The bee., 1902-07-10
A,OUNG COURIER
TALE OF THE CIVIL WAR
BY
BLUE G., BARD,
CHAPTER VIII.


de winder and watch dat front gate
for me. don't want no solgers to
dash up dar an ketch me In dis
house"
"Yes, I'll watch for you," and
Ida took seat where she could see
the front gate.
Dolph came staggerii g in with a
huge log on his shoulders, one that
would las, all night" he said. He
dropped his hat on the mat at the
hall door. and had just laid his log
behind the andirons when Ida
sprang into the middle of the floor
and called out, run, Dolph, run,
here are two at the gate"
The man did not take time to pick
up his hat, but was out of the house
like streak, and had almost reach
ed Aimee and her boiling soap be-
fore the two we'll mounted and
we'll armed biue-coats Guild gallop
around the end of the house and
overtake him.
Both had their pistols pointed at
him and called on him to halt.
Dolph took no notice of the men,
but seizing hold of the pot-hooks on
one side he said to Aimee "you say
you want help bout dis soap?"
Eyes, dat's what called you fur"
said Aimee, taking the hint imme-
diately.
They lifted the pot from the fire,
and the soldiers, feeling badly sold,
turned their horses and rode slowly
back to the house, and one of them
dismounting put the reins of his
bride into the hands of his comrade
and entele ed to begin search.
AS soon as their backs were turn
ed to Dolph he leaped the fence and
was seen no more that day.
The blue-coat searched hurriedly.
He said in his broken English, "Me
hunting for guns" He turned up
the beds at the head and foot, looked
behind furniture, under the beds; he
tried to see if the carpet was loose
enough to hide anything under it.
Fanny became amused at his great
hurry, and ventured to suggest that
he would find more if he would go
slow.
II knows me own beesnis, mat
am" he answered angrily.
AS he crossed the hall the man
holding the horse said something to
him and rode around to the front,
near the gate they had entered.
They were both Dutch and it was
difficult to understand them, but he
Immediately turned back to the door
and demanded to know "where dat
man has gone dat was dare when we
come"
"I guess he is In the yardwith the
woman" Fanny said.
mo he not; 1 know where he
gone"
"Where ?" asked Fanny.
"Gone for bushwhackers," he said
savagely.
"That may be-" Fanny said, "for
there are plenty of them around"
This seemed to make him very an
CRY. He turned about several times
now this way and now that, as If
trying to decide what was best to
do, and then started for his horse.
AS he mounted he called out, IT
find notings; l bring somebody will
find Something's"
All had crowded to the door to see
them ride away, but there was a
falling back when the two, as they
left the gate, turned in their saddles
and pointed their reyolvers as if to
shoot at the house, either to frighten
the women, or because they thought
they had sent the man for BUSH
whackers.
What relief to the feelings of the
sisters to hear them gallop off and
know they were gone.
But that threat of Bringing some
body that would find something gave
them great anxiety of mind. Itwas
getting near the close of the short
winter day. They had slept only
few hours the night before, and had
worked all the morning and now to
have another night of unrest was too
hard.
Supper was eaten early and doors
and windows fastened as securely as
nails and props would fasten them.
Every little noise sounded three
times as loud as it ordinarily would,
and at every sound in the distance,
the sisters would listen eagerly,
thinking that the Dutch soldier was
carrying out his threat.
The happy little children had
ceased their play, and were asleep
for the night.
Dear little innocent ones; blue
cCat and grey coat were all one