Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1893-03-02
supDENLY CATO oRAsPED MS Arm.

bDDDENlsn OAlO bhAbIhb AIM
without hesitation" He opened tn,
back door. motioncd to Cato TO pass out,
followed him, locked the door behind
them and taking the Negroes arm
walked beside the low palings TO the
end OF the garden, where they climbed
the fence and stood upon the open field
beyond.
Unfortunately, It had grown lighter
with the breaking of the heavy clouds,
and husty CLEANS Of moonlight chased
each other over the field, or struck a
glitter from standing rain pools be-
tween the little hillocks- To cross the
open field and gain the fringe Of woods
on the other side was the nearest way
TO the quarters, but for the moment
was the most exposed course; to follow
the hedge 10 the bottom Of the field and
the boundary fence and then cross Mt
right angles, In its shadow, would be
safer, but they would lose valuable
time. Believing that Cato's vengeful
assailant was still lowering near with
his comrades, CORTLAND cast quick
glance down the shadowv line Of osage
hedge beside them. Suddenly Cato
grasped his arm and pointed In the
same direction, where the boundary
fence he had noticed "A barrier OF
rough palings-crossed the field. With
! the moon low on the other side OF II, IL
was mere black silhouette, broken
only by bright, silver openings and
gaps along It's surface that indicated
the moonlit Geld beyond. At first
CORTLAND saw nothing else. Then he
was struck by the fact that these OPEN
ings became successfully and regularly
eclipsed us with the passing Of some
OPAQUE objects behind them. II was a
file Of men on the other side OF the
fence, keeping in its shelter as they
crossed the Geld towards his house.
Roughly calculating from the passing
dissertations, there must have been
twelve or fifteen in all.
lie could no longer doubt their COM
bincd intentions. nor hesitate how TO
meet IT, lie must At once make for the
quarters with Cato, even II he had to
cross that open field before them. lie
knew that they would avoid injuring
him personally, in the fear of possible
federal and political complications, and
he resolved to use that fear 10 insure
Cato's safety, Placing his hands on
the ncgro's shoulder, he showed him
forward, falling into II "lock step" so
) close behind him that II became i'm
) impossible for the most expert marks
; man to fire at one without impcrilinq
: the others life. When half way across
! the field he noticed that the shadows
' seen through the openings OF the fence
/ had paused The ambushed men hat
! evidently seen the double apparition
( understood IL, and, MS he expected
dared not fire. lie reached the Other
4 side with Cato in safety, but not before
e he saw the fateful shadows again NOV
Q ing and this time the other way
n They were evidently intending L
! follow the fugitives. But once within
B. the woods CORTLAND knew that hi
d chances were equal He brcathcd mort
n freely Cato, not less agitated, ha'
b even rcgained something Of his fornc
b. emotional combativcucss, which Court
n land had checked. Although far from
!. confident OF his heuchman's proves II
j. an emergency, the prospect Of gettinl
G HIM safe into the quarters scemc'
n brighter
G II was necessary also TO trust TO hi
: superior woodcraft and knowledge o
It the locality, and CORTLAND, still walk
e ing between him and his pursuers an
e covering his retreat, allowed him :
Il lead the way II lay over ground tina
h was beginning TO slope gently; the IN
derbrush was presently exchanged 10
o springy moss; the character Of tn
Ie trees changed; the black trunks of cy
ie presses made the gloom thicker. Trail
IS Ing vines and parasites brushed thei
o. faces, Il current of damp air seemed I
p flow just above the soil in which thei
Z lower limbs moved sluggishly q
Il through running water, As yet thcr
le was no Indication Of pursuit Br
IL CORTLAND felt that II was not nbaI
le doned. Indeed he had barely time
check an exclamation from the negr
RS before the dull gallop of households
y ~ aran RhAAd ~ kARsn rRA plain
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