Evening star., 1900-12-15

fiy is reprfmandcd at West Point for lueling
amt Is withdrawn hy his h!ghsprited father
His homecoming the winter Of 1860 is cele
bratci by old fashioned Kentucky Christmas
gathering Among the guests Daisy Lane,
daughter of Dr. Hollis lawyer. and j. Burnett
M"lloy. hnth Of Cincinnati. The latter brings
letters Of introduction from Lanes pa tner MT
Mcintyre. ard Is courteuuSiy received hut
the jealousy Of Norman Holt by his at
tentions To Daisy Lane Malloy separa es Miss
Lane from The main party during FOX huht'
and the Christmas bail the same evening
affects an air Of proprierorsh,p dstasteful to
Daisy and obnoxious to his rival Norman Holt
But all Ill feeling is forgotten when at mid
night, all surround DIR. Holt to drink the
Christmas punch. which ceremony Is interrupt
ed by midnight messenger, who announces
the dangerous Illness Of Judge Mcintyre. In
vestiraton reveals his financial affairs in
hopeless tangle and the Holt fortune dissipat
ed. Henry and Norman Holt enter Lanes law
Office in Cincinnati. Norman Holt enlists as
private in OHIO infantry. Maoy, through po-
ntcaI influence. Is lieutenant in the same COM
pany. and Henry Holt joins the confederate
forces Norman is ordered to conduct skirmish-
ing party under Capt Wing to Beleview In
search of prominent rebels.
The night was still, cold and sparkling.
A light snow had apparently been sitting
down during the day, for the fields now
spread out before them white and feecy.
All ABOUT the village was seemingly peace
full and wrapped in sumber Up to the
north, the way they came, watchdOgs were
still barking for farms lay thick along the
highway south of the range. but Ash1lt
dogs were less alert or suspicious. Capt.
Wing seemed surprised, even uneasy. Il
half expected 10 find cavalry videttes by
this time" said he. They surely would
have them out if the town were occupied.
lone would think sO,' was the non-cOm-
initial answer, and then one of the attend
ant troopers turned suddenly in saddle and
| held up a warning hand. From under
| clump of timber that stood by the roadside
not more than a hundred yards ahead, and
close to the roadside, there came the lpud,
challenging neigh of a tethered horse, and
instantly Wing bent forward. grpped with
gauntleted hand the nostrils of his charger
and signaled to his party to do the same.
Dne trooper, tritle slow or clumsy, failed,
Tor answering neigh had suddenly be
gun and then was as suddenly choked.
Then over among a bunch of farm build
ings east of the highway a mastiff lifted up
powerful voice and bowwowed loud and
long. Then there were sounds of stamp
ing hocfs down closer to the edge of town.
and neXt-all four plainly it-a tiny
light hickered and fiared minute under
the trees, revealing dimly the shapes of two
saddled horses, then as suddenly blew out.
Somebody, possibly to consult a watch,
had struck light That's cavalry pick
ct as DEATH" whispered a trooper ex-
citedly, but Wing turned on his guide.
do you know who they are-or from
where he muttered, in eager question.
NO. was the low, prompt answer.
Back TO the squadron ordered Wing, in
whisper mo noise now he added.
And not until well out of earshot was the
pace quickened. Yet, despite precaution,
one iron-shod hoof struck aslant upon
stone, and as though from flint and steel
a spark flew into space, and Towser's an
CRY VOW VOW redoubled. Those fellows at
he gHSiI TprTS have II
Wing. '"Tr0t! Ride ahead, orderly Tell
the first lieutenant to mount and lead the
squadron into the crossroad to the west-to
the west, do You hear? Wen oyertake
them later. Halt now, YOU other two
We've got to stay here and drive 'em back
If any Of them come sneaking out to see
who we are. Rein out to the right and
left-oH the road-and keep quiet
For a moment the only sound along the
highway was the dull thud of the orderly's
hoofbeats as he trotted swiftly away Even
that was partly drowned by the cIamor of
the mastiff now scouting the field toward
the fence Norman, silent and stern, reined
round behind the captain as though to con-
front possible corners. He was right The
picket was aroused, and two shadowy forms
OF riders were soon seen coming cautiously
up the pike. Presently voices were family
audible, and the waiting trio sat with bated
breath, the captain with his revolver drawn
Il tell You l saw the spark and heard
the hoof beat. low. yet excited voice was
saying Some fella came down long hyuh
We'll, he's gone now, and were not sum
posed 10 follow single spies all over Kahn
tuck I'm gon' back" was the impatient
answer In whang Norman Holt could have
recognized the word over. 1t was the voice
of a hostler who had cared for his fathers
horses hundred times at the old southern
Inn The other voice was that of a
stranger
Go back If you want to-" was the re-
tort Il don't go till l know more about
what was out hyuh. You tell the boys to
watch out n case want en-
But the stableman would not even ride
back alone.
'Th' amt anybody out this way" said
he, " cep some of our fellas scoutin'. Come
back. tell yuh!' And Asholts unstable
soldier was obviously demoralized by the
mystic terrors of the dark.
BY heaven muttered Wing, between his
set teeth, ha.f turning to his silent guide.
"If We could only nab these two, without
noise. we could find out everything / need
TO know-and then You wouldn't have to
guide
But Holt neither spoke or moved. He
was listening with painful interest to the
tones that even though unmusical, cloWnish
spoke to him Of old and happy days of
the loved and Joyous home. He and the
captain were lurking in the shadows of a
thick clump of timber on the west Size of
the road Fuller. their other trooper was
somewhere, invisible. the other side
The two southern hOrsemen We're by this
time within thirty PAGES. Being out on the
highway the forms could be seen in the
faint moonlight. Again the host,er spoke
Like as not It's jus some fella outen'
the colonelS escort been to see his folks
an come around the long way from Belle
view And Norman the captains pis-
tol hand slowly rising, heard the mutied
click of the lock. and his heart began to
throb and bound. but slowly the hand
was lowered. The captain shook his head
II would Only arouse the whole detachment
wherever they might be. only alarm the
whole ncighbOrhood. and spoil the scheme
that brought him and his ready squadron
SO far forward into hostile territory. If
only something might happen to tempt the
two half a mile farther OUT BY this time
the squadron should be In the saddle and
hi!nS off the pike into the crossroads. Sure
ly! for now the barks of half dozen dogs
burst upon the ear, and the stranger of
the two approaching horsemen impatiently
shook his rein and touched suur to his
mount. II must what's going on to
make all that row." said ne. and fearless,y
cantered ahead, deaf TO the entreaties of
the hOStler. who, refining to a halt gaZed
after him in dismay-gaZed only a minute
for all on sudden revolver was poked
In his face. and a stern voice muttered
zone sound, and you're dead mani" A
practiced hand lashed his wrists together
on the cantle, a shadoWy figure took his
Nil to- T.