Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-12-31
nat friend Of liberty could expe!

buL IL CA4 VI hOClIy NSoAo S0PSSS
less?" he protested, smiling. "Are you
a recent recruit, sir, that you marvel at
the good fellowship among us7'
''Are you, too, of that fellowship" I
exclaimed, amazed to find rebels in
uniform.
He looked at me rather blankly.
you'll scarce find Tory in the regi-
ment," he said, beginning to be anus
ed at my ignorance. "As for Colonel
Cresaps colonists yonder, I'll warrant
| them all save some twoscore malig-
nants Ike Greathouse, the storekeeper,
and the company he keeps"
II am afraid do not merit your con-
fdence in matters touching the fellow
ship to which you and my friend
Mount adhere" said stifhy, dctermin-
ed not to wear false colors.
Corporal Cloud cut me short with a
hearty laugh.
II guess Jack Mount knows what he
is about" he said, clapping me on the
shoulder. "Half our men are some
what backward and distrustful, like
you, but I'll warrant them when the
time comes!'
Plainly the first thing to be done was
to get out of the fort This accom-
plished without the slightest trouble,
nobody questioning me, and i shortly
found myself in the road, which APP
peared to be the main street of Ores
APIS village.
Presently passed double log
house, from the caves Of which dan
gled green bush. The door bore q
painted signboard also, representing q
large house with arms and legs like q
man, at which puzzled, but could not
guess the significance.
/ needed salt, having for the last
my corn withal, so entered the tav-
ern and made known my needs to a
coarse featured, thickset fellow, who
lay in chair smoking clay pipe.
He rose instanter, all bows and
smiles and cringing to my orders, beg
ging me to be seated unit. he could find
the salt sack in the cellar; and l sat
down, after saluting the company,
which consisted Of half dozen men
playing cards by the window.
Presently the landlord came in with
my small bag of salt and set it on the
scales with many bow and smirk at
me to beg Indulgence for his delay.
you have Travelled far, sir" he said
pointedly. There is northern mud on
your hunting shirt and southern burs
on your logging fringe. Perchance, sir,
you have news from Boston,"
shook my head. The company at
the table by the window had paused
to listen.
"Well, WELL" he said, putting his long
clay into glow, these be parlous
times, sir, the world over! And, be-
tween ourselves, sir, begging your par.
don for the familiarity. sir, have been
wondering myself whether the king is
wholly right"
Doubt" said carelessly, "is nc
friend to loyalty"
Through the bottom of my mug again
] saw he vas still far from satisfied
concerning my real sentiments I lis
tened as drank. The card players be
hind me We're not playing.
Landlord I asked, carelessly cut
ting short another argument, "wha
may your tavern sign mean with it,
house running loose on pair O. legs?'
ut is my own name, SIR" he laughed
"Greathouse! fatter me there is SOM
small wit in the conceit, sir, though
painted yon sign myself"
So this was Greathouse, notoriou
loyalist this bloated lout who had bee
. prying and picking at me to learn IN
sentiments? The slyness Of the felloy
disguised me, and l could scarce COZ
troll my open aversion, though l di
succeed in leaving him with his susp
cions lulled and got out of the hous
without administering to him the kic
which my leg was itching for.
There were several houses just b.
yond me to the left. One displayed
holly bush and wrinkled berries, sis
nal to me to avoid it, and should hay
done so had l not perceived JAG
Mount loafing in the doorway an
Shemuel seated on the horse blocl
eating dish OF fish with his fingers.
Ireturned Mounts CHEEKY salute wit
nod. not pausing at the house as
passed by
He came out into the road after m
asking what had gone amiss, and
told him he had left me at the fol
without advice or counsel and that
had quilted the barracks, not caring
be caught there by Butler and his wa
rant
Shame on you, lad, for the thought
said Mount angrily. do you think W
do things by halves, Cade and l? TT
Weasel has been in touch with Butler
men all night, ready to warn you I'll
moment they started for this CAM
He's asleep in there now" jerking h
huge thumb toward the inn, "and Nv
just returned from seeing Butler we
on the trail toward Pittsburg."
Mortified and ashamed at my con
: plant and deeply touched by the quiz
; kindness Of these two men who ha
spite of fatigue, voluntarily set out
!, watch while slept, 1 silently offere
= my hand to Mount. He drew me vii