The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-01-16
PART III.

PART III.
Dressing himself noiselcssly. var
borough unbarred the door, opened II
and went down the road in the moon
light. He had scarcely left the door
step when dis wife rose. drew on her
dress, crept 10 the door and looked after
him. She heard him repeat the whip
poor-will's call, and saw eight or ten
men ride out of the bushes TO meet him.
Lord have mercyl" she nruttered.
"The whole gang is heer; don't see how
ON earth I can save i'm" But out of her
sheer despair rose plan for the boys
escape. Going TO the stable, she quick
Iy bridled and saddled his horse, and
left him fastened TO bush In the edge
of the woods back of the cabin. Then
she crept round TO the front door. bend
ing near the earth, SO as not to 'seen'
and took a hasty look down the road.
Tho men had dismounted and stood
grouped around her husband. They
were planning an attack.
Fastening into the cabin, and shud-
dering at the sound Of the puncheons
creaking under her feet, she mounted
the ladder To the loft. The moonlight
shonc through little shutterless win
dow. and fell on the bed of the young
soldier, who was SO sound asleep that
he did not stir till she had touched
him. But she had no sooner done SO,
than he sat up and laid hold of the re-
volver lying ready Gt his hand.
Its Jest me-" she said in cautious
whisper. "Git up as quick as you pos
sibly can. Thar's whole gango' BUSH
whackers out thar ready to rob you"
at reckon not" he said. not yet fully
awake. but she heard him cock his re-
volver the next instant, and knew he had
comprelsended her warning.
"Hurry up" she said. "Ive got yore
boss ready tied in the bushes"
He was holding his revolver between
his taeth. and grunted impatiently as
he drew on his coat over his bandaged
arm. "Pm ready" he said, as he FOL
lowed her to tho ladder, "but If didn't
have Tom Br;nntley's money and that
hoss 10 look after, I'd jest like to let 'em
mell my pow6rr-the dirty dogsl"
They reached the floor beneath and
she held up her hand warningly, while
she peered through the door.
"Thank goodness, theyare down thar
Wit. but--but come on quick; they're
a-comin'! Follow me round the house!
Stopp as low as you cam"
Half a minute later they had reached
his horse.
"Git up," she said, and she aided him
to mount. "I'll show you way through
the woods. When they find you gone,
they'll think you went the main road.
] kin lead you to another big road, an
they will never kotch you in the world"
They had gone about a quarter OF n
mile. she keeping ahead, and parting
the bushes and briarss, when the young
soldier said:
Hold on thar kin git through the
bushes an snags better than you can
with yoro dress a-dr,ggin', en- soalsin'
wet with dew. You git up heer an let
me vaut."
Ssh! IL ain't fur" and she raised her
hand warningly. and continued on her
why till they had reached spot where
the trees grew very densely; then she
stopped and stepped back to him. She
was painting heavily, and her hair was
wet with dew.
Listen" she said. with grim smile.
They couldn't find us heer, but they
sre In the cabin now. That sound was
the ladder a-fallin', I fixed ii 30 1t would
slide to one side the minute anybody
eot on II. Thar! heer 'em q cussin';
thew have discovered yore escape.
Thank hsay.n!"--as n olatter Of horses
boots oame to them on the still air"
THAR they go up the big road like rips.
They will try to overtake you, never
imaginin' you went this way. Comeon;
t'ottcr big road Is right out thar. When
you git ON IL, you'll be all right"
A moment later the long yellow road
way lay before them. stretching up
wards in the moonlight
II reckon I'd better turn back" she
said. Keep straight ahead, and you'll
git 70 Ellijay some time in the mornin'.
But was Just a-thinkin'; you never
told us yore name"
Roberts" he replied, smiling. "And
I've eat yore meat an breed an slept
in yore house. 'thout so much as akin
yone'n."
"Yarborough," she said.
Marlborough" he repeated. why.
I've got a granddaddy an grandmam-
my down In Faffhin county by that
name. 1t amt a common one. Coot
Marlborough was his name. My mother
left 'cm fore was born"
She had turned very white and laid
. trembling hand on the boys leg,