was murdered. Burns corroborated the condemned man's story, and this before I told him of my reasons for making the inquiry. I never saw the sergeant again. I was sleeping soundly about an hour before day when a hoarse voice shouted into the wagon: The man in the tunnel drew in after him a square wooden box, such as had been used in the prison for a spittoon. At opposite sides this box had cords fastened to it, which served to drag it In and out, and also as a means of signalling, by the man working within, when it was full. A period of thought, and again she called: "Lu, play I'm Charlie's grandmother." "All right," answered Lu. "Who wants rao?" I asked, and I felt a chiU that was not produced by tho cold wind. "Captain, they want you down-stairs." "Torn out tharl the priz'ners is goin' to be sent aheadP Silence for a moment, then: I subsequently found the Captain was right in all his representations. "Lu, tell Charlie his grandmothei wants him to come over and see her."— Lewiston Journal. Feeling stiff and sore from the cold and the fall of the day before, I crept out and was led over to a fire about •which wero standing forty or fifty men In blue uniforms and one officer—Captain Dawson, who had been in command of a band of Union men recruited In the adjacent mountains of North Carolina. "All I know, sir, is that Adjutant Latcuche told me to find you," replied Ross, and ho trotted ahead, I keeping closo behind. The pretty girl cast a radiant «mil« over her shoulder at the old gentleman behind, and folding the paper tucked it into the front of her dress by the side of a bunch of pansies. And everybody was very happy.—Philadelphia Press. * ' ''■$ CHAPTER EL The closing sentonco of Turner's spooch was addressed to tho little man, who at once took me in tow and led me up the rough, white-washed stairs, whithor all the other prisoners had preceded mo, to tho accompaniment of everincreasing shouts, yells and stamping from above. The dirt taken from the tunnel was scattered over the floor, from which the loose fodder was first removed—it was always placed back when tho night's work was finished. A Spoiled Plate. I noticed that McKee did not advance with us on the Confederate camp, bat paid no heed to it at the time. While I was talking to Barns, J heard Daring this talk with Jonc.% his men had removed tho equipments from my horse, and some of them wero searching my saddle-bags, in which was the •videnco I had so far obtained in favor of Frank Brent. At the foot of tho stairs I found Adjutant Latouchc, a stout, middle-aged man, with an air of good living about him that was in striking contrast with tho faces of my friends upstairs. shouts followed by the rattle of carbine*, and, springing to my feet, I saw the rim iDf tho valley swarming with "Half past ten, post number one, and all's well!" I found the fanning very hard work, but was relieved every half hour, as was the man digging insido. The sensation of working Cn the dark with those intensely snent, earnest men l can never forget, while the time was regulated by the "all's well" of the guards, under whose feet a pathway to "liberty and God's land" was being cut. These men had been captured in the skirmishing of tho day before, and aa they wero withont blankets or overcoats they suffered Intensely from the oold. The revellers in the Upper Potomao room are hushed, and the singers are silent. "This way, Captain Watts, this way, •lr," oallcd out Latouohe, as soon as I catno in sight. Points for Amateur gray-coated horsemen. With my field-glass I quickly swept the surrounding hills, and I saw Mc- Kee with the oncoming troops. Feeling that I had been tricked and betrayed, I I was about to tell the Confederate Captain the condemned man's story, when a tall, slender man, with the stars of a Major-General on his gray collar, strode Into the group surrounding me. Tho reddish hair and beard, the high, thin and much-freckled nose, and above all, the keen, steely-gray eyes, told me that tho newcomer was no ordinary person. It might be well here to give .a few pointers to amateurs who have supplied themselves with detective cameras. Never carry your box as though you were conscious of its ulterior purpose, or as though you were looking around for the express purpose of ' 'snapping" some one. Strike an average focus, and in the ° quiet of some friendly hallway set the shutter, open the slide and take out the plate slide, and there you are. When you are abreast of the object you desire to take level the instrument on a line with your breast, touch the spring and lol once more, there you are 1 Then go along to another hallway and readjust the plate slide, reverse the plate holder, and once more you are ready to "scoop" another crowd. Do everything neatly and with the utmost dispatch possible, and you will never be troubled. This rule is too often violated by amateurs, and they are subjected to all sorts of petty annoyance by street urchins.