The Lamar register. [volume] (Lamar, Colo.) 1889-1952, 1911-09-27

looked as though We had never met.
Her very name was unknown to me.
Who was this Major Brennan? Was
he father, brother or husband! and
was her name Brennan alsof For
some reason this last possibility was
repugnant to me- Yet knew not
why.
You ride as though born to the sad
de-" l said pleasantly; and although
spoke low. we were SO close to-
gether that my voice carried distinctly
to her ears. I'VE have been sum
GENTLY conceited to suppose that to
be an accomplishment peculiar to our
Southern women"
81 have been accustomed to ride
since childhood" she replied rather
shortly. and l was conscious of re-
straint in her manner far from pleas
ing. Yet ventured upon one more
effort at conversation.
''Is Major Brennan an of1cer ON
Sheridan's staff?"
81 was not aware"-and could not
mistake the accent of vindictiveness
In her voice-"that prisoners were
obliged to converse against their
will"
Il ask your pardon. l am sure"
returned soberly. But my question
was not altogether an Idle one.
have CHANGED to meet several Of
General Sheridan's stan. and thought
possibly Major Brennan might have
been of their number. Seeing that
We must associate for a time, nat
urally felt 1t would prove pleasanter
for both of US II we might discover
some mutual tie
There was no response.
The road we were following here
took a sudden trend downward. and
We could tell from the sharper ring
of the hoofs. and the splitting of ninty
sparks beneath US. that we were
among rocks once more. Then our
horses suddenly splashed into water.
and I held them up long enough to
drink. felt thirst strongly myself.
and slipping out of the saddle filled
my canteen.
Would you care for . drinkf"
asked. stemming the stream to reach
her side. and holding the vessel with
in easy grasp Of her hand.
actually believe her first impulse
was to refuse haughtily this preferred
civility from an enemy Of her coun-
try. but the deep sense Of need con-
quered her to accept the Offering An
other hill followed. and then another.
and finally we swept swiftly down a
long slope densely bordered by trees
and with irregular piles Of rock up
rearing ugly heads on either hand.
caught a swift glimpse Of rough
leg house on the right. so set back
among trees that half doubted its
real existence. when-there was Q
sip. the crunching Of . stone. . long
tumble forward that fairly wrenchsd
my hand loose from the woman's rein,
and then. hopelessly struggling to re-
gala his feet. my horse went down
with Il crash. head under, and was
hurled heavily forward upon my face.
Craig. startled at the sudden crash be-
hind him. spurred back to learn the
full extent Of my disaster. BY this
time had regained my feet
I'm all right, l think. sergeant" I
said hastily. but the sorrel has brok-
en- her neck"
lie began to swear at our III luck,
but ! stopped him with = gesture he
knew better than to ignore.
Enough Of that" commanded,
sternly. bad fortune IL seldom bet
tered by hard words. First Of all.
help me to drag this dead body out of
eight"
On one side Of US the bank fell away
with such precipitancy that when We
once succeeded in dragging our load
TO the edge. We experienced no DIM
Guilty in. sending It crashing down
ward. The body plunged through the
thick underbrush At the bottom Of the
oggre. where l knew It would be COM
pletely hidden. even in the glare OF
daylight. from the spying eyes Of any
troopers riding hard upon our track.
As we rapidly worked on this disa-
greeable task. thought and planned;
two horses and three riders-one Of
these woman In need Of protection
"a dispatch to be delivered by day
light. at all hazards. II was indeed
a difficult proposition. and I saw only
a single possible solution. One Of our
number must press on: two Of US
must remain behind. Which one7