The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1911-10-05


Bit, Led Forth to Where Waited.
plunge ahead, accepting the chances.
l ventured II.
mo; Brennan couldn't come. am
here in his place"
Indeed! Who are you?"
Major Wilke."
There was moments painful
pause, in which could hear my
heart throb.
'Wilkie," repeated the voice, doubt.
fully. There is no officer of that
name in the Forty-third."
We'll, there chances to be such an
officer on the staff," retorted, permit
ting a trace OF anger to appear in my
tone, "and l am the man"
What the devil is the difference,
Hale, just what his name is?" doomed
a deeper voice back In the group. I'VE
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"
"Oh, all right, certainly, major" re-
turned the first speaker, hastily. But
the night is so 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"
The lady! Heavensl What odd
turn OF fortunes wheel was this? The
lady. heard Craig's smothered
chuckle, but before | had sufficiently
regained control over my own feel.
ings TO venture upon a suitable reply,
the entire party had drawn forward,
the leader pressing so close to my side
that ! felt safer with my face well
shaded. 'sss.,ss-. -e,s.- ~,sSTsl'a -.'
t-"WheHe is your escort, majop~ he
asked, and the gruffness of his tone
put me instantly on defense.
Just behind u.s." returned, with
affected carelessness, and determined
now to play out the game, lady or no
lady. / was extremely sorry for ber.
but the cause outweighed her comfort.
'"The sergeant and rode out ahead
when we heard you coming. Where
Is the lady?"
He glanced around at the group
huddled behind him.
Third on the left"
"All right, then. Nothing else, I
believe" for was eager to get
away. Sergeant Just ride in there
and lead out her horse. We will have
to be moving gentlemen, for II is a
rough road and dark night"
"Beastly," assented the other, heart
fly.
fairly held my breath as Craig
rode forward. II one of them should
chace to strike a match TO light a
pipe. or any false movement of Craig's
should excite suspicion! II he should
even speak, his soft southern drawl
would mean instant betrayal And
how ooolly he went at IL; with a
sharp touch of the spur, causing his
jaded horse to exhibit such sudden
restlessness as TO keep the escort
well to one side, while J ranged close
up to our unwelcome guest, and lay
ing frm hand upon her horses bit,
let forth to where | waited. II was
quickly. nobly done, and could have
hugged the fellow.
Well, good luck to you, major,
and pleasant ride Remember me to
Brennan. Deuced queer, though, why
he failed to show up on such an oc-
casion as this"
He was unfortunate enough TO be
sent out in the other direction with
dispatches-goodnight, gentlemen"
II was sweet music TO me to listen
TO their hoofbeats dying rapidly away
behind us as we turned back down the
dark road, the sergeant still riding
with his one hand grasping the
strangers rein. endeavored to scan
her figure In the blackness. but found
the effort useless, as little more than
a shadow was visible. Yet II was i'm
pressed upon me that she sat straight