—New York Evening Sun. . V\'-; ' ~ . V- CHAPTER XL A company of infantry, of the homeguard stripe, was detailed to take the prisoners on to Bristol, at whloh point, it was said, wo should find oars to transport the offioers to Libby and the enlisted men to Belle Isle. If asked to recall the scene in my past life, the soeno that will cling most vividly to my momory while consciousness lasts, I should say, without hesitation, It was the picture presented by my fellow prisoners oh my first introduction to the "Tower West Room" of Libby prison. This was the room into which the stairs from Turner's office led. I lay my hand on Howard's face and he moans like one in a feverish sleep. I wonder how men can sleep in such a place, and conclude that if forced to remain I must die of insomnia. I followed him into tho prison office, where I found Major Turnor, cold and severe l&oking, General Winder, old, bearded and bluff, and a handsome man determined to get out of it as best I eould. With the instinct that oomes of exptflenoe with such situations, my' men flung themselves Into their saddle* and waited for me to move. tn citizen's dress, who I learned was the private secretary of the Confederate President. I wanted tc take my turn'inside, bi*t Howard would not hear to it until he bad had a chance to "post" me as to the work. "YOU PRESS THE BCTTOIT  I listen, and along the ranks, packed ■o close together that it is a surprise bow one can turn without forcing the other to imitate him, I hear snoring in every key, deep bass snoring that seems to come ap from the depths, and shrill nasal trebles that appear to come down from the roof. I have ofton wanted to forget the hardships of that maroh and our painful Journey to Richmond, but it Is burned Into my memory. On the way I tried to oomfort myself with the hope that Wharton had forgotten his threat or that U would be lost sight of In the many transfers from guard to guard; but I was doomed to disappointmentdestined to be held as a hostage for the man whose life I had been so eager to save. % "General Wharton, this Is Captain Watt," said Jones, by way of introduction.The leader of the Texan Bangers bowed stiffly, and I acknowledged the salutation in the same way. He was about to question me when his keen eyes fell on the papers the man had taken from my saddle-bags, and in an instant they were in his hands. General Winder motioned mo to a scat in front ol the trio, then said: About one o'clock we were relieved by another gang, and with my friend, 1 crept back, as I had come, to the Upper Chickamauga. o It was a brigade and not a regiment that surrounded me, shouting: "Surrender! surrender! you damned Yankee sons of guns!" the Confederates swept down like an avalanche. I know that our escape depended on our horses rather than on tho weakness of any part of tho oncoming line, so I •purred to the front, shouted: "Charge!" and faced the depression, through which a creek flowed out of tho valley. Quicker than I can record the aot, the Confederates in our front reined In and flung themselves from tho saddle, and the next instant Wharton's Texas Bangers opened on us with carbine, Colt and shotgun, and ridorless horsos went •nortlng and plunging past me. Braver men never sat a saddle than these same Texans, but In a sooro of Aghts with them since Shiloh's bloody field, I had never known them to stand the saber, and my men handled the faber as 9 vaoquero handles a whip. ~ The fright of surprise was over. I oast a quick glanoe back at my gallant followers, and I felt my soul leaping to T»7 eyes as \ caught the gleam of up? Raised swords and saw the glorified battle Ught on their faoesf'Hurrah!" We struck them, and they from tho front, and scattered to the right and left A few seoonds of flashing swords and frashing small arms. A few seoonds of Unutterable joy—tho fierce, barbarous K never felt outside of » charge. A • wave