The Farmington times. [volume] (Farmington, Mo.) 1874-1902, 1900-03-15

CHAPTER XIII.-CovTISUgn.
Amcs pushed me toward the opening. and
! squeezed through feeling solid boards uu'
der m, feet. and being greeted by such
strong smell of Old has that ! might have
been iu the heart Of an ancient rick. And
this proved 90 be- the case, for ] soon heard
thc story of this hole Of refuge. /, had been
made inside the barn and beneath the nov,
ard was now scanijly covered with the III,
af has the British had O habit oi leaving
FARMERS % take the curse from their whole
sale robbery. There was no entrance to this
concealed den save the la0srued board, and
oil. cracks and openings being stuffed with
w.sps. from the outside tins part Of the
batllng seemed bursting from iullness
Twas thn finest masking ui retreat that
could be imagined, and hero one might lie
arI rs-ape hanging nd hc yUnturcd not
abroad. though there would be starvation
foo gfapple with, and ~ small danger Of
smnIhrruE. for the heat was vile, the air
heav,, 1uI there was no means 90! yentlla.
ton,
Ms companion followed me into this Ia.
closure. quickly Tgaliustiug the board. aud,
as though familiar with the place struck his
steel aud got a iight in pierced tin lantern,
winch Doe set on the end oi an upturucd log
serving ay table on the top Of which lay
scrap oi paper
This ha seized, and, bending low 10 the
amwrr. rood the contents while ] took 90
the "details 1i th, queer apartment. The
Tough boards OF the room were barren oi
every ,hug save rifle hanging 90 @ nail,
ani the wisus ~ has that penetrated each
,rey.rc from the NOV without y heap oi
smllI arms lay 10 one corner w another was
H,nuHg bunk with straw a. the foot u
wh.h was q closely strapped bundle filled
as aitrrvarl found, with provisions 60 he
u-ri M 'hr extremity OF being driven O. this
lsruat for pTuln.lUl stay. II was hiding
place pure aud simple and not one Go De- dc
Tended rave hy secrecy, iur brand touched
ln aus part Of 90, structure would reduce %
90 l.hfs IN ic-. than au hour.
It's al right" said AmcF. raising he
bead as ! finished my brief survey. I'VE
arc not bound in this hole yet We may 60
90 ihc house aud sleep like modern Chris
tom. fog once more at least Come
Extnut,hIng the light he looscned the
hoard aud vc passed out. the nlgh' AIR com.
ln4 to thr lungs lke a coolies balm after
irr hra, and closoncsa Of the contracted
den
There Is little danger Tor the mex: few
hnurs." be whispered as we made a straight
.rs Tor the house The rcdJUI', were here
this noon aud searched the place, but my
che hos WAS then IN the barn They will
hardly Try here again until they have beaten
up other quarters. 'Tis a sorry outlook,
lhoyndykel Have you not in your head o
way oil this island3 Think hard. man! We
must both think hard. and thea take
chances. however desperate. You aye will.
ing that We pull together he concluded in.
trrroFltiycly
H. his carnestncss be dropped his assumed
manner OF speech, and there was an appeal
IN hs voice that made me think Il was not
tor himself lac was most anxious. However,
] could eve him no comfort only saying
that I had small head for thought until !
could clear my brains with sleep, but that II
taken, though It were barren OF gain, !
would send some OF the enemy ahead Of us
TO announce our coming. Then ] laid my
hand IN his aud sworc ! would stand by
MIN. ami his brother, too, 1t need tie Though
such swearing seemed useless in the face Of
mattcrsl, telling him would he but an un.
grateful brute to desert him after he had
lost his chance for help at the tavern by
giving his hand in my behalf.
We had halted on our way, aud in the
darkness we came 10 the agreement each 10
stand by the other so long a. q chance 20
help remained. Twas a compact burrlrdly
thought Of and hurriedly made, but there,
under the stars diuly showing overhead,
was completed a bond that failed not.
Twas made through necessity and became
strengthened by love Not conceived m an
excess oi happiness nor backed by the
rxuborancC or fictitious generosity Of strong
drink, not even expected to extend beyond
the present period OF danger, Il held through
life Ike an invisible chain.
There was no delay in getting into the
house Though every window | could see
was closed by solid wooden shutters, the
back door stood wide for entry, and ] soon
found myself in what was probably the
kitchen. Ii was pitch black within. hat
Amss knew hts whereabouts, and I, with
my hand on his shoulder. followed him
through this room into q hall and up a
nght Of stairs. At the top a mans voice
broke out with:
who's theref"
"seyenl" spoke Ames 10 return.
''Fiye." was the answer.
well enough And | have a friend, -
said my companion. And without more
parley he went ahead and up more stairs,
opening trap or hatch, and landing IN The
garrett at last, where be struck light.
The room was undivided aud took Ia thu
entire ground plan Of the hOuse. So large
was il that tho single candle failed 10 clear
A. ..I.a.,, f,,,, tba enr,sr. a,A ....aa ths
great raiters spanning the space overhead
deeply mysterious. Two immense chin.
nsys pssrcrd the floor and went out a. tho
root, but beyond these the sweep OF level
was unhroken save by large bed with cur.
tains. table. and several chairs. A half
moon window at either gable end was LEI
high into the wall. A long ladder leading to
one Of them showed II had been used as a
post % observation. but now both we're eafe-
iallY covered TO prevent any interior light
reaching abroad.
Here, thea, wcre comfortable quarters al
last. Ii was none too cool, bi:i there was
plenty Of air, and eoald but ret . Bite and
a few hours sleep felt sousrth hing might
come Of II, especially NJ there was n safe
hiding place nesr at hand which could b,
uaed at pinch, and such possible refuge
woald prove a mighty factor Ia preventing
decentralization.
was iookiHg at the trapped hole IN the
floor through which we hsd Genre when
heard a feossiep on The stairs and mac ~
prared from below. Tia rsse into sisht ~
though there was no cad 10 him, 20 tan and
g.ent was be. anA "a he came 10 the isshs
s4s that As psssesssS bat emf era. cad thai