Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1911-11-29

grim play with Fate. where the staksl
We're life and death. Il felt my pulsea
throb as I rode steadily forward, fair
y thrusting the darkness aside. my
teeth hard set. my left hand heavily
on . revolver butt.
How. In such 4 situation, the nerves
tingle and the heart bounds to each
strange sight and soundt Haiti.
what was that? Pooh! no more than
the deeper shadow OF q sharply pro.
5ecting rock. around which We pich
careful way. our horses crowdins
against each. other in the narrow
space. And that? Nothing but the
faint moan st the might wind amid
the dead limbs Of tree. All! marx
that sudden flash Of light The hand
that closes iron-like upon the loosened
rein opens again. for It was merely q
star silently falling from out the
black depths Of the sky. Then both
Of US halt at once. and peer anxiously
forward. The figure standing direct
" In the center Of our path. can 1t be
. sentry at last? A cautious step for
ward, . low laugh from the sergeant,
and we circle tho gaunt, blackened
stump, az silent ourselves a. the
night about US. but with llercely beat,
Ing. expectant hearts. Il
But harki Surely that was no COM
mon sound. born Of that drear loneli.
ness! No oavalryman can mistake the
jingle OF accoutrements or the dull
thud Of horses's hoofs. Tho road here
must have curved sharply. for they
were already 90 close upon Us that,
almost simultaneously with tho sound.
we could distinguish the deeper
shadow Of . small compact body Of
horsenaen directly In our front To
left Of 10 there rose. sheer and black.
the puocipitous rock: to right we might
not even guess what yawn1ng void.
1t was either wit Of sword play now.
! know not how It may be with others
In such emergencies. but with me It
always happens that the sense OF fear
departs with the presence Of actual
danger. Before the grewsome fancles
Of imagination may quake and burn
like any maiden alone upon city
street at night. until each separate
nerve becomes very demon OF men
tai agony: but when the real and
known once fairly confronts me-, and
there Is work to do. grow instantly
cool to think, resolute to act, and find
a rare Joy In it. It was SO now. and.
revolver in hand but hidden beneath
my holster flap. l leaned over and
touched Craig's arm.
Keep quiet" whispered sternly.
Let them challenge first, and No
firing except on my ORDER
Almost with the words there came
the sharp hail: II
Halt! Who comes there7" "as6
drew the cape of my riding jacket
closer. SO as better to mufde the
sound of my voice. }#
Friends, Of course: who would you
expect to meet on this road?"s
Fortune seemed with me in the
chance answer. for he who had hailed
exclaimed: 2.-5@ 80
"Oh! Is that you, Brennan?"
There was no time now for hest.
fancy; here was N.Y. cue, and must
plunge ahead. accepting the chances.
l ventured it.
mo; Brennan couldn't come. am
here in his place"
Indeed! Who are you?" st.
Major Wilke."
There was a moments painful
pause, in which l could hear my
heart throb.
''Wilkie." repeated the voice. doubt
fully There Is no officer Of that
name in the Forty.third."
well. there chances to be such an
officer on the star" retorted. permit
ting trace Of anger to appear In my
tone, and am the man"
what the devil Is the difference,
Hale. Just what his name is?" doomed
a deeper voice back in the group we
are not getting up directory Of the
Sixth corps OF course he's the man
Brennan sent, and that is all we've
got to look after" Ut.
"Oh. all right, certainly. MAJOR. re-
turned the first speaker. hastily. "But
the night II 50 cussed black sup
posed we must be at least a mile this
side of where We were to meet How.
ever. we have the lady here for you,
all right, and she Is anxious enough to
get on"