The Odessa leader. (Odessa, Del.) 1892-18??, 1892-09-21

n N y
1ptM other without mutual discoy-
y ery. until only four or five
N Yards of space separated them.
irhey had crouehed low to ine
ground. moving stealthily and
slowly along, Indian fashion, as II fearful
of detection. The place Of their meeting
was glade or hollow on the mountain
side, where scattered trees, thick bushes,
and long grass gave them good oppoitu,
mites of concealmeut as they moved
along. The first hail with which the
colloauy opened, as they abruptly paused
ON discovery, was sent forth IN hoarse
whisper, as were the subsequent questions
and replies. Becoming satisfied on their
mutual recognition, they crept close TO-
gether for longer conference. Even
then, SO great was their caution, they
would not stand upright, but kept close
10 the dark background of q thick patch OF
bushes rs they sat on the ground, that
the bright moon might not betray them 10
any scout or spy.
Tho place of their meeting, to be more
definite, was in q lonely dehle OF the
lClinch Mountains, at least two days
tourney from Knoxville, Tenn. 1t was a
scene of wild and savage grandeur, I'm
which tho dwarfea figures of human
beings seemed out of plHoe. The great
range rose like wall toward the clouds,
steep and difficult of access, its lower
rsrts clothed with struggling timber; its
upper heights, as seen from below, bare
and rocky. Spurs and otfshoots OF lesser
height made along its whole course those
hidden glades and glens, in one OF which
our narrative opens. It was the night OF
August 18th, 1861. The moon, in her
sesond quarter, brightly illumined the
grand prospect, uron which stranger
might well have eaaed with Gwe-so still,
so savage, 20 Va t it seemed. And yet, nd
i've a.e soon to learn, in the hidden re-
Icesses of those remote heights dwelt
thousands of human beings, men, women
mud little children, enduring the woes OF
THAT ominous time, and sharing its few
comforts and joys.
The two men who had thus come to-
igether would have appeared, upon close
inspection, TO 10 fair types of the in
1 particularly distinguish them, one frou
snotner. Each carr ed n long hunting
rife, aud was cad in coarse homespun
Their bearded faces were stern and for
ibidditig their hands were roughened witt
toll. Coming close together, they tx
changed q roll and glance. which
answered for the hand-shake Of more re.
fined localities, and Immediately con
tinued their conversation in whisper.
Good enough, Wally; knowed you'(
be here. WhRrs Your men2n
Just over the rise of the hill. Yourn?
Back yonder in the bushes. Whar il
that chaps deni l never was in thi
gully before"
Wallace Baird simply pointed up th,
glen. Through curtain of struggling
trees the roof of small frame building
WAS visible. His companion gazed at j
Isnd his fIce darkened in the moonlight
Something Ike an oath came from be-
tween his shut teeth
That ar the serpents den-ar' it2"
"Yes."
DO you be sure he's thar?"
Most likely; the boys say he's Away
in nights. You'd heard of him, haln'
YOU, fore sent word TO you to bring owe
your men and meet us here this night?"
Just little; you know we live furde
off N you, and the talk wouldn't get 10 II
SO soon. But we'd heard how You folk
suspicioued him and We was quite read
to come at The word. Eoes he stay tina
alons?"
"Yes."
"What doin'?".
"Walk:n' round, sometimes I'll daS. II
the mountains and though the gullies
with small Cog at his heels. Has beel
seen sittiu on rock with big white pape
on his knees, working with pencil o
something"
I. 1nakiug pictures of the eoantfy2
Seems like ii.
"Curse him!" growled Burt Hankihs.
Sh!" the other wained. "You mustn'
speak loud work.
Il won't; but It's hard work 10 hold in
How longs bd been round heie?"
Bout month, right hele. He don
make any friends; he don't pear to wan
49, 1r,., Of Ef "a Tnf a IN nm
in his wanderin' round he will say Good
mornin', or such; but he don't talk, M
don't stop TO give any one chance to as
questions.
Know whar he come froniy'
Il don't kno y, but suspect"
"Whar would it be?" -
Wallace Baird took from his pocket
white envelope, considerably soiled FOR
being carried in that not over-cleln recer
tacle, and held it triumphantly up 10 th
eyes of his companions
"You know whar live, >. he said, "dow
there below. Yesterday lnornin' that cha
come walkin' back this way past my place
with stick and a big bundle Oh his acl
I've heard em called knupsacks. don
know where he'd been; / never seen hi
90, and likely he went Mt might, week {
SO before; but believe he'd been to Kno'
vile"
Burt Hanktns uttered a groWl nndt
his breath, that might in the rk ha,
been mistaken for that of wild beast.
a. Yes, ly --!n he mutterred. "Yo
rightly suspicion Lin. | couldn't go
Knoxville, an be let TO come home agail
nor you couldn't; we'd have some of Isl
nm Harris people after US, and be lucl
if we didn't have 10 choice lut to 60
jail or join tho secesh army. But tn
chap can 60 and como in peace, it seems
Il don't say it Ter sure" continued Il
other, but I'll lose my guess if we dor
find tho proof of what / suspicion, wht
we once get into that den upthere. HOY
49, ever that may lie, rs the man passed Il
place, says 10 my lad, Dan, DO you fo
Ter him along ways, not Being seen yo ,
self, and watch il, lie does anything cul
ous,' In an hour Dan was back; said he
dogged him till he sot down under the
took this letter out of his pocket, read q
inside Of it four or five times, and then s
for while kind of thoughtful. looking
She ground. Then he put the letter bac
ms he supposed; but it didn't reach [
place, aud fell 10 the eround without
knowing il. After he'd gone on, the !
went an got it, and brought it to n
Here it is; read it for yourself, and see
amt right.
"You ought 10 know can't read, w
lace. What does it sayf"
Maybe hadn't best stop now to re
it to you, for times go ng on. and 1 Jut
from the moop that its past mldnig