Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1911-11-30

delay was dangerous neither OF US was
disposed to linger long.
BE ye all ready, Cap?" questioned
Bungay, bending his head down. Fer
II ye be, I'm a goin' up"
"All right" l answered. struggling
to my knees in the narrow space;
''only take 1t slow. Jed. I'm a trifle
bigger man than you. and this ID
rather clos~ -1arters."
Wal, yes, maybe a matter OF q
poun' er two" he retorted. and the next
moment l could hear him scraping
his way upward. feeling for foothold
upon the irregular layers Of stone. l
followed, pressing my knees firmly
against the rough wall. and trusting
more to my hands than feet for Sc
curity against falling. There was
evidently a fireplace Of some kind on
the first floor, with considerable
opening leading from It into the chin
ney we were scaling. for as Jed slow
ly passed, could perceive a sudden
CLEAN Of light streaming across his
face from the glare Of the lamps with
in. He glanced anxiously that way,
but did not pause In his steady climb
upward.
A moment later came opposite
that same beam Of radiance. and
cautiously peered down the sloped
opening that led to the disused fire
place. All ! could perceive was
pair Of legs, evidently those Of a cav
airy officer. judging from the broad
yellow stripe down the seam Of the
light.blue trousers. and the high boots
ornamented with rowel spurs. He
stood leaning carelessly against the
mantel. talking with some one just
beyond the range Of my vision.
At that moment the music ceased
suddenly. and afraid to proceed until
1t should strike W again, ] braced
E.yself securely on a projecting stone
and bent my head over the orifice I'M
til could catch a portion Of the con-
versation being carried on by my I'M
conscious ne'ghbors.
NO" said the cavalryman, grutfly,
and apparently in r,ply to some previ-
GUS question. "the fellow was most
devilish obstinate; wouldn't tell the
first thing; even q threat Of treat
ing him as spy and hanging him
outright proved Of no avail. But
Sheridan's theory is tina. Lee has or
dered Longstreet to hit our rear.
while he makes a direct attack In
front. That's why the old man pro-
poses to get in his work first. and
we march at daylight to form con-
nection with Hancock. By Jove,
Chesley, but that woman in black over
there with Follans' Ne is the handsom-
est picture I've seen south Of the line.
Mark how her eyes sparkle, and how
prettily the light CLEANS In her hair.
Who is she. do you chance to know"
YES" lisped the other, languidly.
met her at breakfast, headquarters,
this morning. DeuceG pretty and all
that, mighty good style. too, but taken,
old man. She's Brennan's."
What! not Major Brennan?" in sur.
prise. why, he's always posed as a
bachelor among our fellows"
Don't know anything "out that.
dear boy" indifferently, but the lady
came in with him yesterday, was in.
troduced to the crowd Of us as Mrs.
Brennan, and he called her Edith.
Deuced nice name, Edith. As Bren.
nan has shown such poor taste as to
be absent tonight, am inclined to give
a little Of my time to his lady. Far
and away the prettiest thing here.
Well, so long, Somers; see you In the
morning. I'm going to give the fair
Edith a whirl."
The cavalry legs shifted thtr posi-
ton; tho band resumed its functions,
and in the renewed activity and noise
l began again the toilsome climb, my
mind now a bcwildered chaos between
my plain duty to Lee and M nearly
uncomfortable desire to meet once
!. ore the woman who was dancing In
the room below.
The little mounthineer, as active as
a cat, and not especially hampered by
lack Of room in which to work, was
well above me by this time. The
chimney, acting as a tube. brought
down to me from time to time the
slight noise Of his climbing, varied
by an occasional exclamation or COM
ment, but l could perceive no other
evidence Of his presence. Above, all
was as black as the grave.
Holy smoked" he calculated, prob
ably unaware that he was giving utter
ance to his thoughts. THAT was a
sharp rockl Durn II thar's a inch o.
skin left on my knee. 0ugh! stop
tibet! who's got hold o. my fut?"
Hush your racket you little fool,
said angrily. do you want the
whole Yankee army to trap US here
like rats? cannot get up this Chin
n any further; It Is growing too
small to permit my body to pass"
'1s thet so, Cap?" he asked anxious
iy. "Whut be ye goin' ter dew bout
III"
! made no answer for q moment;
was cropping about in the darkness %
our narrow quarters to see r. could
determine exactly, where we were.