Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1893-01-26

.sIt is fire. the girl replied '.See!
it expands and falls. Evan, can it be
campfire?''
Not muchr' he answered, lightly
stWe're way beyond our lines; and
surely no Yanks could camp so near
them without our scouts knowledge.
By Jove, Cousin Caro-. really believe
| the legion man has made you nervous!"
Caution and nervousness are not
akin, as an older soldier would know"
Miss Clay retorted, rather coldly. Il
have too much at stake to risk any dan
| ger can avoid Oh, Evan, must get
| to Baltimore tomorrow!
.sAnd SO you shall, my dear, brave
girli' the boy answered, confidently.
'sSee that open hilltop just beyond?
From that we strike the last fork of this
| trail-good road and a short mile down
hill to the Ferry 1t can't be much
past midnight; and old Pete has orders
| to wait till the very last minute he
dares, before dawn. Brace up, coz.
] You've been over this same trail three
! times
sEAnd never felt a shadow of doubt
before she interrupted, adding, with
a sigh that would come: SIT is because 1
| have so much more at stake than ever
| before But it is nearly over, thank
! Godi''
The steaming horses breasted the hill
bravely and reached the open crest. An
easy slope led away into a broad, white
road now well carpeted with winters
wool. Just at it's foot a narrow belt of
trees stretched away to the left, leaving
the black river plainly visible from the
bold bluffs to the right, and through
those trees cut a narrow road, dark and
dismal through the broader CLEAN of
the snow haze, now scarce less light
than day.
There! Ellis forl-just one mile to
the landing!' cried the scout, as they
raced at speed down the sandy slope
and nearly up to the bisecting trail,
| the hcofbeats ringing no longer, but
thuddiag dull on the dampened sand.
Suddenly with one impulse both rid
ers wrerched their horses mouths SO
fercely as to bring them almost to their
launches. Then both sat like statues,
their neclzs strained forward, ears bent
/ eagerly towards the woods road, just
| ahead II the dead stiffness, the deep
breathing Of the steaming horses was
the only sound, save, to them, the quick
beating of their own hearts.
So, for seconds that seemed ages.
Then the scout whispered low, as
| though in answer to question:
''Yes; hoofs! 'S-shi-clank of sabers!
Quick! into the trees! Quick! Go
SOFTLY
Both horses were turned simultane-
ously into the screen of trees, well back
from the CLEAN of the open road; and
Evan Fauntleroy, placing himself be-
| tween the girl and the approaching
sounds, leaned from his saddle, straight
ened her bride, felt the roan's bit, and
gently stroked his great neck. Then be
rose in his stirrups, stretching the cold
cramp out of his legs, braced himself
afresh in the saddle, and tested the
chamber of the big revolver drawn from
his holster.
The tramp of hoofs was now plainly
heard, cut by the clank Of sabers- per-
haps five or siX-perhaps a score.
''Cavalryt' the scout whispered to the
girl. Probably our scouts; posi-
bly,
He hesitated only a second; but she
calmly finished for him:
s'Averill's. If so, which way?''
''If they're Yanks, they are feeling
for our piclzets," Evan whispered back.
They'll go east, over the road we came.
We can cut through the woods road and
dodge them in the bottom
mo! If they pass us, straight for the
Ferryr" The girls whisper was calm,
but its clear, bell-lilze ring carried com
mand not to be gainsaid.
1.-the Ferry then, if they pass us, -
the man replied, adding, quietly: ''Pht
up that thing" He noted the motion
of her hand, testing the chamber of a
pistol; and by the CLEAN of white skin
he dimly saw, too, that she had drawn
the gauntlet from her pistol hand.
PUT that up, 1 say. IL they be Yanl1s,
this is case of run, not fight. Listen;
for time is short!'' The hoOfs were
plainly heard now, a dozen horses trot-
ting slowly towards them, dozen
SaberS jingling nerrily against their
TANKS. Listen, and remember. II
they see US, cut straight through these
woods for the trail they're on now.
Follow it straight south, till you strike
rock fence; jump that, and you're In
an old field, where ISazer can distance
any cavalry horse any Yank owns. If
lose you in the dark woods, ride to the
nigger's hut across the field and turn
Blazer loose. Tell Isham, the old mig
ger, Marse Evan said to hide you aN
day and be sure TO get you TO the Fer
ry' at night. You understands"
II do-perfectly,'' the girl replied
still quietly. You mean to fight them
of while I run
All this was quickly spoken, in wllis
pers, but clearly distinct on either side
The approaching horses had turned into
szzm@@
81: ). -: s % -