Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1897-02-12

nj.
At ten o'clock that dark and gloomy
Sunday night Mr.. Lambert stood in
front of his tent, leaning on his sword
and listening in silence to the confer
ence going on between his commander
and the civil officers of the law. Close
had come home in high dudgeon, and
was, as usual, slow and cautious, but
more than usually reluctant and suspi-
cious. Fuming over the failure of the
mission on which he had started SO
confidently, believing himself "tricked
by the enemy" and now offered ample
revenge and assured of success through
the information rendered him, he never
theless faltered. Lambert, returning
from the round of his sentries, was
taken unawares by the sudden question:
This gentleman says the old lady
knew just where we had gone and just
when we would get back. What do you
think of it?"
tits matter l know nothing about,
sir" was the answer, Except that she
did say she was writing letter to be
given you on your return this evening,
ing on your return"
"Yes. Here's the letter, by Jove, and
it's worse puzzle than before. And
here's the deputy marshal back with
increased powers, new orders, search
warrants, and God knows what all.
I'm willing enough to back you in deal
| ing with men, Mr.. Parmelee," said the
captain, turning again to the eager
civilian, "but the lieutenant has had
these sentries posted 40 minutes and
there hasn't been a sound. 1 don't
want any searching of house that
holds nothing but women, because you
think some of your Jail birds are
there"
II tell you, captain, there's no room
for doubt. The negroes have seen
them. They told Mr.. Jarvis, here, and
told him the mules were to be there be-
fore ten o'clock to carry 'em off out Of
harms way. Your man Murphy admits
he saw one last night-one of the
scroggses, sure, by the description, and
his brother is with him there, I'll bet
hat"
81 don't believe it" sturdily answered
Close. "Only last August she turned
Walton Scroggs away from her door
with such tongue-lashing as never
heard; an that's saying a good deal.
She forbade him ever setting foot with
in her gates again. heard her; SO
did half the men in this company"
II know all about that. He has been
i'll love with his cousin, the elder of the
Walton girls, as long as / can remem-
Der, and because of his shiftless habits
the old lady wouldn't listen to it. Then
they took to meeting by stealth, and
she found it out. She discharged old
Rasmus for no other reason than that
he carried letters for them. I've tried
to bride him twice to tell where Wa
Scroggs was hiding, but the old nigger's
damn fool-with starving wife, too
!. They tell me he was seen round here
day or two since, asking for Riggs
and he's been carrying letters again
The old lady wouldn't have him there
before, perhaps, but she would shelter
him now, when the government de
mands his surrender. But, even if sht
J wouldn't, Esther Walton would. tel
you they're there, captain, and They'll
be off and out of our reach this night i
you fail to take them now"
, Close was pulling on a soldiers over
J coat at the moment, and stopped t,
J listen to some sound down the dark re
cesses of the bottom" along the wind
ing stream.
"It's the mules now!" began Parme
) lee, excitedly, but Close held up warn
ing hand.
"If it is, my men will nab 'em, that
} all. Now you've been the means of m
tal1in' the men on more'n one long wild
goose chase afoot-that telegram Q
yours was enough to give the Who'll
scheme away-and of my bein' invited t
be damn fool enough to fight two duel
this afternoon. Both Col. Scroggs an
Mr.. Barton Potts, by thunder. want m
ferred to satisfy myself Mr. We
Scroggs wasn't in the old Gibson plac,
stead of talsin' their word of honor 70
it. There's sick lady there who wa
scared of Yankee uniforms; but I
rather search all Tugaloo and Quitma
and hell together than rout out old Mi
Walton tonight. They can't get OF
past my sentries. They're sure to L
nabbed if they try. Let 'em try, I sa.
business. Then they can be arreste
without disturbin' anybody in tt
house"
But Parmelee was dissatisfied. II
had been chaffed, jeered at, maddene
over the escape of his prisoners. Tw
Of them-the worst of the lot, so far
he could judge-were here now, with
his grasp, if he could but persuade Clio:
to act. He had still card to play, ar
it was trump lead.
II did send you a telegram steerir
you to Gibson's, and I did it becau
the marshal himself SO directed; for
was he who was sure that was whe
they had taken refuge. Scroggs al
his precious kinsman, Potts, probab
got warning in time to send their tv
refugees away, and now they've had Il
cheek to hide them here, right und
your nose. Talk about the reco
you've made as preserver of the pea
down here; how'll it read all over Il
north that, after being released fro
Jail in the presence of Capt. Closes con
pany, the worst of the gang-men u
der indictment for murderous assal
: on United States officers in discharge
their dutics-came and took up the
residences across the road from Ca]
Closes camp and dared him to TIA
them. That's the way it'll readily &C
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