crested with steel swept prat me. A sudden wonder why I wast el bone on by its force, and then, witl 1 human groan, my horse fell an! Im "We send a flag of truce down the river to-morrow, and with it goes a demand for tho release of Captain Frank Brent. Now, an old acquaintance of yours, who is on a visit to the President, assures mo that you will tell the truth about Brent's case, and I wish to bear it." It was a long, wide, dismal sectioa of the warehouse, with a low ceiling supported by heavy uprights. Fastened to these uprights were a few lean tallow oandles from which came enough light to reveal a mass of ragged, pale-faced mon who stood paoked upon tho floor like fish in a basket Hitherto I had been living In daily dread of a summons from the prison officials, to answer for the death of frank Brent, but now that I had some* thing to do and a prospect of esoaping, my feelings underwent a radical change and I became positively cheerful Through Howard Soott I met Colonel Boss and all my fellow-workers, some of whom were old friends. There were less than thirty In all engaged in this wonderful work, and the seorecy with which they succeeded in keeping their scheme from all the other prisoners was not the least amazing part of the undertaking.The wind, blowing straight through the rooms from the north, has turned the iron bars on tho windows into hoarse raolian harps. There is the never-ceasing tramping of guards outside, and every half hour the cry of "All's well," rings round the building. I could see from the expression of Wharton's face that he was becoming excited as he read. Suddenly he strode np and said, fiercely: 1 soon learned the cause of tho noise and uproar that had preceded mo. The instant I camo to view at tho head of the stairs tho ghastly-looking throng •urged toward mo with such a series of fierce yells as I novor beforo heard, though afterward I bocaroo a partaker in theso indescribable orgios. "Who is tho man who knows mo so well?" I asked. CHAPTER X. "General John 0. Breckenridge," replied General Windor. WE DO THE BEST." —Pack. We were placed aboard the oars one oold morning at Bristol, and shortly" after dark that night we were in Richmond. At Danville we were loined by several hundred prisoners, who had been gathered there, all as cold, hungry and "fighting • mad" at ourselves.On the way to Richmond the Union pffloers were not allowed to communloate with the men, and, on reaching there, the enlisted soldiers were piarched over to Belle Isle, and the rest fit us were sent to Llbby. I hear the challenges as the reliefs come on. Not a sound escapes me during that long night, and 1 rise with the first gray dawn, my own lungs feeling sore from sympathy with the painful coughing I had heard all about me, since the lights went out. "I see Captain Brent is a prisoner and condemned to death by your peoplel" Without any hesitation I told my connection with Frank Brent's case, from the time I reoeived bis sister's letter till the hour of my capture. Nor did I oonceal from thoso present the great secret of my interest. Wild Looking Guest—Have yon a room with a window overlooking the street? Latest Thine in Suicides. I tried to explain the unfortunate man's situation and my connection with it; but Wharton would not hear me out He ground bis heels Into the earth, and hissed: Hotel Clerk—No, bat we have a room without any carpet. Front I Show the gentleman to No. 13. Beg pardon, skat what time shall we send for the coroner?—Chicago Tribune. "Fresh fish! Fresh fish I Fresh fish!" was the salutation of tho ragged mob, and every man, not only of this section but all over the prison Bccmcd to be swelling tho inexplicable chorus of "Fresh fish!" I soon learned that this was the name applied to prisoners just in from tho front, and that every man had to undergo tho same form of initiation."I believe your story," said General Winder, when I had concluded; "but, under the circumstances, you are the ▼ery best man to be held as a hostage for Brent, and Commissioner Ould, with whom I talked about it this morning agrees with me. For tho present you can remain with the other prisoners, but the news of Captain Brent's execution will be followed by your immediate removal. That is all." A man who "hangs on" in the parlor, and then dawdles at the parlor door, and then holds a protracted meeting at the hat stand, and then caresses the front door knob for a season, and then holds the door open long enough to give his hostess a cold, and then stops on the doorsteps to talk things all over from the beginning is one of tha most horrid pests known to civilization. He would not be endured in barbarous or savage life, except with an arrow or spear stuck into his tardy back for the purpose of impelling him eentrifugally. Even in civilization in the Nineteenth century he should be hanged, drawn and quartered.