The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1911-12-07

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evidently fireplace of some kind on
| the first floor, with considerable
opening leading from it into the Chin
ney we were scaling, for as Jed SLOW
ly passed, could perceive a sudden
CLEAN Of light streaming across his
face from the glare of the lamps with
in. He glanced anXiously that way,
but did not pause in his steady climb
upward.
A moment later | came opposite
that same beam of radiance, and
cautiously peered down the sloped
opening that led to the disused fire.
place. All l could perceive was a
pair of legs, evidently those of cav
airy officer, Judging from the broad
yellow stripe down the seam of the
lightblue trousers, and the high boots
ornamented with rowel spurs. He
stood leaning carelessly against the
mantel, talking with some one just
beyond the range Of my vision
At that moment the music ceased
suddenly, and afraid to proceed until
it should strike W again, ! braced
r.yself securely on a projecting stone
and bent my head over the orifice I'M
til could catch a portion of the con-
versaton being carried on by my I'M
conscious neishbors.
mo-" said the cavalryman, gruffly,
and apparently in r>ply 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
Sheridans theory is thai Lee has or
dered Longstreet to hit our rear,
while he makes a 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 Follans' 0e 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. Deuceo 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
bachelor among our fellows"
Don't know anything bout 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, | am inclined to give
a little of my time to his lady. Far
and away the prettiest thing here
Well, so long, Somers; see you in the
morning. I'm going to give the fair
Edith a whirl.'
The cavalry legs shifted tho posi-
ton; tho band resumed its functions,
and in the renewed activity and noise
| began again the toilsome climb my
mind now a bcwildered chaos between
my plain duty to Lee and M nearly
uncomfortable desire to meet once
ore the woman who was dancing in
the room below.
The little mountaineer, as active as
a 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 could perceive no other
evidence OF his presence. Above, all
was as black as the grave.
Holy smoke!" 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 q
skin left on my knee. Ough stop
tibet, who's got hold o my fut?"
Hush your racket, you little fool"
said angrily. do you want the
whole Yankee army to trap us'here
like rats? cannot get up this chin
any further; it is growing too
small to permit my body to pass"
is tibet so, Cap?" he asked anxious
~. Whit be ye goin' ter dew bout
ito"
made no answer for a moment:
was cropping about In the darkness of
our narrow quarters to see IL | could
determine exactly where We were.
How high is this house, Jed, do you
know"
Three stories an attic
"IIow far up are we?"
Bout halfway long Their third
story, | reckon; must be list blow
whar ye are tibet | stuck my fut
| down an openin'. Reckon t was moth
er fireplace, like thet one on Their
| first flure'
| lowered myself silently, and felt
along the stones until | located the
opening, and roughly measured its
dimensions.
II shall have to risk crawling out
here. Jed" | said finally, for | shall
surely stick fast II | go up another
ten feet DO you suppose you can
squeeze through to the top?"
Il reckon | kim" he returned calm
ly. But hadn't we better stick ter,
gether, Cap?"
NO." | answered firmly. You &c
on, and one of us must Get through
TO Lee. Don't mind me at all; ge,
down from the roof as best you can
II | am caught II will be all the more
important that you should succeed"
"'r is done--I thank thee, Roderick