Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1911-10-19

but could you not go with met"
smiled at the naive innocence OF
her query.
I wish you to feel that l have
never thought 80 much about my own
danger as about yours" l returned
quietly. But would 1t be pleasure
even to you to behold me swinging
from the limb Of tree. hung as a
SPY without trial. merely because l
.ventured to walk with you into a Fed.
eral Campo"
| could see her eyes now resting
full upon me, and much Of the hard.
ness and doubt seemed to have gone
out OF them as she scanned my I'm.
covered features in the dim light. I
scarcely think I was ever considered
handsome man even by my friends,
put was young then, frank of face,
with that about me which easily in.
| spired confidence, and 1t did me good
TO note how her eyes softened, and to
mark the perceptible tremor In her
voice as she cried impulsively:
oh, no! Not that!"
Your words yield me new heart" 1
replied fervently, determined, now
that Ice was partially broken, to per-
init no excuse FOR It's again forming
Tor If you but once fully realize our
situation you will certainly feel that
am merely endeavoring to perform
my plain duty"
Il will, of course, bow to the newt.
able, SIR" she said, "and shall an.
deavor to adapt myself to the require
ments of my unfortunate situation.
May venture to inquire what you
now propose to do?"
To the right Of where we stood the
ground sloped rapidly downward I'M
I'll the dense darkness at the foot OF
the steep def1le shrouded everything
from view The descent appeared
rocky and impracticable, and I could
distinguish the sound Of rapid water
far below. On the opposite side stood
a dense wood, the outer fringe of
trees overhanging the road, and
through the waving leaves the moon
light checkered the ground with sill
yer, while the dense mass beyond
seemed to flow back up the steep side
of the mountain, thick with under.
brush. Just below us, and possibly
fifty feet from the highway, could
perceive small o"e-story log cabin,
as silent, gloomy, and deserted to all
outward appearance as were the SON.
Der woods of which 1t formed part.
There seems small choice" said,
speaking as cheerfully as possible.
But | propose to investigate the log
hut yonder, and learn II 1t may not
afford some degree of shelter. If you
will rest here, in the shadow of these
trees, will soon discover whether 1t
has inmates or not"
She followed me in silence across
the road to the spot designated, but as
turned to leave her seated upon the
grass, and well protected from prying
eyes. she hurried quickly after me,
and in her agitation so far forgot her.
self as to touch my sleeve with her
hand
."Oh, please do not leave me here
alone. | am not naturally timid, yet
everything is SO gloomy cannot stand
it. Let me go with you, if you must
go!"
Most assuredly you shall if you de-
sire l returned heartily.
There appeared before us dim, lit
tle-used path leading in among the
trees, and following its erratic curves
we were soon before the cabin, which
grew even more uninviting as we
drew near. AS paused moment be-
fore the closed door, in order that
might listen for any possible sound
within, could hear her quick breath
Ing, as though the terror of the mo-
ment had driven all else from her
mind. The wooden latch yielded
readily enough to my pressure, and
pushing wide open the door, which
creaked slightly upon its rusty hinges,
| stepped across the puncheon TIRES
hold onto the hard earthen floor. There
was no window visible, and the slight
reflection of moonlight which crept
IN through the doorway scarcely re-
vealed the nature of that dark inter-
Tor. could dimly perceive what be-
lieved to be a table directly in front of
me, while certain other indistnct and
Ill defined shadows might be chairs
pushed back against the wall At least
this room was without occupants; yet
1t was with every sense alert that l
entered, pressing slowly past the table
toward where felt the fireplace
would naturally be, knowing that my
companion was yet with me, her hand
clutching my arm.
Obi" she cried sharply in terror.
what was that?"
1t was something certainly dead
ened, muftled, shutfling sound directly
In our 'front.' followed by strange
noise of scraping, as If with dull
knife on wood.
Wait here said sternly. Prob
ably it is nothing more dangerous
than a rat
felt my way carefully around the
table, revolver ready in my hand.
There was nothing to be found there
nothing, indeed. in the room; for
b.