—New York Ledger. The Man Who Is "Just Going." "By 0 , sir, hanging is a game two can play atl Burnsidehung two of our people up there In Kentucky, and two Yankee Captains are now awaiting death in Libby Prison. I'll take this thing in charge myself, and 111 see to It that your neck is stretched Jf they execute Captain Brent" Burning with Indignation at this treatment I tried to explain what I had done to save Frank Brent but with an insulting sneer, the Texan turned end left me. CHAPTER XII, I soon got to know the tunnel as well as if I had been its originator. Its course was due east under a roadway that ran down from Carey street to the canal and at right angles to the prison front. On the other side of this shorl street there was a high-board fence that shut out the space from beyond view of the guards. This space was a sort ot court yard for another warehouse to the east, and in this warehouse great quantities of boxes were stored; these boxes had been received under flag of truoC for the prisoners, but, about January 1, 1864, the delivery of them oeaaed and they were nightly looted by our guards. The prison was still so dim that a figure could not be distinguished fifty feet away, when a fllo of soldiers, with Black Gborge and Little Boss in the lead, entered, each shouting out at the top of his voioe: Where the Trouble Lay. "He is a very original boy, that son of yours. I think ho is bound to rise in the world." It waa after dark when we began the walk to the prison, with a compact body of guards surrounding us, under the command fit a lank, chilly-looking Lieutenant A freexing rain beat Into our faces from the northeast, and the rays from the swaying gas-lamps cut through the darkness like shears of flaming lances. "I don't know. It's a hard thing to get him to rise in the morning."—Harper's Bazar. "Whore's your baggage?" "I'm the porter; give mo your checks!" "Let me show you to your room—tho best in this hotel!" "Keep your hands out of that fresh-fish's pockot; tho Johnnies have loft him nothing!" "Ilavo a bath before suppor, sir?" "Hot whisky punoh and cigars for two!" "Bread or blood!" "Turn out to roll call!" Howard ins)stad on my putting on the overcoat, then he led me to the room beneath the Lower Chickamauga, along which the prisoners, looking more hag* gard for their sleep, were forming four deep. The men wore counted, and as decoption wis easy with this form of "roll call," Little Ross often had "ten Yankees more than there should be," or "a half-dozen Yankees short," but the counting was always kept up till the proper number was found. General Winder bowed, and Little Boss led mo back up the prison stairs. A High Record. Mr. Dumpsey (who catches Johnny amongst his mother's fresh tarts)—Look here, Johnny! What are you up to? CHAPTER XIIL "It's a bit tough, I'll allow," said Jones, "bat ur's war, and the man that expects to find any kid-glove etiquette or ball-room manners In the field la bound to be badly disappointed." I told Howard Scott of my interview arith General Winder, and by way of inducing me to beliovo that I had nothing to fear he introduced me to Captain Flynn, of Indiana, and Captain Sawyer, of New Jersey, two officers who had been condemned to death because of; two Confederates executed as spies by General Burnside in Kentucky. I said nothing to these gentlemen about my own case, but tho fact that they bore themselves with a quiet confidence that their own Government was able to protect them gave me much comfort. "Carey street and that's Castle Thunder," Bald one of the guards, in reply to a prisoner in my front With those crics ringing in my oars, to the accompaniment of shrieks of laughter that had in them nothing of merriment, I was pulled about, and I would havo fallen had not one of tho men seized my arm and whispered: Johnny (indistinctly)—Up to the ninth, pa, but they're awfully small!