The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1895-10-10
&Y SBEPHGH GIRAFFE

I now" he FOArod IN a voice OF hoRFae
fury. Ilis face was violently rod.
The troopers threw themselves upon
the grove like wolves upoR great ami.
NAL. Along the wholS front oil wood
there was the dry cracking Of muskel.
~, with bitter, swift flashes aud amoke
that Wrilhed lkeslung phautoms, Tho
troopers yelled Shrllly aud spanged
bullets low into the foliage.
For a moment, when near the woods,
tho limo almost halted. The men strug.
glod aud fought for tina like swim.
mers enCounIerin2 powerful current,
Then with q supreme effort they went
on again. The dashed madly at tue
grove, whoSo foliage from tue high light
OF tho field was 40 inicrutahlo Us a wall,
Ihon suddenly each detail OF the calm
trees became apparent aud with few
more frantic leaps the men we're in the
cool gloom OF the woods. There was q
heavy odor az from burnt paper.
Wisps OF groy smoke wound upward.
The men halted and, grimey, perspir.
ing and pulling, they searched tho re-
celsos OF tho woods with eager, fierce
glRuces. Figures could be seen lifting
aiar of. A dozen carbines ratified at
them in an angry vol,Gy.
During this pause, tho captain strobe
along tho line, his face liz with u broad
smile OF contentment. "When he senda
this crowd to do anything, guess ha'tt
lind we do it pretty sharp" lie said TO
the grinning lieutenant
"Say, they didn't stand that rush q
minute. did they" satd the sabaitsra.
Both officers were profoundly duaIy in
their uniforms, and thoir faces Werd
soilod like those Of two uTchlnG
Out in the grass behind them were
three tumblcd and silent forms.
Presently the line moved forward
again. Tho men went from tree to tree
ike hunters stalking game. Some at
tho left Of the line fired occasionally
aud those at the right gazed curlously
in that direction. Tho men still
brealhed heavily from their scramble
across tho field.
Ola sudden a trooper halted and said:
"Helo! there's house," Everyone
paused. The meh turned TO look ut
their leader.
The captain stretched his neck and
swung his head from side TO side. by
George. tits Il house !" he said.
Through the wealth OF leaves there
vaguely doomed tho form OF u large,
white house. These troopers, brown.
faced IRON many Gaya oil 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
sugRestiOu-soma talo OF an unknown
thing which watched them from they
knew not what part oil ii.
A rail fouce girtGd a wide lawn Of
tangled grass. Seven pines stood along
driveway which led from two distaGt
posts Of vanished gate. The blue.
clothed troopers moved forward until
they stood at tho iOnce psaring over II.
Tho captain pHt one band on the top
rail and seemed to be about to climb
the fence, when suddenly he hesitR!ed
aud said in low voice: watson,
what do you think Of III
The Lieutenant stared ut tho house.
"Derned il / knowW no fepliod.
The captain pondored. 1t happened
that tho whole company had turned q
gaze Of profound awe and. doubt upon
this odiGco which confronted them.
The mon werC very silent.
At last the CAPTAIN swore aud said:
1--WE arc certainly a pack OF fools.
DernOd old deserted houte haltlng II
company Of Union cavalry and making
Us gape like babies"
"Yos, but thsro'a someshinG-soine-
thing" insisted the subaltorn in a half
slammer
"Woll, il there's 'somothing-loms-
thing in there, III gs: It out," said tho
captain. "Sond sharpe clOan around to
the other side with about tWoivo men,
so wo will suro bag your 'someIhing-
somelhing md I'll take few OF tho
boys and find out whatsin the damned
old thing"
He chose tue nearest eight men for
his "Storming party" MS tho Lieutenant
called 1t, After he had waited sonu
minutes for the others to get iuto posi-
too, no aatl come ahead to his eight
men and climbed tho fence.
Tho brighter light Of tho tangled
lawn made him Suddenly leVl trcmcn-
dously apparent and ho wondered II
there could bo some mystiC thing in tho
house which was regarding his APP
proach. His men trudeod silently at
hia back, They stared 80 tho windows
and lost themselves IN deep speCula-
tioRs as 10 tho probability OF there be.
ing, perhaps, eyes behind tho blinds
malignant eyes, piercing eyes.
suidealy, u corporal in the party gave
Won't to n startled exclamation, and halt
throw his curbino into position. Tho
captain turned quickly and the corporal
said 81 saw an arm move tho blinds.
An arm with u grey sleeve"
Don't boa fool, Jones, now" said
tho captain, SHARPLY.
"iEWcar t hogan tho corporal, but
tho captain iilsnCcd him.
Whom ttiuy arrived at tho front OF tho
housc, tho troopers paused, while tho
captain wont softly up tho front stops.
Ito stood bcIofO tho lRrgo front door
aad slulipl II. some crickois chirpod
In tho lons grass aud tho nearest pine
could DO heard In its endless sGhs
ono Of tho priyatca moved unoNsily mud
his foot crunchod the gravel. Suddenly
tho captain sworo angrily aud kicked
tho door with loud crash. II flow
opon.
10 NO. CoNflSrEn)