The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1903-06-05

are you OH TO, homes
The sergeant in charge replied gruff-
~, as was his wont.
There were so many prisoners COM
ing in | had no time to get my blan-
kets Take the keys till come back"
He went out, but he did not go to the
barracks for his blankets. 1t was dark
and moonless now, and at the foot Of
the bluff he met the girl. She was very
pale, but in her there was no sign of
fear Her eyes gittered with determi-
nation. He tried to take her hand, but
she withdrew it and whispered:
Not yet-not until it is done. Is he
ready?"
"He ought to be ready. | have done
all can" he answered a little sullen-
ly. AT midnight | shall engage No. Is
attention"
She gave little laugh of triumph.
Il must see him." she said. Il must
say goodby. | know the window
He flashed UP at that with suspicious
anger.
what do you want to see him forF'
he whispered sullenly. You told me TO
save him, and have, but-but you are
mine now. | don't want you TO see
him"
She laughed and put her hand in his.
Il know, Holmes" she said, you are
true and-and | love you better than |
ever did. but
He interrupted her by passionately
kissing her hand, and, STOPPING, he
could not note her frown.
But that poor boy! He loved me,
too. and-and let me say goodby"
He let her go, and she slipped up the
bluff and so to the barred window. At
once FavaPs hand caught hers.
THE barr" she whispered. 1T is
loose. The horses are at the cotton
wood clump on the river. Noel. Noel.
be CAREFUL
my darling, l shall be there - or
shot"
She was back with Holmes immedi-.
ately, and, though her eyes sparkled,
she wiped them with her handkerchief
Poor fellow she said and paused
and then went on: And so he is gone
forever Thank you, sergeant. II do
like you now
Holmes took her in his arms and
kissed her.
God bless you, Katy" he said, filed
with love, land may he forget me If
do not make you happy all your lifer'
He left her, dazed at that caress. and
went back to his duty, and the girl
looked after him with a smile and a
sigh.
The night passed on, punctuated by
the yawning sentries' calls. The men
marveled at their sergeant's unaccus-
toned cheerfulness. He chatted with
them and laughed. They remembered
afterward that for once they had heard
mes laugh. He did not lie down.
At d. . the sentry called the hour and
Holmes shortly afterward left him,
saying he would patrol round the
guardhouse. At Favars window he
stopped. No noise came from within
save that Of the prisoners shores. He
peered inside and made out that Fa-
walls hammock was empty. One bar
hung loose from it's fastening at the
top. The sergeant put it in place soft
ly.
"He is gone" he thought. "Out of
the way-out of the way-out of the
way, and she is promised to mel"
The relief went out at / o'clock, and
soon the tired sentries relieved came
trampng in with the corporal. Holmes
was lying on his bunk in the office, but
not asleep. Sleep was r from his
glad eyes. He heard the sentries Cos
sip as they prepared to lie down.
ANY of the officers giving a party
tonight"
Don't know. Why?"
"'Cause a man and a woman gal
lOped past on the river trail. / could
just see them from No. 6. They were
going Bar ranch way, and thought
they'd maybe been visiting in officers
row."
Holmes raised his head-a man?
That was all right. \ woman? Who
could they be? He sat up on the edge
Of his cot. y terrible thought filled his
mind. 1t could not be. Yet. yet
dared she play that trick? For a min
ute he sat still, and then without n
word of excuse he left the guardhouse.
He went straight to Mother Malone's.
/ The angry woman was still sitting
/ there, awaiting her husband and
daughter.
"Where is Katy?' the sergeant ask
/ ed, and his face was so white that the
scars stood out upon his brow and
/ cheeks in scarlet.
where, indeedY' cried Mrs. Malone.
/ THE baggage! She's not been i'm to-
night! She'll leave my house! Holmes.
Holmes! What is it? What has she
/ done now?'
With loud curse the sergeant turned
on his heel and rushed off. He made
/ for the stables of his troop and reused
the stable sergeant by furious blows
on the gate.
"My horse. by order of the officer of
the day." he hoarsely yelled. ~ pris-
oner has escaped
IL he had been capable of thought,
capable of planning a sure revenge, he
would first have reused the guard and
sent half a troop after the fugitives.
n -.