Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-01-19
~ RANDALL hARRISH

the hammer with ANONYMOUS click. eyeing
/ him fiercely.
| well" i said -ynort1y, do you choose to
answer, or die2oIA.1
. ION the other RapkTsI
| Standing thus covering him with the
| gun and marking his Slightest movement. 1
| concentrated thought, prompt decision and
| soon chose my course To kill In battle is
sodierly. but, if possible to avoid it, there
| should be no killing here.
Lieutenant" I said, speakine low but
| in tone which left no doubt as to my ex-
| act meaning. Il am an escaped prisoner,
| and shall not hesitate to kill rather than be
| recaptured. 1t is your life or mine tonight,
| and naturally prefer my own; but I'll give
| you one chance. and only one-obey my or
! ders and will leave you here unhurt; dis
| obey, and your life is not worth the snap
| of finger Move back now until you face
| the door. and don't forget my pistol is
| within an inch of your ear, and this is a
| hair trigger. What is your sergeant s
| manner" -.
Order him to take ten men on foot one
hundred yards west on the pike and wait
| further orders
| The lieutenant twisted his head about
| and looked at me, his eyes stubborn with
| anger
IF you have a wife up north, and care
] anything about seeing her again." 1 said
coolly, you will do exactly as say"
"Handley," he called out. his voice go
| choked with rage to make me fearful
| 1t might arouse suspicion, take ten men on
foot to the crossroads. and wait there
| until you hear from me-"
| 1 could plainly note the dark shadows of
| the fellows as they filed out past the fire.
| but never ventured to take eye or gun off
| the man I watched.
How many remain there now?"
| Seven"
"Any non-com among theme,
"A corporal"
Have him take them all south on the
cross roads"
! The man squirmed like an eel, and I was
soldier enough to sympathize with him:
yet every time he turned his head he look
ed death squarely in the face, and doubt
distant north. I clicked the hammer sug-
gestively.
Come, friend,' said meaningly, thine
| files"
Jones'" he called out huskily.
Yes, sir?"
Take what men you have left hun
bred yards south on the cross road"
We could hear them crunching their way
died out in the distance.
Now, Lieutenant, you come with me
softly and keep your distance"
We moved back slowly, step by step, I'M
| til we came to the rear door of the shed
reached out into the darkness, but with
out turning my face away from him,
and silently severed the picket-rope, retain
ing the loosened end in my grasp It was
so intensely dark. where we stood that 1
| slipped the pistol unobserved into my belt.
Face to the rear, 1 said sterniy.
| AS he turned to. obey this order, with
quick movements I .tripped him, sprang
backward, and shut the door.
In single botin6 r was upon the back
Of the black, ana had flung the severed
ropes end at the flank of the next horse
| in line. There was a. rush of feet, sharp
swapping of cords, wild scurrying through
| the bushes as twenty frightened horses
stampeded up the bank, and then lying
| face down over the saddle pommel, I sent
the startled black crashing down into the
shadows of the ferd!9sThe fellow on guard
| tried his best to stop as, but we were past
him like the wind. He did not fire. and
doubtless in the darkness saw merely a
stray horse broken from the picket-rope.
| The other fellow took one swift shot, but
| 1t went wild, and heard the voice of the
enraged lieutenant damning in the distance.
Then with a rush. We went up the steep
| bank on the eastern shore, and l sat up
right in the saddle and gave the black
his rein. - "a =! t
Go be continued tomorrow