The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1911-11-02

% depart at once, and permit time to
straighten out the tangIe.
you must pardon me-" fastened
to cay, standing hat In hand before
her, ''but 1t would not be best for
me to tntrude upon Mrs. Brennan aft
er her late reception. merely halt
ed here in order to assure myself OF
your presence and safety. My men
are even now waiting for me a few
hundred yards away"
''But l wish you to meet Arthur.
ooh, 1 think not, Miss Minor. feel
warm friendship for Lieutenant Cation,
but we wear different uniforms, serve
under different flags, and a meeting
here, both with armed forces behind
us, would naturally have to be a hos
tile one. However the Lieutenant and
might consent to a temporary truce
his superior officer, Major Brennan,
mind"
Then you really must go?"
Unless you specially desire to Wit
ness a cavalry skirmish IN your front
dooryard, certainly consider it best"
and held out my hand. Surely we
part as friends, and l may hope that
you will intercede in my behalf with
Mrs. Brennan?"
She rose up impulsively.
How ridiculous; how supremely IL
diculous! Why. OF course Will,
though don't suppose Edith really
cares very much, but she believed 1t
would be highly proper to be shocked.
1 don't think she likes you SO very
well anyway, Captain Wayne, for she
never will talk about you"
With these cheering words ringing
in my ears, and feeling thoroughly de-
feated in every cherished hope.
strobe savagely down the long hill and
mounted my horse. How roughly for
tune had suffeted me, to be sure, and
how extremely small the inspiration
left. Well. perhaps deserved 1t for
ever permitting myself to love one
whom l knew to be the wife Of an
other. Doubtless she had seized upon
this slight pretext to be rid OF me,
and was already rejoicing over Its
easy accomplishment.
In my agitation forgot entirely the
presence Of Maria Bungay at the
house, and ordering my men into sad
die prepared for departure without
giving a thought to the little fellow
and his domestic troubles. l chose
the road leading toward the north
west, for although I had not asked the
question conceived It highly probable
that Brennan and his party would ride
from the Federal calvary quarters at
Golfers Church, and had no desire
to meet them. They were upon an
GRAND Of mercy OF far greater impor-
lance than my revenge.
AS we swung along through the
heavily timbered land fringing our
road, Bungay pressed his mule into
trot and finally succeeded in ranging
up at my side. Even In my disturbed
mental condition was amused at his
unique style OF riding. although ]
would not wound him by laughing.
II say, Cap" he said, jerking the
words out to the mules hard trot, and
grasping his saddle pommel desper.
ateIy, 81 sorter reckon as how theru
be some fun back thar afore long less
all signs fall"
"Why?" 1 stared at him, now thor.
ioughly aroused to the thought that
he had important news to communt'
cate.
wal" he explained slowly. "whin
,ye whit on, sorter TUX notion ter
look bout a bit. Used ter be an oil
stempin' ground O. mine. So Dutchy
an me clumb thet big hill back o.
whar we halted, and by gum. down
thar in Their gully on e other side
thar's a burned big camp o fellers."
refined up short, and with uplifted
hand signalled the men behind to-
halt.
.'why didn't you tell me this bes,
rore?" questioned sternly. How
many were there? and what did they
look l!ke9"