The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1908-11-19

approached II from the rear Through
a dense woodland. found the build
ing TO be Of single room, one story.
II was situated In small grove and
stood back fifty Yards from the main
highway. had purposely evaded
everyone. hoping to gain a position
within earshot OF the building and
surroundings. This succeeded in
doing by creeping through the thick
brushwood to the school-yard fence,
twenty yards from the building.
A dim light. feebly cleaning
through a dirty window. and the
tramp. tramp Of heavy-shoi feet
told me that number OF persons
we're already assembled. Silhouet.
ted agains, the dust-stained panes OF
the small rear window I caught fit
ting glimpses Of those within. Some
OF them, beared and bewhiskered,
] recognized to my own satisfaction
as said. sedate farmer acquain-
tances. The murmur OF many voices,
always guarded, came to my ears,
but could not distinguish them
nor could catch coherent conversa-
ton. Men came sinRly, in pairs
and In groups Of three and four. all
mounted. Silently they hi,ched
their horses. and. contrary to fixed
custom Of the countryside. they went
at once into the building. knew
that only anticipation Of something
Of all-absorbing interest In the inter-
ior would bring the average country
man to forego his usual round OF
neighborhood chat on the outside be.
fore entering building at country
side gathering.
Finally men ceased coming. save
now and then strsggler. whose be-
lated arrival vas heralded by the
rapidly approaching hoofbeats Of his
horse. The front door closed With |
a bang and comparative quie, re ign
ed within. Soon could catch the |
sound Of single voice. but could |
no, distinguish the words. Eager to
hear and see, ! thought to approach
The window, and suiting the action
10 the thought l came near "hush-
ing my game" Though arising
enough, dry branch
snapped beneath my feet. An aswer.
ing noise rame to my ears from
the corner of the house nearest me.
Peering through the darkness ! dis
the shadowy outline Of
man. While he stood there / real
ICED ! must abandon the idea of
nearer position. ! waited. but he
did not leave his post. wondered
II he, too. was a spy. Al last he
moved to the opposite corner and
spoke TO some one in a low, inaudi-
bic voice. A few words passed and
he again took up his vigil in the
shadow. ! soon came to the con-
clusion that he was a sentinel. Sub
sequent events proved that | was
right.
A NARROW ESCAPE.
Thus put on guard l remained
quiet for half an hour, when the
stiffness was broken by prolonged
whinnying. The sound came from
away off to the rear and knew il
was my horse. realized at once
that il tina. kept up my chances 10
ride away from the place in safety
would be reduced to minimum. for
the sentinel wheeled suddenly and
listened. He vas keenly alert for
some seconds. but luckily there was
no more whinnying. My nerves,
under the circumstances, we're not
as tranquil as have known them to
be. Conscious OF the fact that l
was dismally alone, yet within a few
yards OF perhaps hundred men. |
could but cringe at the thought Of
knew what II meant.
knew that II caught thus spying
out profound secrets--secrets that
would open the doors Of the jails
and penitentiaries to some OF the
silent band within--there would. In
all probability. be a"mysterious dis
appearance" attended by widowed
wife and orphaned little ones. and
by no means relished such thing.
Presently | heard hoofbeats hurry
ing toward the building. A belated
rider came into the yard dismounted
and hitched his horse within a few
feet of my hiding place. Moving to-
ward the building he was confronted
by the sentinel.
"Silent brigade"