—Burlington Free Press. As the tunnel neared completion mj own anxiety became so great that rest during the day becamo impossible, foi an intense imputed was on me to be at work.all the time. . I found another Kentuckian who was possessed in the same way. This was Captain Johnston, who oould work harder and go longer without food or Bleep than any man I ever met. There was a canal visible to the right, and beyond that a few yards the black, swollen flood of the James. Castle Thunder, the place of confinement for political prisoners, spies and deserters, loomed up, a dull, brick warehouse to the left. There was a close line of guards about It, and, through the dimly-lit windows of the gloomy struoture, I ootid see dark, moving forms, and tho lamp shining full at the corner revealed in the seoond-story, southeastern window a number of haggard, gray faces. With this bit of philosophy, Captain Jones loft me, but not till another of* fleer, who told me he was "acting division provost marshal," appeared. The estimable wife of President Andrew Jackson onoe accounted to the British minister for an awful cold in the head by telling him that "the gineral had kicked the kiwers off" the night before. There is no longer any excuse for people who "kick the kivversoff." A olamp and a spring are now patented for attachment to the bedstead. By this simple device the covers are fastened down. The spring gives sufficient play, so that there is no danger of one getting choked in the act of turning over. A Clever Dog. "Why, do you suppose, Rover always carries his tail between his legs lately?" iQ. im "Don't get mad at tho poor fellows, Harry, but como with me." Some time after this, all the prisoners were driven every morning into the Upper Potomac room and counted out one at a tlmo, into tho Upper Chickamauga. "He never did it until we moved into aflat. I think he is afraid of hitting things, you know. He is so clever."— Fliegende Blaetter. The provost marshal took my name, rank and regiment, and then asked for the United States' property in my possession when I was oaptured. I pointed to the dead horse, to the sword and belt lying on the ground, and said: Tho voico of my guide was that of Howard Scott. I turned and looked at him. I had not seen him for a year; then thcro was not a more gallant nor a handsomer young soldier in the West Now, hero ho was—thin, pale and ragged, but with a light in tho One eyes that showed privation had not weakened his spirit. At the southern ends of all the rooms there wero sinks and spigots, but cleanliness was out of the question The room opening from Carey street and directly under the lower Chickamauga had in it a number of old-fashioned kitohen ranges and was known as "the cookroom."At length, in early February, the tunnel was nearly completed, and Captain Johnston was missing from roll call. The prison was searched for him, and the tunnellers, who know where ho was, felt cold and nervous till Boss told them that Johnston must ha,ve c&caped by bribing one of tho guards, as Captais Shelton haJ (Jem- a short time before. In the Other Jaw. For some weeks I had noticed that soon after tho lights wero out every alternate night Howard Scott would creep from under our blanket and would not return till after midnight, and often not till near daylight. I also saw earthmarks on his clothes, and this set me to wondering. I questioned him at first, but he avoided the subject pointedly and I did not refer to it again. Aunt Mary—Poor Budge! Does your tooth ache yet? If 'twere mine, dear, rd have it out at once. "Captain Jones thoughtfully took oharge of all my personal property, and left mo his boots and hat as an evidence of his affeotlon." Budge—If'twere yours! Well, auntie, so would I.—Harper's Young People. I had put on Jones' dilapidated footgear In the meantime, and was ready for any disposition they chose to make of me. ' "That's Llbby down below to the right," said tho same guard in response to the same questioner. As ho led mo through the crowd he introduced mo to other spectral figures, any two of whom might havo passed for twins. These figures asked me for the lat03t news from the front, and all were eager to learn if thoro was any prospeot of an immediate exchange, and, seeing that I could givo them no encouragements they turned sadly away. After we had wet our facos and hands and dried them on a much soiled towel, which the chaplain had left among othei effects, we went down to tho stoves, and as Howard had given me all his bread the night before, we would