The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-06-11

from the knee. and stretching out his neck
he sped on.
Running up a grade and turning the top
of a hill. laughed out Load 20 sc -a--s
valley beneath tents and flags and all the
signs of camp. and knew that Tappan
lay but a couple of miles away. Turning in
the saddle 1 waved my two arms at the
men.
They came laundering on. and the one
in the lead discharged his pistol though il
was far out of range. Looking ahead. /
caught a bit OF road beneath and saw the
last of a troop of horse coming this way.
And that gave me an idea, which the wind
ing road suggested. Speeding on down the
hill 1 turned a sharp corner and jumped
Roger up bank into the timber and under
brush. and then throwing my arms round
his nose. held him close as the three ratified
by. In a moment / was out on the highway
and following after. still with the reins on
the good horses neck and pistol III either
hand.
Twas too good 10 be true. A fool will al
ways spoil his own game. For I wheeled
round another curve in the steep and mar
row descent and came plump upon the
three standing still and stopping the high
way. Whether they had seen or heard the
approaching troop / never knew, but four
men more astonished il would be hard to
find. There was not an instant 20 think or
decide on action. 1 ran amongst them liter
ally. having only sense enough 10 clap spur
deep in Rogers flesh. Twas a new sensa-
ton for him. for ne and I never needed steel
10 keep US moving, and the beast leapt for
ward in amazement, as l fired on either
side. They were no fools-those country
men"-for / had no more than got through
when quick report was followed by a
sting in my left hand and the pistol
dropped to the ground. while wrung the
arm and cursed the hends roundly Down
got on the horses neck and for an In
slant waited for my end.
It's a long time such an instant but IL
had its end. Another shot sounded in the
clear morning air. and ! heard howl in
front and saw a horse go down as the
troop came trotung around the curve. Up
came Roger and wheeled about at a pres
sure OF the knee just in time 10 see two OF
them turn about while the third lay still
in the road.
No explanation was needed. but I cried
out 10 them 10 take the men. and some
started In pursuit. while We picked up the
the fire Of the powder from my close shot
And out Of his pocket came a paper. that
gave me a greater respect for Curtiss
ghost" than l had yet had-gave me, TOO.
a sense OF insecurity that / had not felt
in that long ride.
The paper. which / read with the lieu
tenant who commanded the troop. was
this:
"You are 20 cover the road 20 Tappan
from Gowan's Ferry. Watch for a man IN
neutenants uniform. Balfort by name; get
him alive II possible. But get him Take
the woman who is with him and hurt not a
hair OF her head. / follow the other two
with the prisoners. Meet me at Gowan's
Tavern tomorrow night. Wait two days
there and then return. HAZELTINEr
Narrow escape. lieutenant" said the
young officer.
Indeed il was" said I. absently. and
then. waking up. I told him enough OF the
story TO persuade him 10 let me go on.
AS l rode slowly into the camp. / began
10 understand the feeling Curtis had for
this extraordinary man. and 20 feel that
he knew by some strange. almost super
natural means what going on IN the
American army. Yet twas simple enough.
He had taken the generals messenger.
and. reading the dispatch. had sent cut
men 10 take me. Yet the thing ranked IN
my mind all the way 10 headquarters. and
after. while l waited the return or General
Washington.
ITO Be Continued on Fridsy.l
tcopyright lsol, by Frank A. Munsey as In ths
shacow Of War" Copyright lso2. 10 Doda