Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1893-02-02

spy, he made way with his proofs on
capture. These are decoys only
81 think, general, he swallowed''-
the provost bl1lrted out-adding, very
quickly, This tobacco"
The keen blue eyes shot only one
glance at the speaker, now eagerly
scanning the papers by light of the fire.
He did? I'm! send him to my tent
Eyes, general. VIII you examine
these?"
mo, sir. Send him to me- This
shortly, as the young leader took the
papers carelessly and turned into the
small, dingy tent beyond the blaze.
Seating himself on a. campstool he
merely glanced at the papers, by the
pale CLEAN of lantern. They were a
scrawled letter from soldier, far
rier's receipt, and a weeks liberty.
signed by the captain of B troop, but
without date. He pitched them on the
rough camp table with contemptuous
gesture, muttering:
''Decoys-if she be q spy! Curse these
mustangs! Politics hobble the service,
no end
A shadow in the tent door raised the
generals eyes, as Miss Clay entered,
erect and calm, followed by Evan, lean
ing on the sergeant.
.Keenly the cavalry leader scanned
the pair, his eyes passing from the girl
after quick inventory of her points
to Fauntleroy, then quickly back to
her.
l. ''Do you know, sir, that 1 can hang
you at daylight" He shot the question
at Evan like a bullet.
Eyes, sir-or shoot me tonight" the
| boy answered, quietly. But I do not
think you will"
You are a spy"
''He is not Miss Clay's voice rang
out clear and defiant. He is con-
federate soldier, and in uniform. He is
a prisoner of war;
And are you also?" The young gen
eral rose gracefully as he addressed the
lady, instinctively strengthening his
saber and brushing back his damp curls,
with half-boyish air of foppery, as he
! tossed his hat on the table.
Miss Clay's eyes met her questioner's
steadily, but with unmistakable de-
| fance, as she answered:
81 am not, sir. / am non-com-
Blatant, a Virginia lady on her way to
her aunt'S home, arrested and dragged
here without cause or excuse for the
| both to-rnorrow-or now, if it suits your
governments theories of war: but it's
articles protect this youth and release
| me-"
The generals eyes again inventoried
the speaker with curiosity that had
some admiration mixed with it, but he
| answered. calmly:
''Um! you seem familiar with the
articles of war. Did you study them at
your aunt's, or-in camp? What is your
name?"
Carrie Fauntleroy-my first cousin,
| sir" Evan broke III, quickly, his eye
catching the papers on the table, before
the girl could reply.
SIS that true?"
The federal general questioned the
man, but his gaze never left the face of
the woman turned defantly upon him,
now suffused with a glow of anger that
! never deepened under his scrutiny.
My cousin is Virginian, SIR she
answered for him, as he had done for
| her. 1--WE are never ashamed of our
| names
A quick glance sent her Evans thanks
| that she had caught his meaning-that
| her own name was too well known
along the border to be rislSed in this
new peril Whether the general caught
that glance or not, he seemed i'm
pressed by its reflection in her eyes,
| from which his own had never swerved;
| for, after brief pause. he asked. sud-
denly:
cat what point, miss, did you hope to
reach the river?''
! If he expected start or flush for an
answer, it was in vain. Carolyn Clay
had been in close places before, if not so
perilous as this; and she answered, as
calmly and naturally as though declin-
ing an ice:
ssMy aunt lives inland, sir; not on the
river"
| A half smile he could not repress
| flicizered an instant about the cavalry
leaders lips, quickly replaced by their
habitual sternness, as he retorted:
| cit Is a strange hour and strange
company for you to be found in, miss
| No, am not doubling your statement
stopping her intent to speak by q
gesture-'sbut shall ask proof for it.
Major, question the guard who brought
them in for point of capture and all de-
| tails. Send the guide to me. sir"
| TO BE coNTINUED.l