have gone hungry till noon, had it not been for the kindness of friends who shared with us their little corn-bread and remaining black beans. Settling the Difficulty. I looked ahead, and to the right, a short distance below Castle Thunder, I saw a circle of lamps that flashed on the icy bayonets of moving guards. Out of the misty bleakness there loomed a huge, square building, and many dim lights came with a cold phosphorescent glow from its windows to tho west and north. Delmonico's chef is a valuable being. His work consists in ordering the supplies, forming the menus and pronouncing judgment upon every dish served. He samples tho soups, sauces and salads, often seasoning them in person. By tasting the most minute particle he can discover exactly the ingredients lacking and the amount needed to insure perfection. His salary is $5,000 a year. "Now look here," said the professor to the Infuriated Bull, "you are my superior in strength, I am your superior in mind. Let us arbitrate this matter and see which should by right get the better of our controversy." "i was rnnrxD to the eabth." "Wo are moving rapidly," explained the provost marshal, "and you'll find it mighty hard keeping up on foot. Now, If you'll give mo your parolo not to attempt to esoape while you're in my oharge, 111 mount you and lot you stay baok with the wagons. What do you say?" (TO BE costjsotj.) pinned to the earth, while the remnant 0| my gallant boys dashed beyond the teach of the foe. "By Heavens! that was fine, and I'm almost sorry you didn't make it!" With the feeling of a man redely aroused from sleep I looked up and saw a long-haired, black-bearded man bending over me, while a half dozen men in faded gray uniforms were rolling off the dead horse that held me to the earth. The man who had spoken helped me to my feet, and then, with a feeling of fwfu} humiliation, I slipped the kuot from my wrist and let my sword fall to the ground, and I wondered why some ft the men crowding about me did not piok the blade up; but it remained untouched while I was there. ' ''Wa'al, Cap'n Watts, yon did yer level best, but yer played a losing game," said the long-haired man, as he led me to a look and forced me to sit down. " "How do you know my name?" I •deed. This went on for Howard getting thinner, dirtier and more ragged every day. It was not curiosity so much as an intense dosire to do something to break up the horriblo monotony of my life that decided me to find out my friend's secret for myself. One night, just as the guards were calling out: "Ten o'clock and all's well," and tho men in the Upper Potomac room were shouting and singing as usual, Howard got up quietly, fixed tho blanket about my shoulders, then with his boots in his hands crept down tho narrow lane between tho ranks of prostrate men. True, bat In Another Sen««. - Fauntlo Roy—Papa, the preacher said tho other day that diamonds are crystallized dew drops. Are they? Mr. Roy (a jeweler)—My son, I am not sure, but there is entirely too much due on tho drops I onco sold the minister's wife.—Jewelers' Weekly. "Oh, no," replied the bull; "let's toss up for it." Howard led mo into a room to the east, which he explained was the "lower middle" or "Lower Chickamauga Room"—! the long apartments taking their names from tho armies or battles in which most of the officers were captured. Tho two upper rooms to the east wero known as "the Upper and Lower Potomac," We went up another flight of stops and directly under the rafters we reached the "Upper Chickamauga," wht-ro Howard "hung out," and where I found many old friends, all looking so changed and bearing themselves so bravely that it was only with an effort I could keep back my tears. Later—The professor lost.—New York Sun. A few minutes and we came to a stop. About eleven o'clock corn bread, beans and enough tough beef to give a few ounces to each man, wero distributed; during the nine weeks that followed we did not receive any more meat. I said "yes," signed the parole and was at once led over tho hill to where a dozen or more army wagons were "Halt! who comes there?" demanded the guard posted at the north-west oorner.A Biff Crowd Assured. A Glimpse Behind the Scenes. Mr. Gotham—Do you think Chicago can make tho fair a success? It has been learned by experiments vrith carrier pigeons made in Europe that the normal velocity of this bird ol passage is about 1,210 yards a minute. With a fresh