Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1911-11-09
CHAPTER VIII.-contlnued.

DO not permit the darkness to
alarm you." whispered softly. bend
ing down rs l spoke until I could
feel hor quick reathing against my
cheek. "Our visitors are not likely to
remain longer than will be necessary
20 get something TO eat. They need
never suspect our presence. and all
We have to do is to wait patiently
until they move on. only wish l
could discover something upon which
you might sit down"
Pray do not think me a coward.
she answered, but | have heard Of
this man Lowrie in the Federal camps.
and ! would rather die than fall into
his hands"
had heard Of him also. and Of his
outrageous treatment of women. The
memory caused me to clasp my hand
warmly over hers, and set my teeth
hard.
1T may not prove to be Lowrie at
ALL" ! said soberly; "but all these
gentry are pretty NUN alike. fear.
However, promise that you shall
never fall alive into the hands Of any
Of their breed"
Before she could answer me other
than by 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 a hundred feet back. Thar's
light 'nough ter see ter wall by alter
We turn the corner, bout twenty
feet er so. You uns kin 60 on down
thar II ye'd rather, follerin' ther dorgs,
but ! reckon as how I'll stay right
we're an sorter see how ther OIL woman
comes out.
Where, where was Roderlck then?
One blast upon his bugle horn
Were worth a thousaL men,
II you uns like ter see a burned good
fight maybe ye better stay tew-ther
oil woman is plsen II she once gifts her
dauder up"
His voice was expressive Of great
expectations, ami had reason to be-
lieve his faith In Maria would be
justified. Before any Of us. however,
had time to change oui positions we
heard the fellows come stamping
roughly into the cabin. The thin slabs
which divided us scarcely muffled
their loud voices.
well. old woman" exclaimed one in
voice so gruff as to seem almost as.
sumed. pretending to be alone. are
you. with all those dishes sitting out
on the table; just bee.. eaten off, too
Have MT seen no strange party along
the road this morning, have ye?"
Nary a one" said Maria. and
kew from her voice she was standing
close beside the fireplace.
Are you Mrs. Bungsy?"
u reckon am. II it's any O. yer
business"
Don't git nifty. old woman. or we're
liable TO give you a lesson In polite.
ness before we leave" The leader
dropped the butt If his gun with a
crash on the floor. Where is the lit.
tie sneak. anyhow"
What do you want Of him?"
Want him to 90 long with US;
we're hunting some parties. and need
a guide. They toll US up tn road a
bit he knew every inch o. these yere
mountings."
There was q pause. as II Maria was |
endeaVoring to decide as to the hon.
esty Of .he speaker. Her final answer |
proved the mental survey had not |
proven satisfactory.
wal. ! reckon" shJ said calmly.
"as you uns II be more likely ter
find him down bout Connersville."
Then whut's all these yere dirty
dishes doing on the table?"
'Hed sum Yankee officers yere; they
just rode on down ther trail as you
uns cum up"
Like h0ll!" calculated the fellow
with complete loss Of temper. See
here, old woman, we're too old birds
to be caught with any such chaff.
Wen take q look aroun the old she
bang anyhow, and whilC we're at II
you put something on the table for me
and my mates to eat"
The voice and manner were rough.
but was impressed w:.h q certain &C
csnt creeping into the mans speech
education. More. In spite
Of an apparent effort to make II 90. his
dialect was not that Of those noun
laina.
Even as he uttered these last words.
throwing into them q threat more In
he tone than the language, ] became
lware OF q thin ray Of light pene-
rating the seemingly solid wall Just
N front Of me. and bending silently
'orWard could dimly distinguish the
head Of Bungay a. be applied
,na eye % q small oponlng be had
made between he logl-