The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1911-10-26

man receded farther from the house
Alice gradually drew up to him Pres
emily. bearing her horses hoofs beat
ing on the road behind him. be turn
ed with that anxiety natural to one
liable to be followed and attacked
Seeing a girl coming and recognizing
the one he had just left, he drew rein
But instead of the smile he usually
wore there was q frown. He sus
pected at once that she was bent on In
terfering with his mission. But when
he turned to her again all ylstage OF
displeasure had vanished.
Where are you going In that but
ternut suiti" she asked.
ION military duty. of course. And
where may you be goingT'
I'm going with you"
"What forp'
81 know your mission. l overheard
the general giving it to you. am go
ing with you to prevent its accom-
plishment."
81 like you for that" be said, his
smile returning. you are a true and
brave southern girl"
"a true, not brave, one"
Have you lot of nerveY
II don't know. My nerve has never
been put to the test. Why do you ask
thatY
Because to defeat me you will have
to do that which would be hard for
most people to do"
"Whatp
you will have to inform Confed-
crates that l am a Federal soldier in
disguise carrying important dispatches
through a country supposed to be In
Confederate hands; in other words
that am a spy. When you have told
them that they will put rope around
my neck. throw the end over the limb
of tree and shall hang there a dead
man"
The girl shuddered. She sat on her
horse, revolving something In her mind.
She had come to prevent Murray from
carrying out his purpose. and, although
she was not minded to be the cause OF
his hanging. she was not ready to let
him go through. The young man, too.
had his problem to solve. Had his
enemy been man the result would
have depended on the life Of either one
or the other, but girl-this was an
entirely different matter
"I'll ride on a little way with you"
she said.
eli "
to wooden trough beside the road
into which water ran from a pipe,
while tin cup stood on a post. The
girls horse seeing the water. turned
to drink. the mans horse following.
II would like a drink myself" said
Alice, and she was preparing to dis.
mount when Murray threw himself
from his horse and, stepping up to the
trough, reached for the cup, then bent
over to fill 1t. In doing 30 he exposed
his right hip, at which was slung a
revolver. Alice bent down, and before
he was aware Of what she was doing
she had the weapon In her possession
He turned, and as he did so heard a
click. When he faced her he was look
ing at the muzzle of his own pistol
There were two weapons between
these two young people-the revolver
in the hands of the girl, while on the
lips of the man was that good natured.
winning smile. She summoned all the
severity of which she was capable to
show him that she was In earnest and
huVfpC him of hor Tnorou
to sacrifice him If necessary to what
she considered the good of her country
Well" said Murray, lis it hands
upT
Give me the paper you carry"
I'll not give you that, but I'll give
you something in place of it"
"WhatT'
"a kiss"
She summoned all her will power to
look terrible. GIVE me that paper or
I'll fire." she said.
He stood back a few PAGES. took of
his wooden hat, folded his arms and
said:
PUT 1t into the center of my fore
head"
Alice bit her lip. She had cherished
faint hope that he would yield. But
there he stood with head uncovered.
arms folded, handsome even in his
butternut clothes, a breeze stirring the
hair over his forehead, while on his
lips remained still a trace of that i'm
perturbable smile. She played her
part SO we'll that he was not sure but
that she might bring herself to sacri-
flee him to her cause.
Alice, having nerved herself for the
unmaidenly contest, was determined
not to give it up without a desperate
struggle. She had no experience with
a pistol. but determined to put ball
sufficiently close to Murray's head to
scare him-if he were to be scared at
all.
Give me the paper" she said "At
three | fire"
Don't waste your breath counting"
he replied Fire at once"
"OneT
Before | die | have but one word
TO say to you. You are ravishing."
'Twop
And | love you"
Alice's bosom was heaving with con-
dieting emotions, desire to strike a
blow for her cause and the more nat
ural one OF a newly born love. She
70 Oh