Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1911-10-26
CHAPTER VI.
A Struggle In the Dark.


embarrassed than at that moment
knew not what to say or now best TO
approach this young woman. leIt SO
strangely TO my protection. The very
fact, which | now realized. that she
was both young and fair, added some
indefinite burden and complicated the
delicate situation. saw no safety
for US but in careful hiding until
Craig could return, a squad Of hard.
riding troopers at his tnck. To per
init the girl to venture forward alone
through the desolate country We were
in, overrun as | knew 1t to be by ir.
regular bands whose sole purpose was
plumber, and whose treatment Of wom
en- had made my blood run cold as |
listened to its recital. was not to be
so much as thought Of.
There was no help for It. and but
one way out. disagreeable as that
might prove to my lady. She stood
there before me. motionless and silent
as a statue. exactly where she had
alighted when the sergeant took her
horse, and II seemed to me ] could
plainly read righteous indignation in
the indistinct outline Of her figure and
the naughty pose Of her head. To her
at that moment | was evidently most
disagreeable and even hated compan'
ion, a Rebel" the being Of all others
she had been taught to despise. the
enemy Of all she held sacred. Gould
any good thing come out OF Naza-
reth?"
The time has come when II be-
comes my duty 10 look after your
comfort and safety" said. striking
TO disguise all circumstances
Every moment we delay now merely
increases the danger of our remaining
here"
Il imagine | might very easily dis.
pense with any further care on your
part"
Her reply nettled me. and | answer.
ed with an earnestness which she
could neither ignore nor check: POS.
sibly you may think so. but II you do
It is merely because Of your utter ig.
norance Of the disorganized conditions
which prevail in these mountains.
Your pride is almost ridiculous under
all the circumstances. You have no
Just cause to feel that | am forcing
myself unnecessarily upon you. Our
being compelled to take you In charge
has proven as disastrous to US as to
you. Personally | can say that moth
ing will relieve me more than to be
able to place you uninjured into the |
care Of your own people. | would
willingly assume great risks to that
end. But while you remain here and
in my care, | shall perform my full
duty toward you as though you we're
my own sister. Now please listen to
me, and ! assure you ! shall speak
nothing for the mere purpose Of alarm
ing you. but simply that you may bet
ter comprehend the facts which must
influence our present relationship.
have sent forward Sergeant Craig
with the message especially intrusted
to me for delivery, and thus. II 1t
fails to reach its destination. ! have
laid myself open to the charge Of q
grave military crime. In doing this
have not only perIled my own future,
but the lives Of my comrades and the
Iaith OF my commander. Yet | have
deliberately chosen to do so because
| feel the impossibllity Of leaving you
here unprotected. and because ] was
unwilling to trust you alone with my
! dare not permit you TO
traverse these roads alone. The noun
,ains all about Us. deserted as they
low appear, are filled with wandering
bands Of desperate and hunted men
whose tenderest mercy Is death. Any
-oek may b the hiding place Of an
outlaw, any dark ravine the rondos-
TouS Of 80 Wild . gang % oFoF mw-
isrsd for plumber"