Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1911-09-18

never thought 90 much about my own
danger a. about yours" returned
quietly. But would 1t be . pleasure
even to you to behold me swinging
from the limb of tree, hung as .
spy without trial, merely because
'ventured to walk with you into Fed.
sral camp?"
I could see her eyes now resting
full upon me. and much Of the hard.
ness and doubt seemed to have gone
out Of them a she scanned my un.
covered features in the dim light. I
scarcely think was ever considered
. handsome man even by my friends,
but was young then, frank Of face,
with that about me which easily IN.
spired confidence. and It did me good
to note how her eyes softened. and to
mark tho percsptible tremor In her
voice 40 she cried in1pulsively:
"Oh. no! Not that"
your words yield me new heart" l
replied fervently. determined. now
that Ice was partially broken, to per.
init no excuse for its again forming.
"for II you but once fully realize our
situation you will certainly feel that
I am merely endeavoring to perform
my plain duty
Il will, Of course, bow to the newt.
able, SIR" she said, "and shall en-
deavor to adapt myself to the require
ments OF my unfortunate situation.
May venture to inquire what you
now propose to do?"
To tho right of where we stood the
ground sloped rapidly downward un-
It'll the dense darkness at the foot OF
the steep defile shrouded everything
from view. The descent appeared
rocky and impracticable. and l could
distinguish the sound Of rapid water
far below. On the opposite side stood
q dense wood, the outer fringe OF
trees overhanging tho road, and
through tho 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 tho mountain, thick with under.
brush. Just below us and possibly
fifty feet from the highway. I could
perceive a small o~e-story log cabin.
as silent, gloomy. and deserted to all
outward appearance as were the SOM
Der woods Of which It formed part.
There seems small choice" said.
speaking as cheerfully as possible.
"But propose to investigate the log
hut wonder, and learn IL it NAV not
afford some degree Of shelter. II you
will rest here, in the shadow of these
trees. will soon discover whether 1t
has inmates or not" s., i,
She followed mo in silence across
the road to the spot designated, but az
turned to leave her seated upon the
grass. and well protected from prying
eyes, she hurried quickly after mo.
and in her agitation so far forgot her.
self as to touch my sleeve with her
hand.
"Oh, please do not leave me hero
alone. am not naturally timid. yet
everything is so gloomysI cannot stand
it. Let me go with you, If you must
go!" t-G
Most assuredly you shall If you de-
SIRE" returned heartily.
There appeared before us dim, lit.
tle-used path leading in among tho
trees. and following its cratic 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 I
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. Tho wooden latch yielded
readily enough to my pressure. and
pushing wide open the door, which
creaked slightly upon its rusty hinges.
I stepped across the puncheon TIRES.
hold onto the hard earthen floor. There
was no window visible, and the slight
rejection 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 indistinct and
Ill defined shadows might be chairs
pushed back against the wall. At least
this room was without occupants; yet
It was with every sense alert that
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.
"Oh!" she cried sharply In terror.
what was that:"
It was something certainly-a dead
ened. mufied, stunning sound directly
In our front. followed by a strange
noise Of scraping. a. II with dull
knife on wood.
Wait here" said sternly. "Prob-
ably 1t is nothing more dangerous
than a rat"
felt my way carefully around the
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Ooe:e:an WesoLlo Do~,o,o.