People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1893-01-27

lang trouble? See that fork away TO
TIE left? That is but three miles to
the Ferry and the horses are as fresh
as
"What is that glow over by the river,
30 the sight? No, there" Miss Clay
broke in, pointing impatiently.
A faint, pinkish haze showed dinly
through the whirling snowfakes-a
steamy glow, rather than light. The
scout gazed steadily in the direction
awhile, then answered, placidly:
Northern lights, maybe; but I'm no
dab at astronomy. Seems pretty low,
though. Perhaps there's brush afre in
that bottom"
st is fire." the girl replied. See!
it expands and falls. Evan. can it be a
campfre?"
Not much!" he answered, lightly.
"We'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 nervousm
Caution and nervousness are not
akin, as an older soldier would know"
Miss Clay retorted, rather coldly. 81
have too much at stake to risk any dan
ger | can avoid. Oh, Evan, must get
70 Rolfip,nra 70
"And so you shall, my dear, brave
girl" the boy answered, confidently.
"See that open hilltop just beyond?
From that we strike the last fork of this
trail-good road and 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
d2res, before dawn. Brace up, coz!
You've been over this same trail three
times"
''And never felt a shadow of doubt
before" she interrupted, adding, with
a sigh that would come: ut is because I
have so much more at stake than ever
before. But it is nearly over, thank
God!'
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 its 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 narrow road, dark and
dismal through the broader CLEAN of
the snow haze, now scarce less light
than day.
There! Ellis fork-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 hOofbeats ringing no longer, but
thuddirg dull on the dampened sand.
Suddenly with one impulse both rid
ers wrenched their horses mouths so
tiercely as to bring them almost to their
launches. Then both sat like statues,
their necks strained forward, ears bent
eagerly towards the woods road, Just
ahead. In the dead stiffness, the deep
breathing Of the steaming horses was
the only sound, save, to them, thequick
beating of their own hearts.
So, for seconds that seemed ages.
Then the scout whispered low, as
though in answer to a question:
"Yes; hoofs! 'S-sh!-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 roans bit, and
gently stroked his great neck. Then he
rose in his stirrups, stretching the cold
cramp out of his legs, braced himself
afresh in the saddle, and tested the
chamber Of the bigrevolver 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.
Cavalry" the scout whispered to the
girl. Probably our scouts; posi-
bly,"
He hesitated only a second; but she
calmly finished for him:
"Averill's. If so, which way?"
IF they're Yanks, they are feeling
for our pickets," 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-ike ring carried COM
mand not to be gainsaid
1.-The Ferry then, if they pass u.s."
the man replied, adding, quietly: "Put
up that thing" He noted the motion
Of her hand, testing the chamber of a
a. IN.