The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-10-20

or gray smoke wound upward The men
matted and, g-.my. peTsp.rinE and puff
Tag, they searched the recesses OF the
woods with eager. fierce glances. figures
could be seen fitting afar of A dozen
caroiIaes ratified at them in an angry VOL
ley.
During this pause the captain strobe
along the line, his face lit with broad
smile OF contentment. When he sends
this crowd to do anything, / guess he'll
mo we do IL pretty sharp nc said TO the
grinning Lieutenant
Say, they didn't stand that rush a min
ute, Cd they said the sUbaltern. Both
officers were profoundly dusty in their uni
forms. and their faces were sOiled Ike
those OF two urchins.
Out IN the grass behind them were three
tumblec and silent forms.
Presently the line moved forward again
The pIen went from tree 10 tree like hunt
ers stalking game Some al the left of
the line fred occasionally. and :hose at
the right gazed eur!ous.y in that direc-
ton. The men still breatned heavily from
their scramble across the field
OF sudden a trooper halted and said:
Hello! there's a housep Every one
paused. The men turned TO look AZ their
leader.
The captain stretched his neck and
swung his head from side 70 side. by
George, IL is 8 house," he said.
Through the wealth OF leaves there
vaguely doomed the form OF large white
house. These troopers. brown-faced from
many days OF campaigning, each feature
OF them telling OF their placid confidence
and courage, were stopped abruptly by
the appearance Of this house. There was
some subtle suggestion-some tale OF an
unknown thing. which watched them
from they knew not what part Of 1t.
A rail fence eirted wide lawn OF tan
gled grass. Seven pines stood along a
driveway which led from two distant
posts OF a vanished gate. The blue
clothed troopers moved forward until they
stood at the fence peering over L.,
The captain put one hand on the top
rail and seemed 70 be about TO climb the
fence. when suddenly he hesitated. and
said In a low voice: Watson, what do
you think Of it?'
The lieutenant stared az the house.
"Derned II know" he replied.
The captain pondered. It happened that
the whole company had turned a gaze
OF profound awe and doubt upon this
edifce which confronted them The men
We're very silent.
At last the captain swore and said:
eve are certainly a pack OF fools. Derned
old deserted house hating a company OF
Union cavalry and making US cape Ike
babies"
yes. but there's something - some
thing" Insisted the saoaltern, IN a NAN
stammer.
We'll. IL there's 'something-something
in there Tn get il out" said the captain
send Sharpe clean around 10 the other
side with about twelve men, so We VIII
sure bag your 'something-some thing.
and I'll take a few OF the boys and ma
out what's in the damned old thing
He chose the nearest eight men for MS
"storming party" as the lieutenant called
II. After he had waited some minutes Tor
the others 70 get into position he said
come ahead" TO his eight men and
climbed the fence.
The brighter light OF the angled lawn
made him suddenly feel tremendously ap-
parent and he wondered II there could be
some mystic thing In the house which was
regarding this approach. His men trudged
silently at his back. They stared at the
windows and lost themselves IN deep
speculatious as TO the probability OF there
being. perhaps, eyes behind the blinds
malignant eyes. piercing eyes.
Suddenly. a corporal In the party gave
vent 10 a startled exclamation, and half
threw his carblne into position. The cap
tain turned quickly and the corporal