hurt a cane rocker, Artie sat down.

"By the way, Martha, tell Joe and Sam to come in," said the colonel, in
an off-handed way. "They must clean up that cellar before the rain ruins
everything. Tell them to clean out that back pantry the first thing."

"But, Dick--"

"Never mind, my dear, tell them;" and the head of the house waved his
wife off, winking at her when Artie was not looking. The wink satisfied
the lady more than did her husband's words, and she moved off in deep
thought.

"So you belong to the Riverlawns, Captain. What company, if I may ask?"

"I am captain of the fourth company, Mr. ----"

"Excuse me, I should have introduced myself and my wife. Colonel Dick
Bradner, at your service."

"You are not in active service, Colonel," and Artie smiled faintly.

"Do I look as if I was? But I have seen service, young man, having gone
all through the Mexican War."

"Indeed! I am glad to meet you, sir. But about the Riverlawns and Mrs.
Bradner's brother--"

"I'll get there in a moment, Captain. You see I am getting old and
long-winded. I used to stump the State during election time, but I'm
getting so tiresome now nobody will listen to me."

"I am listening, Colonel. But I have a duty to perform which must be
accomplished as soon as possible."

"I reckon I need not ask what it is. It's none of my business, of course
not."

"What were you going to ask me concerning our regiment?" asked Artie,
half desperately, for he was afraid the crippled colonel would keep him
there all day.

"I wanted to ask you if your command did not take part in an engagement
at Greeger Lake, last fall?"

"We did."

"What was the result of that engagement?"

"We took about five hundred guerillas prisoners, and--"

"Guerillas! Do you dare to call our troops--Oh! pshaw, go on,--what did
you do?"

"We took about five hundred guerillas prisoners, and to keep them from
eating up our rations, marched them back into Tennessee, where they
belonged."

"And confiscated their horses and their money?"

"No, we turned their horses loose; that was all. I never heard anything
about any money," answered Artie, promptly.

He tried to appear at ease, but he was much worried. The veteran of the
Mexican War was turning out to be a strong Southern sympathizer. It
looked as if there might be trouble before he left the house.

"I understand some of the soldiers had their money taken from them. But
that was to be expected of the Yankees-