The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1904-11-04
By Ashley Towne
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COPYRIGHT, 1901,
BY CHARLES ID.
E1IfEI.IKGIOy.

at was through window that saw
you,' he said, but the window of q
grogshop, not jail
ut seems | was little early for you
with my serenade," rejoined Darrell.
I'm give It to you now IL you'd like to
hear 1t.
He put the pipe to his lips and played
a few notes.
"Here. quit that" cried one Of the
soldiers. "We're close TO the lines. and
the noise may be heard"
You have no ear for music" said
Darrell. Get along" the last words
being addressed to the mule.
The soldiers had let go Of the bride
and had stepped aside. The animal
started with alacrity, for Darrell had
learned how to appeal to him with a
touch OF the heel.
Halt. Come back here" cried the
Russians in duet. and one OF them
threw stick that lay handy beside
him. 1t missed Darrell and by good
luck hit the mule. Secretly encouraged
by his rider the brute ran away, but
at no very great speed.
Don't shoot. Ill catch him." ex-
claimed one Of the Russians, and Oar
rell looking back. saw him coming,
while the other. rifle in hand, was now
unable to fire, even If he had wished
to do so. because of the risk Of hitting
his comrade.
Darrell urged the mule to better
speed The running soldier halted
calling out a threat, but ut that mo
ment Darrell reached the crest of lit
tie rise in the road and saw ahead of
him. at no great distance, an advanced
portion OF the Russian line. Ten sec
onds more and he knew the picket
would not dare to shoot
I'm stopping himw he called, max
ing a great feint of struggling with the
bride REIN and the soldier, seeing that
the mules pace was slackening, low
cred his gun
ITS all rlghtr' Darrell shouted over
his shoulder. 1--WE got him now. I'm
safe"
more moderate pace, he sat up straight
In the saddle and putting the pipe 10
his lips. rode on. discoursing weird, I'M
canny music. Soldiers We're advancing
toward him; behind him the picket,
swearing and laughing at the same
time. waved a signal to the squad be-
yond and tapped his forehead to de-
note the mental condition of this ex-
traordinary rider
Darrell was soon surrounded, but by
cleverly playing his role he escaped be-
ing sent back. The squad took him
into the lines. and he was bandying
rough TESTS with them when an Off
Ger advanced, commanding silence.
What are you doing herei" he de-
manded.
"Excellency," responded Darrell, II
have come TO dinner"
He slid off the mules back and lean
ed against the animal as If too weak to
stand Then in response to questions
he told in a crack Drained fashion the
story of wandering that he had careful
ly prepared, founded upon the possbil-
tiles of Musefs character. He had
travelled with caravan; lie had left it
and had lost his way. All the houses
by the road were empty. He had
found no one TO give him food
81 believe the fellow is really starv-
ing" said the officer. "Let him have
something to eat. Search him, how.
ever"
Darrell was' searched, but nothing
suspicious was found, for he had pre-
pared, himself for such an ordeal His
garments throughout and the emptl.
ness of their ragged pockets befitted
the character which he had assumed.
Vera's order, tightly rolled, was inside
Musef's pipe, but it did not occur to
these mems minds that a wind instru-
ment which could be played upon
might contain any article contraband