The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-06-04


ring sagacity. had finally come to suspect
the man. and had then lost him of a sud
den.
Curtis had seen him now four times. but
never face to face. only in the darkness.
And the way the man had eluded him had
hurt the young lieutenant's pride. besides
giving his strong. serious nature difficult
task that fitted into his desire for hard
labor of any sort.
IN come up with the man. If it takes
the powers of hell to do it," he declared
one night after we had spent the evening
ward of Teller's Point.
"Egad, Rob. pity him." cried Acton.
for yen come up with him some day. and
then will there be a short but unpleasant
hour for him
IF ever 1 meet him." said the other
calmly. twill be short affair, for tbs
between him and me now; and. if you'll be-
lieve it, I'm blessed IL 1 do not think he
knows it."
''Yen do it. by Cad. Rob, yen do it,
surer' said the other with that boundless
confidence Of an open. enthusiastic nature
in one who is always reserved and unen-
thusiastic to fault.
rival we spent half the time securing the
country. looking for this ghost with the
cape coat and phantom horse. To confess
truth. had some doubts of the Importance
OF the work, which showed how little I
knew of the intriguing and under-current
work going on at this otherwise strangely
stagnant period of the war. Twas on such
an expedition that Acton had nearly lost
lie &c 4 oy,o ,I-
twas no child's play to roam about the
country to the south of US. infested as it
was with all the outlaws of the northern
part of the colonies.
These villains preyed on any one, and we
were good meat for them. Two or three
| running fights we had in these ten days,
as it was, but without results of any kind,
save the lesson of knowing when to run
away. Yet could Acton never get this bet
ter part of valor into his head for twas
| always hard task to make him retire. AS
on the day l first met him, he would
| brighten UP at the prospect of a fight. and
| would tackle any number of SINNERS that
| might fall in with us with a laugh on his
| lips and joy in his heart. And then, when
we had finally got him away, once actually
leading his horse against his will. he would
1 NdASS uS IOuuOlg lOI al uOuEs anu lNeH peg
our pardon.
Yet with all this the time dragged with
me, for had hoped to get a commission to
| search for Arnold. and each day that
passed made this more hopeless. Once we
| heard that he lay in New York: again.
that he had gone to England; still again.
that he had joined CORVALLIS in the south.
had, of course, told my story to my two
friends, and we had here again agreed to
| work together. should 1 ever gain permits
sion to go forth in search of him. The idea
| brought more life and color to Curtiss face
than anything I had witnessed since MAX
| ing his acquaintance; for, cool though he
was and little given to enthusiasm, this
was work after his own heart. In fact,
his mind seemed gradually to settle upon
| that, too, as piece of work he must have
a hand in.
Then, too, my mind would continually
bark back to a face that would not down
| from my thoughts, and 1 wondered night
after night 1 lay in my bed-for the
coloners aids actually did have beds-what
she did now, and now; where she was;
what might be her sorrow and trouble that
had taken her from her home and why
| fate should have set the insurmountabIe
barrier Of a great war between us. OF the
| episode of Gowan's Tavern in which one
James Marvin had taken so significant a
| part 1 thought but little and spoke not at
| all, because, indeed, il meant naught. And
yet twas strange satisfaction that would
run through my blood, to think that this
one unknown woman of all others in the
| world had stood beside there, had rid
! den with me the next morning, and, what
ever she might have felt. had certainly
| trusted me. If could see her once again,
under happy circumstances! II I could
watch the sudden changes of mood fly one
after another across her fair face! Aye, If
| 1 could II 1 couldi If
| And In walked Curtis with his usual
careless step and undisturbed countenance.
to say:
Get your kit together. lad. We go on
something worth while this night"
Without a word, took my sword from
the corner and got pistol and boots ready.
Twas only a moment, and we went over
| to his room, where sat Jack Acton, ready
as well.
1--WE take twenty men. and ride south
Are you ready?"
why twenty men, Rob?" asked Acton
Let US do 1t alone, whatever it may be-"
1--WE shall need them all. Nothing more
| here. The walls can hear and talk of it,"
Still, l do not see,'' went on the big fell
low; but he followed after.
Outside. over by the barracks with his
usual precision, Curtis pointed out to US
the troop OF twenty men. ready mounted,
| and our horses standing by. 1 was up on
| Roger at once, for had the dear old nag
again safe and sound. And we rode away
south, giving the word and a greeting TO
| the pickets as we passed out of camp into
the night and the uncertain neutral coun-
| try. The command had been passed along
| for silence, and so We rode hour by hour
steadily southwark, until by the distance
my heart began to beat faster. for by now
| 1 had begun 10 know the country and 1
saw we must be fast nearing a certain
fated house. If could but see her oncei
This way. Jack and Balfort." said Cur
| tbs out of the darkness; and we moved a
hundred yards in advance of the troop.
I'VE are getting near the place."
And l should like to know" began
| Acton.
why we are here? Well. listen. There is
an impression that an attempt has been
| planned TO recapture Andre, who was TO
have been taken tonight down this side
| of the river and carried over to the other
/ t.1- -. HI nav 70 Tappap FOR The