Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1911-10-19
ioot!" questioned the Sergeant. .nz.

iously.
Certainly: and I desire you to re-
member one important thing: let me
do the talking. but II any Of you are
asked questions. We are dsssrtsrs from
Hills corps. tired Of the war"
Mem Gott!" muttered tho German,
disconsolately. Il hope It vos not long
OF, Captain: an NO good On foot IN
der dark. BY Chiminy.'
you had better manage to keep up
tonight. unless you are seeking 70
commit suicide. Now. men. mark mo
carefully! Load your carbires. Are
you all ready? Sergeant, see that each
man has his gun properly charged and
capped. You are to carry your arms
Is thoroughly concealed as possible;
keep close to mo always: obey my or
ders instantly, and to the letter. We
are but twenty men pitted against
over two hundred, remember. ana
when We strike, it must b both quick
and hard"
mounted the mule. counted the
dim figures in the darkness. and then
gave tho order to march. As We
moved slowly down the hill was
aware that Cation walked upon one
side Of me. while Bungay plodded
along upon the other: but my mind
was % filled with tho excitement Of
our adventure and all that depended
upon its successful elimination, a.
scarcely to realize anything other than
the part must personally play. GOOD
fortune and audacity alone could CONF
bine to win the game We were now en-
gagged upon.
A tall heavily beared mountafneer
stood squarely in the middle Of the
road to the north CT the picket-flrs.
could make out but little Of him as
the light shone. excepting that he
wore high coonskin cap ana bore =
long rife.
stop right thar" he called out
hoarsely. upon hearing us. "Who are
you uns?"
AS he challenged. q dozen others
sprang up from about the fame and.
guns in hand, came toward US on
run.
I'VE uns are doggoned tired o SOL
dierin'. an gittin' nuthin' fer It," I
said in the slow Southern drawl, 'an'
wanter jine yer gang. pervidin' thar's
any show fer It"
How many are ye!" asked one Of
the newcomers. striding forward be-
tween W and the sentry.
"A right smart heap O. q bunch; bin
= pickin' o 'en up ever since We left
Shn1 l~kk
They be handles tor fight, an I
reckon ~ how 70 kin use EN-. can't
ye?"
Maybe: who did ye want ter see!"
wal. they ssd a. how Teller
named Lowris wus . runnin' this zero
gang. an II thet's Their way o It,
reckon Is how It's Lcwris wore after.
Be you Lowrie?"
NAV"
Tho answer was 80 gruf and short.
and the fellow hesitatcd 80 long in
adding anything to It, began to think
It was all of.
"Wal," he consented to say 1T last.
ungraciously. thar's q blame pile o
ye kim in lately. an I calculate we got
bout 'nough fer our business, but I
reckon as how Red will use 80 some
whar. Anyhow you uns kin come
long with me an ind out. but yell
diskiver him bout Their ornerest man
jist now ever 70 run up again. He's
plum mad. Red IL, fer sartain."
He turned and strobe on, without 80
much ~ giving Us q. backward glance.
and. with hearty congratulatory kick
to tho mule, and my company fol.
lowed him. A hundred yards further
in We passed through the fringe Of
trees and emerged into an open space
from whence We could sec plainly the
great white house still illumined by
the flames which continued to con-
sumo the stables. Shots were fash
ing like hrefies out Of the darkness
on every side OF 10, the smell Of burn.
ing powder scented the air. and I
could distinguish the black forms OF
men lying prone on the grass in some.
thing resembling . sEirm.sh line.
Maxim . light = It. amt theyT I
asked Of our taciturn guide. 90 We
picked our way carefully among the
recumbent forms.
Damn 'em. yes, . he'll o Aght.
he admitted bitterly.
Just beyond nusket-shot from the
house, and nearly opposite the front
entrance. quite group Of .msn were
standing be1eath THO black shadows Of
q grove Of trees. Insspite Of the CLEAN
from the are I could make little Of
them, but % We approached from the
direction Of the rear, one Of them q.
claimed suddenly:
who comes thar What body .
men 10 thet!"
''It's neither party o deserters, -
wants ter fine U.s." said the guide.
sourly. "They's Johnaips from Less
army"
"oh, they dew. dew they? Who's
ther boss o this yere crowd?''
swung down from my seat on the
mules back, and stood facing him, -
he advanced
I'VE uns hain't got no boss" an.
swered. ''but they sortsr fell IN ahind
o me cause wus astraddls O this
muel. Be you named Lowris?"
II rschoa: I'm RED Lowrie," ptoud.
II aspect, maybe. ys've hesrd tail
o me. an x 70 hev, 70 krow ys'vs got
ter step damn lively whin howl.
whut wus 70 In Their crmy?''