Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1911-12-14

grim play with Fate. where the stakes
were life and death felt my pulses
throb as | rode steadily forward. fair
ly thrusting the darkness aside, my
teeth hard set. my left hand heavily
on a revolver butt.
How. IN such a situation. the nerves
tingle and the heart bounds to each
strange sight and soundl Haiti
what was that? Poohl no more than
the deeper shadow of a sharply pro
jecting rock. around which We pick
careful way. our horses crowding
against each other in the narrow
space. And that? Nothing but the
faint moan Of the night wind amid
the dead limbs Of a tree. ALL mark
that sudden flash Of light The hand
that closes iron-like upon the loosened
rein opens again, for 1t was merely q
star silently falling from out the
black depths of the sky. Then both
of US halt at once. and peer a~nxiously
forward. The figure standing direct
ly in the center OF our path. can It be
a sentry at last? A cautious step for
ward. a low laugh from the sergeant.
and we circle the gaunt. blackened
stump. as silent ourselves as the
night about US. but with fercely beat
Ing, expectant hearts.
But harkl Surely that was nc com.
mon sound. born of that drear loneli.
nessl No cavalryman al mistake the
jingle Of Announcements Or the dull
thud Of horses's hoofs. The road here
must have curved sharply, for they
were already SO close upon US that
almost simultaneously with the sound,
we could distinguish the deeper
shadow of a small compact body Of
horsemen directly in our front. Te
left of us there rose. sheer and black
the precipitous rock; to right We NIGH
not even guess what yawning void
1t was either wit Of sword play now.
/ know not how 1t may be with others
in such emergencies, but with me II
/ always happens that the sense OF feal
departs with the presence Of actua
danger. Before the grewsome fancies
of Imagination may quake and burr
like any maiden alone upon a city
| street at night, until each separate
nerve becomes a very demon OF men
tai agony; but when the real ant
known once fairly confronts me, ant
there is work to do, | grow instantly
cool to think, resolute to act, and fine
a rare Joy In 1t. 1t was so now, and
revolver in hand but hidden beneath
my holster flap, | leaned " ant
touched Craig's arm.
Keep quiet" | whispered sternly
Let them challenge first, and M
firing except on my order"
Almost with the words there cam'
the sharp hail:
Halt! Who comes there?"
/ drew the cape of my riding JACKIE
closer, so as better to muffe tn
sound of my voice.
Friends, of course; who would yol
expect to meet on this road?"
Fortune seemed with me in tn
chance answer, for he who had halle
exclaimed:
"Oh! is that you, Brennan?"
There was no time now for hes'
fancy; here was my cue, and ! mus
plunge ahead. accepting the chances
l ventured 1t.
mo; Brennan couldn't come. ar
here in his place."
Indeed! Who are your"
major Wilke."
There was a moments painfu
pause, in which | could hear IN,
heart throb.
"Wilkie," repeated the voice. doub
fully. There is nc officer of tha
name in the F~orty-third."
"Well, there chances to be such 3
officer on the staff" l ~retorted, permi
ting a trace Of anger to appear in IN
tone, "and I am the man."
What the devil is the difference
Hale, Just what his name ISL" boone
a deeper voice back in the group. "W
are not getting up a directory Of tn
Sixth corps. OF ourse he's the ma
Brennan sent, and that Is all we'v
got to look after"
"Oh, all right, certainly, major" r
turned the first speaker, hastily. "B.
the night is SO cussed black | ST.,
posed we must be at least a mile tn
side Of where we were to meet. HOY
ever, we have the lady here for 70
all right, and she is anxious enough
get on"
, tTo BE coNTINUED.)