Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-01-07
CHAPTER VIII.
Mrs. Bungay Defends Her Hearthstone.

MIS-. 6u0&ay OeIeuoS hcT ASaI tuStouc
hand pressing hard upon my arm
brought back my scattered senses with a
rush. 1t was Mrs. Brennan who stood
there, her face whitened by anxiety. her
eyes peering anxiously through the open
ing of the door. Imminent danger may
startle even trained soldier. but any ne
cessity for action always recalls him to
duty, and that one g4ance at her sutficed
to make me myself again.
Surely those men are not soldiers, Cap
tain Wayne!' she ex ciaimed. They wear
uniforms Of both armies"
mo doubt they are guerriifas.' 1 answer
ed, drawing her back from where she
might be seen in their approach. I'VE must
find hiding II possible, for you shall never
fan into such hands. Bungay"
/ turned toward where the little giant
had been sitting, but he was not to be
seen. However, the sound of my voice
aroused Maria to a full sense of our dan
GER nor was she a woman to hesitate In
such emergency. With single stride she
faced hero by the collar Of his shirt drag
ged him ignominiously forth from beneath
the table where he had sought refuge,
shook him as she would shake toy dog,
until his teeth ratified. and then flung him
out Of the door leading into the back shed.
! 1t was done 50 expeditiously that 1 could
only gasp.
Now inter Their hole with We, Jed Bun
sdy-yOu an yer QOrSS, Sne painted Iu-
riously AN you uns foller him / reckon
I'm able ter handle tibet lot out thar, even
II 1t should be Red Lowrie an his gang"
Catching firm hold of Mrs. Brennans
hand sprang down the single step and
closed the door tight behind us. Jed had
scrambled to his feet. and rubbing himself
vigorously with one hand utilized the other
to drag outward rough cupboard. which
appeared to be portion OF the house it
self. As II swung open there was revealed
behind II fafr-sized opening extending
into the face of the hill 1t was a most in
genious arrangement. doubtless finding fire.
quent use in those troublesome times. It's
presence partially explained how Jed had
thus far escaped the CONSUMPTION officer.
Into this hole we entered one at a time.
and when the heavy cupboard had been 81
lently drawn back into place, found our
selves enveloped in such total darkness as
to make any movement a dangerous op-
Grafton. felt the clasp of my companions
hand tighten, and knew that her whole
form was trembling from intense excite
ment.
do not permit the darkness to alarm
you" l whispered softly, bending down as
l spoke until / could feel her quick breath
Ing against my cheek Our visitors are
not likely to remain longer than will be
necessary to get something to eat They
need never suspect our presence, and all
we have to do Is to wait patiently until
they move on. l only wish / could discover
something upon which you might Sit
down.
Pray do not think me coward" she
answered, "but / have heard of this man
Lowrie in the federal camps. and L would
rather die than fall into his hands,
1 had heard of him also, and of his out
rageous treatment of women. The memory
caused me to clasp my hand warmly over
hers. and set my teeth hard
st may not prove to be Lowrie at ALL"
I said soberly; but all these gentry are
pretty much alike, I fear. However. 1
promise that you shall never fall alive into
the hands of any of their breed"
Before she could answer me other than
by a Slight nesting closer in the darkness
Bungay whispered: This yere hole, Cap
leads down ter the right, an comes out in
a sort O. gully bout hundred feet back
Thars light 'nough ter see ter walk by
er so. You uns kin go down thar If yed
rather. follerin' Their dorgs, but I reckon
as how I'll stay right we're an sorter see
how Their OF woman comes out.
q Where where was Frederick then?
Que blast upon his bugle horn
Were worth thousand men
If you uns like ter see burned good fight
maybe We better stay tew-ther OF woman
is pisen If she once gifts her dander up"
His voice was expressive of great expec-
tations. and l had reason to believe his
faith in Maria would be justified. Before
any of us. however, had time to change
our positions We heard the fellows come
stamping roughly irto the cabin. The thin
slabs which divided us scarcely mufIied
their loud voices.
well, old woman" exclaimed one in
voice so gruff as to seem almost assumed,
pretending to be alone are you, with all
those dishes sitting out on the table, just
been eaten off, too. Haven't seen no
strange party along the road this morning,
have YEP
Mary a one,'' said Maria, and I knew
from her voice she was standing close be-
side the fireplace
Are you Mrs. Bungay?"
II reckon I am, If it's any O. yer BUSH
ness"
Don't git nifty, old woman, or we're
liable to give you a lesson in politeness be-
fore we leave" The leader dropped the
butt of his gun with a crash on the floor.
Where is the little sneak. anyhow"
What do you want of him."
Want him to go long with u.s. we're
hunting some parties, and need a guide.
They toll us up the road a bit he knew
every inch O. these yere mountings."
There was a pause, as if Maria was
endeavoring to decide as to the honesty of
the speaker Her final answer proved the
mental survey had not proven satisfactory.
wal, 1 reckon" she said calmly. "as you
uns IL be more likely ter find him down
bout Connersville."
Then whuts all these yere dirty dishes
doing on the table?"
He'd sum Yankee officers yere; they just