The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1897-04-14

of them-the worst of the lot, so far as
he could judge-were here now, within
his grasp. il he could but persuade Close
to act. He had still a card to play, and
il was trump lead.
81 did send you telegram steering
you to Gibson's, and i did it because
the marshal himself so directed; for il
was he who was sure that was where
they had taken refuge. Scroggs and
his precious kinsman, Potts, probably
got warning in time TO send their two
refugees away, and now they've had the
cheek TO hide them here, right under
your nose. Talk about the record
you've made as preserver of the peace
down here; how'll it read all over the
north that, after being released from
Jail in the presence of Capt. Closes COM
pany, the worst of the gang-men un-
der Indictment for murderous assault
on United States officers in discharge OF
their duties---came and took up their
residences across the road from Capt.
Closes camp and dared him to take
them. That's the way it'll readily God,
If you don't act tonight"
IL
the man. Parmelee was no fighter, man
TO man, steel to steel; that the war vet
eran knew well; but the Yankee school
master of ante-bellum days had learned
to use his wits and his tongue. He
could argue, if he couldn't face bullet.
The stalwart soldier who, single-hand-
ed, had captured a squad Of astonished
trench defenders before Vicksburg and
had faced the blazing battle line with
dauntless front score of times, looked
helplessly n moment into the face of
this keen fencer, then turned appeal
ingly to the young West Pointer, as
though to ask: Isn't there something
in your education to answer this?" But
Lambert was silent. From first to last
the lesson taught him at the national
academy was subordination of the mill
tary TO the civil authority
"Well, go ahead. You're boss, s'pose.
can only follow. What d'you want me
TO do?" said Close.
81 want you to search that house and
get those men," was Parmelee's answer.
And then there was another moment
of oppressive silence; then sudden start
and alarm.
Down the Tugaloo road TO the south,
at the farthest corner of the fence
which surrounded the Walton place,
there was pathway leading through
the brush to the level bottom" below.
Somewhere in this direction, but be-
yond the corner, only few seconds be-
fore. had been heard a sound like that
of bray nipped suddenly in the bud
of a mules essay at vocalism checked
summarily with a club. At this point
where road and pathway came together
Lambert had posted Private Green,
reliable soldier of many years expe-
rience, and when Green challenged
there was reason for il. Low and stern
his voice was heard distinctly at the
listening camp: "Who comes there?"
followed almost Immediately by the
sharp order: Halt! Halt, or l fire."
Waiting for no order, Lambert was
off like dart, Burns following with
lantern. Again came the cry: Haiti"
but the promised shot was not heard.
Even when running at speed past the
gate of the Walton place, the young
officer could not resist a quick glance
at the dark facade of the old homestead.
Already a light was dancing along the,
porticc, another cleaning at an upper.
window.
whats the matter, sentry?" he
painted, as he came upon the dark figure
at the turn of the road. Green, with his
rifle at ready" was peering into the
gap in the tangle of shrubbery.
"Some one was coming up there, sir,
and ran the instant ! challenged. [
ought to have let him get up to me and
then halted him, but had regulations
instead of sense in my head" said
Green, New Highlander with a propen
sity for talk. Hes out o harms
way"
But Lambert waited to hear no more.
With Burns at his heels he sprang down
the dim pathway, and had not gone 30
yards before he came upon some strug-
Cling object crashing into the brush
towards the stream. Halt" he
shouted, and, while something halted.
other something's, with muttered oaths,
went plunging on. He heard splash,
hoofs gathering over gravel, the lash
ing of whip, and then all was still
across the dark open space through
which flowed the sluggish "brancb."
But here among the bushes were two
wondering quadrupeds, one mule
with broken bridle-rein, the other, as
Burns lantern speedily showed, 4
Cherokee pony-both saddle6. \ cor
poral came running TO join them and in
moment the beasts were led back 10
the road way, where Close and Parmelee
by this time stood ready TO receive them.
One glance was all the latter needed.
What did l tell you, captain ?" said
he, in triumph. That is Wal Scrocgs'
own pony, and the masters hiding there
at the Walton place"
Ten minutes more and a strange, SOL
emn scene was being enacted at the
head of the steps leading up to that
broad, vine-covered old porch, whose
dingy white columns doomed dim and
ghostly in the glare of lantern and cam
die. The door was thrown wide open,
and on the worn coping-stone, calm,
dignified, erect, even though leaning