ever speeded a parting guest.

"Oh, do hurry, Colonel--please, please." Dan laughed.

"Good-by, Harry," he said. "We'll give you a week or two at home before
we get that exchange."

"Don't make it any longer than necessary, please," said Harry, gravely.

"We're coming back again, Mrs. Dean," said he Colonel, and then in a
lower tone to Margaret: "I'm coming often," he added, and Margaret
blushed in a way that would not have given very great joy to one
Chadwick Buford.

Very leisurely the three rode out to the pike gate, where they halted
and surveyed the advancing column, which was still several hundred
yards away, and then with a last wave of their caps, started in a slow
gallop for town. The advance guard started suddenly in pursuit, and the
Deans saw Dan turn in his saddle and heard his defiant yell. Margaret
ran down and fixed her flag in its place on the fence--Harry watching
her.

"Mother," he said, sadly, "you don't know what trouble you may be
laying up for yourself."

Fate could hardly lay up more than what she already had, but the mother
smiled.

"I can do nothing with Margaret," she said.

In town the Federal flags had been furled and the Stars and Bars thrown
out to the wind. Morgan was preparing to march when Dan and Colonel
Hunt galloped up to head-quarters.

"They're coming," said Hunt, quietly.

"Yes," said Morgan, "from every direction."

"Ah, John," called an old fellow, who, though a Unionist, believing in
keeping peace with both sides, "when we don't expect you--then is the
time you come. Going to stay long?"

"Not long," said Morgan, grimly. "In fact, I guess we'll be moving
along now."

And he did--back to Dixie with his prisoners, tearing up railroads,
burning bridges and trestles, and pursued by enough Yankees to have
eaten him and his entire command if they ever could have caught him. As
they passed into Dixie, "Lightning" captured a telegraph office and had
a last little fling at his Yankee brethren.

"Head-quarters, Telegraph Dept. of Ky., Confederate States of
America"--thus he headed his General Order No.--to the various Union
authorities throughout the State.

"Hereafter," he clicked, grinning, "an operator will destroy
telegraphic instruments and all material in charge when informed that
Morgan has crossed the border. Such instances of carelessness as lately
have been exhibited in the Bluegrass will be severely dealt with.

"By order of
LIGHTNING,
"Gen. Supt