wind in the direction of flight this velocity has been considerably increased. Sometimes almost 2,000 yards has been made in the same interval of time. "Tho provost guard with prisoners," replied the Lieutenant in command. I looked up and saw a little sign at the corner of tho building on which was the legend'"Libby & Sons. Tobacoo Factory." This sign creaked above a side door that led into tho prison olfioe and through it we were marched, and baited before a desk like that presided over by the sergeants In night charge of polioe stations. Still faithful to the promise I had made Carrie Brent and her brother, I took the first opportunity I could find to talk to Lieutenant Scott w ithout being overheard by the crowds about us. I told him Frank's story and asked for his. Mr. Lakeside (of Chicago)—Um—well, If it ain't a success, it'll be such a razzle dazzling failure that everybody']! want to see it, all the same.—New York Weekly.  Beforo he had gone fifty feet I was up and after him, leaving ray old boots behind. Down the steps to the Lower Chicamauga, down the steps to theoookroom, ho went. The lights from the lamps on Carey Street made it compare tivcly bright here. £ saw the crouching figure of a man at tho fire-place, bo* hind one of the stoves, and as Howard approached 1 heard a faint whispering. Howard Scott had never before been bitter or profane in my presence, so that I was quite unprepared for the vindictive wrath ho showed on this 00- casion. Sambo—Mistah Johnson, why am dis yah ball room floah like old cheese? Mistah Johnson—Dun know. I cla' I jis' give it up. Skippers. Howard gave me some corn bread, "iron-clad" they called it; it was heavj and unpalatable, but as I had had noth' ing to eat since leaving Bristol that morning I devoured the bread nor heeded the bits of cob on which my teeth grated. No Fear of Bnrglars. The floor was wet and the lights dim. A little man, whom I afterwards learned to know as "Ross" ran out from the group of men standing near the desk, and called out excitedly: New Father-in-law—Well, sir, the ceremony is over, and now that you are the husband of my daughter I want to give Sou a little advice. What would you do ! you should wake up some night and find burglars in the house? "Had I capturod Frank Brent, knowing what I now do about him, I'd have hung him to tho first tree within reach," ho hissed. Sambo—Bekase it am covered wid skippers.—Yankee Blade. "Wa'al, that's tellln'; but we came orer har to gobble you; sorry the crowd didn't stick by you, but that's just like sojers,' said the long-haired man,with ■ low laugh. ] "Who are you?" I demanded. "Only Jones; Jist Cap'n Jones, of the Eighth Texas," said the Confederate. "And you will parole me?" The man shook his head till the lonir black hair seem*d to tUnd on end, then be said, slowly and sol«1n»iy: "We oan't do it; thar aint any more earolin' or cxchangin', more's the pity Jot us. You've got to gQ tUwrach and board at our hotel a bit'* "Ubhyr "Yea." - 1 went noiselessly across tho room, and like a revelation tho situation burst on me and I saw through ray friend's secret. There was a figure bosido the hearth, but Howard's hCvl van* The Collapsed Clown. "Come, now, gentlemen, no crowding. Please to register dcoently and in order; and prepare to have your baggage examined."I had Just finished this simple repast, and was wondering where or how the Smarms of men about me slept, when from the southwest corner of the prison a voice r»Rg onto •'Nine o'clock; post number one, and all's well! Lights out up tharl Lights out, Yanks!" At the circus. Bessie—Oh, papa, seel that poor fat clown has fallen down and )qst all the wind out of him. "You are Jealous of him beoauae of his doTQtion tQ Mlsa Vernon," I said; "hut you have nothing to fear there." Bridegroom—I should tell them that my father-in-law forgot to give my wife a wedding dowry, and they'd go away. —London Tit-Bits. Papa—Yes, pet, that is what newspaper men call a "burst of mirth."— Burlington Free Press. "fix SEE THAT YOVB NECK IS 8' "Baggage!" %n offlcer ln my fron* "vVcll, that's oooL Why, I haven't had my baggage since two mln* utos after I fell into your hands. At least onoe an hour linoe then some guard has gone through me, and oxccpt that six changed boots seyon times and "No, Captain, I am not jealous, but ( am righteously indignant. Frank Brent captured me in Powell's Valley, and at the time be said, so that he coald not havo been guilty of John Harding's murder. This world will not be big enough to hold liim and me once this war is over, that is, if ho is not hung in tho mean time, as h.