Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1911-10-06

the Iirst floor, with considerahle
opening leading from 1t into the chin.
ney We were scaling, for as Jed slow.
ly passed, / could percefve a sudden
CLEAN OF light streaming across his
face from the glare of the lamps with.
In. He glanced anxiously that wav
but did not pause In his steady climb
upward.
A moment later I 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 a
pair OF legs. evidently those Of a cav.
airy officer, judging from the broad
yellow stripe down the seam Of the
hghtblue trousers. and the high boots
oFnamented with rowei spurs. He
STOOD leaning carelessly against the
mantei 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 up again. l braced
myself securely on a projecting stone
and bent my head over the orifice un.
til ! could catch portion of the con-
versation being carried on by my un.
conscious neighbors.
NO." said the cavalryman, gruffly,
and apparently in reply to some previ.
Gus question, ''the fellow was most
devilish obstinate; wouldn't tell the
first thing; even a threat of treat.
ing him as spy and hanging him
outright proved of no avail. But
Sheridan's theory is that Lee has or
dered Longstreet to hit our rear.
while he makes 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 Follansbee 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. Deuced 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 q
bachelor among our fellows"
Don't know anything about 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, l am inclined to give
little Of my time to his lady. Far
and away the prettiest thing here.
Wen, so long, Somers; see you in the
morning. I'm going to give the fair
Edith whirl"
The cavalry legs shifted their posi-
ton; the band resumed its functions,
and in the renewed activity and noise
/ began again the toilsome climb, my
mind now a bewildered chaos between
my plain duty to Lee and my nearly
uncomfortable desire to meet once
more the woman who was dancing In
the room below.
The little mountaineer, as active as
q 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 1 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 rock! Durn if thar's a inch O.
skin left on my knee. Ough! stop
tibet! who's got hold O. my fut?"
Hush your racket, you little fool"
l said angrily. "Do you want the
whole Yankee army to trap us here
like rats? l cannot get up this chin
ney any further; 1t is growing too
small to permit my body to pass
as tibet so, Cap?' he asked anxious
ly. "Whut be We go1n ter dew bout
it,"
l made no answer for a moment; l
was cropping about in the darkness of
our narrow quarters to see if | could
determine exactly where we were.
How high is this house, Jed. do you
know"
Three stories an attic"
How far up are WEI"
bout halfway long Their third
story, l reckon; must be jist blow
whar We are thet l stuck my fut
down an openin'. Reckon t was moth
Or fireplace, like tibet one on Their
first flure."
/ lowered myself silently, and felt
along the stones until l located the
opening, and roughly measured its
dimensions.
II shall have to risk crawling out
here, Jed" / said finally, "for l shall
surely stick fast If / go up another
ten feet. Do you suppose you can