Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1889-07-04
(COpyyilhted, 1881

Copyrighted, 1881
CHAPTER III-CONrINUED.
Captain Smart, remembering the ad-
vantage Luke's suggestions had been to
him, said:
"rll give ye any four men in my compa-
ny We want, If We think they'll be enough to
protect the people. I've tried t. stop their
stealin', but it don't seem in my power II
you kin do it, yer welcome t the detail"
Having the privilege Of making his own
selection, Luke chose his mess-Arkansaw
Tom, Ned Cotton, Bill Swain and Corporal
Max. Bills wound was trifling, and did
not disable him.
"What We want US t dos" asked Arkan-
saw Tom, as they hurried down the road
Yast the advance guard.
"You are to protect house."
"Whose!"
"Mr. Jordan Neff's."
"Union or secesh?"
1.-THE family are divided. The only son is
u the Confederate army"
"They'u burn the house."
"You must not let them. The house and
inmates must be shielded from insult"
"f We say It, We'll perfect 'em, eff it costs
Us our hves.''
"That is what Iwant you to do"
ats settled" said old Arkansaw Tom.
"We'u perfect 'em, ur bite the dust tryin'."
The old familiar farmhouse was at last
in sight, and Luke felt his heart beating
high with hope and expectation as he neared
it.
81 will see her once MORE" he thought.
"She will know that have done this for
her sake, and that next to my country she
is the dearest object of life"
How peaceful and quiet seemed the pleas
ant old country home. The tall poplars
and stately elms lowered above the broad
lawn, and their leaves rustled in the breeze.
The flocks were bleating on the hills, and
distant tinkling Of cow-bells came to his
ears. Pigs were gruntiDg in the fence
corners, and busy bees hummed from fow
or TO flower. The strange silence about
the house caused an uneasy feeling to come
over him. When they reached the cato
they saw that the house was closed, and had
the appearance of being deserted.
Followed by his comrades. Luke has
tened toward the front door, hoping by his
sudden return to give his betrothed pleas
ant surprise.
Only hollow echoes answered his knocks,
and at last, growing impatient, he turned
the knob and opened the door. The room
was unoccuped. There was Mr.. Neff's IA
vorite couch, with one cushion on the floor,
as if the occupant had quilted tho room
hurriedly. A few embers still smoldered
on the hearth, and Lilies favorite chair,
with her sewing on the floor near it, was
at the side of the couch A crumpled news
paper in the middle of the floor and the dis
arranged furniture all bore evidence Of
hasty fight.
Filled with strange dread, Luke has
tened to the next room, calling the name of
Lille, with no answer save the hollow echo
of his own voice.
He soon satisfied himself that the house
was deserted. A warm dinner was smok-
ing on the table in the dining room, which
convinced him that the house had been but
recently occupied.
Hoping that the owners might be near,
he ran to the garden, then to the negro
quarters, but they could nowhere be
found. He was about to return when q
black face peeped out from q cluster of
woodbines at the rear Of chimney to one
Of the negro huts, and q voice said:
"Massa Luke. am dot your"
"Blackhawk, why are you hiding there"
Luke asked.
"Hidin', massa; all de others am done
gone an hided, an so did l."
"Who are you hiding FRONT"
'Dun no, massa- All de odders dey
runs an hided, an dis chile did. too"
"Blackhawk, where is Miss Lilliel'
"Dun no, boss; she an ole massa runs
like de debll war after 'em down into de
woods, an lef' me heah by myself, an den
hided heah
"Go after tAem-tell them they shall not
DO harmed"
"Couldn't find 'em, massa"
"Go and try. / must see Lille, and
have but short time to stay. must sec
her father, too. left 90 suddenly that
night that I did not got to say Ill I
wished"
"Ikn 90, massa, but ten to one don't
And UNI"
Tho head withdrew into the woodbines,
slight rustling noise and the negro was
gone over the low fence into the wood be-
yond.
When Luke returned he found his COM
Fades seated at the farmers table helping
themselves to the ready cooked dinner.
AS they've all vamoosed we thought it
best ter keep this N grub from spslin', !" said |
old Tom.
Luke felt inclined to deny them the right
TO appropriate tho dinner of others, but, the |
pangs Of hunger ct last overcoming him, he !
Joined them in the feast
having satisfied their appetites the nve
soldiers went 70 the front yard, where they
saw the advance guard Of the little army
coming down the hill.
"Take your places in front Of tho fenoe,
and allow no ono % come inside, " said Luke. |
Tho 6rst soldier who attempted 70 force
his way inside was stopped b Arkansaw
Tom, who said:
aye canst cone tn-"
"WAyr' ~ man aseaA