* deserves to bo, 01 if 1 do not die in this hole." (SrzEz?'-- drawn up on the road. Hero I was ""CVen a horse that had r^den by 0°e of toy men that morning, and soon after the wagons started off in a hurry. Looks warm, doesn't he? True Enough. He does, reader. He is warm. He is that graceful poet, Alaric Stillwater Mallows, writing a sleighing song for the Christmas number of a popular publication. At this moment he is trying to find a suitable rhyme for "icicle."— Puck. Servant- The butcher is at the door, iir, and says he wants his bill. Welcome to It. "Why don't you wear your glass eye now as you used to do?" asked the humorist's wife, addressing her husband. "Nine o'clock; post number two, and all's well I" Straight for the purple line of raoun« tains looming up through the elouds to the east we inarched. Now and then, wlion the road wound over a hill, I coulu soo tho dar!; of swarming horsemen, and it ucodcd no field glass to assure me that they were ay owa people. Howard—Return the bill to the gentleman, Mary, and express my regrets at keeping it so long.—Munsey's Weekly. "Because it hurts me in my profession, love." hats fifteen, they've all bees disappointed.""Nine o'clock; post number three, and all's well!" And so from post to post, around the prison, the cries of the guards rang out, while a band of men, who did not appear to be on gaard, shouted: "Lights out!" till the last post on Carey street bad announced that it was nine o'clock and that all was welL "Hurts you in your profession. Why, how can that be?" A tall. blafV-heardod, plratlcal-lo' V ing fellow, wearing tbe £ierrons of a sergeant, leaped into the line of pr!»jners and shouted, wiUi a oath: On being pressed to give the reason fui his dislike, Howard oontinued: A Contented Man. "Your daughter is making rapid progress in Tape & Co.'s store, I hear." "Oh, yes. She went in as 'cash,' then she became a 'bundle girl," and now she's a 'saleslady.'"—Boston Courier. Progress. "It is not an original eye, dear."—Bos- Boston Courier. "It's pretty hard work" earning »n honest living," said the tramp to tbe farmer's wife. "Well," l said,with an effort at laughtar, "111 find lota of good men there." "So you will, Cap'n; but would you let me ax yon a few questions?" "Go on," I replied. j "You wear new boots?" "Yea." "What sixer "You know my cousin Qeorgs Skillman, who was with Brent? Well, George was a fine fellow, oven if he waf in such company. One day an ol? scoundrel, named McKeo, who claimed to be a Union man—how I would like u nse ft halter on that fellow—came to ui with ft letter purporting to have beei written by Cousin Ueorge, ana saying that he was lying helpless and wounded, ■mill Powell's Valley. I skewed thl Here and there silvery puffs of moke, indicated skirmishing and told how close the opposing lines were at pointa, while during the day and at irregular intervals, the deep booming of guna came up from the direotion of Knos» Till*. i rtfr frf it'- ititrt toil "Order herel Oet la lino! Con.o on one at a time or tharll be trouble." Encouraged. "You dont mean to say that you work?" "Oh, not My remark is comply the result of my observation along the highways and byways. When I see how hard some people work and how little they get for it I am enoouraged to follow my simple vocation without ammD ■ilir."—Punk. ' "What's the matter, Willie? You are looking very jubilant." "Yea, genta, one at a Mm* and decently and ln order," oalled ovt little Ross, not at all a bad fellow, aa every old resident of Libby will oonfeea. With the first ery of "Lights out!" the prisoners in the Upper Chickamauga rushed to the crossbeam, on which blankets and overooats were hung, and began making their beds on the oold, wet boards. "Ya-a-s. I have just been to we my doctah, and he says that I must take care or I will have brain fevah." A Merited Punishment. "A Chicago poet has written an ode to » mosquito." "Well, the bead deserves it"—New York Sun. Major Turner aat down and prepared to write. He was about thirty-five years of an dressed in a floe gray uniform, "Indeed! Don't you feel alarmed?" "Alarmed! No, by Jove; I feel verwy much encouraged."—WtaMagton Poet. "Eights, but a alas tee jarge," X $ald. had m oiajooat snfl I SUPPJU) INTO TOM HOIA