Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-01-31

gum. down thar in Their gully on t. other
side thar's a burned big camp o. fellers.''
1 refined UP short. and with uplifted hand
signaled the men behind to halt.
why didn't you tell me this before?" i
questioned sternly. How many were
there? and what did they look nke?''
He scratched the back of his head
thoughtfully, and answered with careful
elaboration. "Durn 1t. l didn't jine We till
after ye'd started. an 1 reckon as how 1t
took me all o tew miles ter git this yere
blame muel up ter whar cud talk. Thar's
quite smart bunch but they, he'd some
ter tell zackly. Dutchy thought thar wuz
night onter two hundred O. 'em, but jist
don't know. They wusnt dressed like So
Jers O. either army, an / reckon they're
1 glanced at my little handful of men,
scarcely knowing what decision 1t might be
wise to make. Undoubtedly they would
fight If occasion arose. but the odds were
terribly heavy; besides, If Brennan came,
and his party got away that same evening,
as was planned for, them to do then it
might not be necessary for us to strike a
blow. 1 was certainly in no mood to ex-
pose my small command merely to save
the empty house from destruction.
'Ebers." said, turning toward the SER
geant. who sat his horse with expression
less face, you were with the guide when
he discovered this camp How many do
you think 1t contained? and who were
they?" '- 40
"Vel, dere. vos more as two companies.
captain, und dere vos some horses. but dey
vos dressed-yot you calls it?-all ober not
der same"
mot in uniform?
dot vos it,"
.''Have any of the rest of you seen any
thing that looked suspicious?" asked.
glancing around into the different faces.
Maybe I did," answered one of the
troopers named Earl. las we rode UP the
first hill after leaving the house my horse
Dfcked stone and had TO nd
get it out. reckon I fell behind a quarter
of mile or more. and just as started 1
looked back, and party Of ten or twelve
fellows was just riding in through them big
gates onto the front lawn. But them fell
lows was soldiers for sure: they rode regu-
lar like, and all of them wore caps. 1t was
so far off I couldn't tell the color of their
clothes, but them caps made me think they
was feds"
I chose my course at once This I'M
doubtedly must have been Brennan's party
THANK you, my man; it would have been
better If you had reported that to me at
once" said. However. I understand the
situation much better now. Sergeant, we
will go into camp here. Post pickets in
both directions: but put your most careful
men on that hill yonder. Let them report
promptly any signs of fire to the southeast,
or any sound of guns"
We completed all our cooking before
dark. and when the night finally closed
down about us 1t proved to be
an exceedingly black one, although the
skies were clear. Sleep was an impossi-
b1l1ty for me, as my mind was in constant
turmoil. / felt hampered, priSoned, shut
in, unable to do what 1 most desired. /
wondered where she was-probably riding
northward beside her husband, and / bit
my lip savagely at thought of it; possibly
she was even then laughing merrily in
memory Of my unfortunate predicament in
the garden So she cared nothing for me,
exhibited her indifference clearly in pres
ence of Others disliked even to hear my
name mentioned. Very well, 1 would take
exceeding good care never again TO intrude
myself upon her. Then my thoughts swerv-
ed to the big house out yonder in the dark
ness. If signs of attack came to US. what
should do? The question truly puzzled
me, for was unwilling to expose the lives
OF my men merely to save property
at that stage of the war. If I only knew
positively that the women were safely
away, would tarry no longer in the neigh
borhood. But I did not know; I merely
hoped.
Ebers was lying next me upon the grass.
solemnly putting at his huge pipe, and l
held my watch to the glow in its bowl in
order to see the time. 1t was nearly mid
night
Those fellows ought to be at it before
this said to him. III they intend to ac-
complish anything tonight"
II dink SO. too" he answered slowly. 81
VIII see dot der guard is all right an den
will get some sleep. for am pretty moch
done CD already"
He arose ponderously to his feet, and
stretched out his short arms in prodigious
yawn. As he stood there, his pudgy figure
outlined against the sky there was borne
to our ears the sound Of q furious struggle
on the hilltop to the south-a shout, blows.
q volley of cursing. then silence. An instant
later we were both running through the
darkness toward the scene of trouble.
what. Is It. Sands r. I questioned breath
| lessly. as came suddenly upon the little
group.
"A fellar on hossback." was the answer.
He come up on us like streak out o.
tibet black holier, an he'd . sure got away
ct Mason hedn't dubbed him with his gun.
I've got the cuss safe collared now