The Hope pioneer., 1899-11-09

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Essrieht 1893. BY J. ?. upp,ncou Col
u.-CoNTINuEp,
This,was the generals way. One mo-
ment he would strike, the next ca
ress. One moment hated, the next
loW.a him. went into the house to
carry out his order, Taking an old
darky with me as guide, I mounted the
stairs, reached q door which I judged
would let me into the room. I sought,
and threw it open. No one there.
.sNow, uncle" I said to the negro,
II want you to take me into every nook
and corner Of this house, from garret
to cellar.'' .s
Eyes, mars" sS
Never have I seen negro more de-
iberate, more profuse, with excuses,
than the one who piloted me on my
search. It was Eyes, mars, jes' wait,
o minute till find de key" or IBIS
do done stuck wild de wedder," OF
"Don't hurry de ole man; de misery's
powerful bad; nobody can't git away
while de sojers is outside"
I drew my saber and poked here and
there, beat it against doors, thrust it
up chimneys, pretending that was do
ing . duty which I was shirlling all
the while. On the floor where had
seen the face we found all the rooms
empty. Above was trap-door with
steps tleading up to it. climbed the
steps, lifted, the trap and stepped in
under the roof. It was singular con-
.struotion, :sloping downward to gut
ter in the center instead of rising to
q peak. Finding nothing, I pulled my
self through an opening and stood on
the roof, looked behind all the Chin
neys, and heaved a sigh of relief that
had found no one. Then, going be-
low, I resumed my searching in the
lower stories. knocking at the door of
room on the second floor, the sum
mons was answered by an old lady. AS
gained an insight into the department,
a bedchamber, I thought saw wom-
ans skirt whisk out of a rear door.
inoSo se1 ed1cA Sue ioo1us 4usauaA, =
said, imperatively. , -.a.s4
Certainly. Come in"
She spoke in so soft a voice and looked
at me in such motherly way out of her
patient eyes that I could have bitten
off my tongue for my demand.
"Never mind" said, coloring. II
see there is no one here.' s.
Better satisfy yourself"
With that she opened the closet door,
pulled out a lounge and turned up the
valance OF the bed. stood hanging
my head like boy caught stealing
jam, then suddenly squared my back
to what she would show me.
"Look," she said, with sweet voice.
"Look?" I repeated, turning and
facing her. sLook through the cham
: ber Of q lady! Have come down here
to do work q detective would shrink
from? I came to fight men, not to force
myself on the privacy of women. I ask
your pardon, madam, for trespassing."
I left the room, my cheeks burning,
and, going downstairs, passed out to
the gallery where the general was wait
ing for me, and reported no one found,
He drew down the corners of his mouth
in way never liked.
Sergeant he said, turning to the
man who commanded the guard, take
q couple of men and search the house, y
The sergeant 'saluted, and, ordering
the men he selected to follow him, went
upstairs. Meanwhile Col. Wilton, the
next officer in rank to the general, rode
up and claimed his commanders atten-
ton, while the girl stood waiting in the
doorway.
Leaning my elbows on the rail,
looked out on the scene ,beforef me.
The sun had set, and the surrounding
hills stood out in silhouette against a
pearl sky, though their sides were
dimly aglow with variegated autumnal
colors-for it was at the end of .Octo.
ber-and chill breeze was coming up
from the SOUTH, Directly below, in the
yard, the men were going into camp,
some unsaddling the horses, some get
ting out cooking utensils, some cutting
boughs on which to sleep. From snake
fence on the other side fthe road troop
ers were carrying rails with which to
make camp fires, some Of which were
already sending out the odor of burning
wood and boiling coffee. Some 20 miles
see, were the hills at whose base ran
80 - -. -. - - v ~, - :
GENERAL With = few h,,ndgad man
eonld maintain b;mse1f oro;ns st The oar'
o1rv ~ +ha ana-,u NOV 1a+ a1o-a .re++;nn ~ 40 ,
enonab ~ +ba rs;1road a. tho exoo+
+;na +ha o+ad +ro;-s 1vo,,I5 ,,.ss -