The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1897-10-22
"StOp!" she cried.

~
"Stopr she cTied.
tonishment, and for half minute not q
word was said. It was Marian Percy.
She was known by sight to at least hall
of the gang, and the others at once iden-
titled her as 1.-The gal'' they had expect
ed to find in the house. Let us go back
a little. When Uncle Ben left the camp
among the rocks, she had intended tc
follow him within an hour. 1t had
been settled that Kenton must remain
where he was until force of Federals
was brought to the rescue or until it
was known that he was in no peril from
the Confederates. While it was hoped
that Uncle Ben's mission would be sue
cessful all realized the chances of its
failure. Both armies were scouting and
raiding up and down and across. A
hamlet or crossroads or bridge held by
the Federals one day would be in posses
sion of the Confederates on the next,
and vice versa. Uncle Ben might en-
counter troop of Federal cavalry and
bring them to the rescue, or he might
be picked up by Confederate troop or
a gang of guerrillas and sent off some
where to work on Notifications.
''Mebbe the Yanks will come fust,
and mebbe the Confederates, replied
Steve Brayton when appealed to for his
opinion. ''It's goin to be nip and tuck,
reckon, but with the chances leetle
in favor of the Confederates. Kin
make bold to offer some advice?'
''Why, certainly" answered Marian
and Kenton in the same breath.
''Then let Miss Percy head fur home
to once. We can't tell what may be
happenin thar or what's goin to happen
yere. She's Percy and good Conted-
crate, and nobody'll dare disturb the
house. Them blamed guerrillas which
follered us yesterday may open fire yere
any mint, and once they do she cant
git away"
The advice was full of wisdom, and
Marian prepared to start at once.
SCOT any we pins in the house?" asked
Steve as she wal. ready.
ssNo."
Kin yo' shoot a pistol?"
"Of course. have been sorry that
I left mine behind us in Winchester. -
''Then take this revolver. It's big
IN, but guess yo' kin handle it. Bein
yo' ar southern gal, no southern man
orter trouble yo', but yo' can't allus tell
what may happen. If wuss comes to
wuss, bullets will count fur mo- than
words
Kenton advised her to take it, and
Brayton assisted her down to the high
way and said as he left her:
tYo' may hear some shootin up this
way doorin the day, but don't be nary.
us about it and don't run any risks te
. cum and see what the trubble is.
On approaching the house Marian
caught sight of the horses and men and
realized what had happened and was
happening before she had made out the
figure of the loyal old slave chained to
the post. She had felt terribly anxious
about her mother as she came along the
road, and she had grown faint at thought
of the troubles and per1ls surrounding
her, but everything was forgotten the
instant she saw that circle of men. II
was no wonder every man in the gang
looked at her as if spell when she
suddenly appeared in their midst and
cried out to stop Ike Baxter's uplifted
arm. As women despise cowardice in
man, SO do men admire anything ap-
preaching heroism in woman. Mar.
ian rested one hand on the naked shoul.
der of the old slave who had trotted hel
on his knee as child thousand times,
and holding the revolver ready for in.
stant use in the other, her slight form
drawn up, her brown eyes flashing, hel
handsome face hahdsomer than ever be.
fore, she demanded:
"Who are you, and what is the mean.
ing of this?''
Every man instinctively fell back a
step or two. Ike Baxter let his arm fall.
and no one dared look the girl full in
the face. For long half minute nc
one spoke. Then Ike, shifting from one
foot to the other and looking past he,
instead of at her, muttered:
1--WE uns. cum yere to captur' that
cussed Yankee and pay this niger 81
fur smashin my head last night!'
''Yes. that's what we uns cum furv
added two or three others.
Marian deposited her weapon on the
ground and proceeded to cast off the
chain by which Uncle Ben was secured
to the post. Some of the men crowded
a little. nearer. and some muttered an6
cursed, but no one interfered. Whe1
the slave was free, she signed to him to
put en- his garments, picked up the
weapon, and sweeping her eyes around
the circle she said:
''You speak of capturing Yankee
Who is he-where is he?'
.'Yo' know who we mean,'' replied
IKE Baxter, who was recovering his as
surance sooner than the others. I'VE
uns want Kenton, that cussed Yanket
spy!''
.'Aye, he un's the mani" growlet
three or four others.
t'And you call him Yankee-you
Ike Baxter!" she replied as she steppet
forward to face him. He enlisted
when you did. He fought when yol
ran away. He has encountered scor'
of dangers to your one. He has done
more for the cause of the south than al
of you combined. When you call hin
a Yankee spy, call you cur, and i
coward, and disgrace to the uniform
you wear!"
CHAPTER XXvI.
The gang had gone far enough-per
haps toe far. The Percys were loya
southerners and people of influence, ant
fhis disnraceful raid. even though mad,