Middletown transcript., 1911-10-28
CHAPTER IVs
A Woman with a vymper.

hour at it, riding ct no mean paces
and with utter disregard Of danger.
Although l knew little AZ where we
were, and nothing as to the condition
of the path We tFaversed, yet so COM
plete was my confidence in Craig that
felt no hesitaaOy in bEindly following
the pace he gOt. YAeR . black shape
doomed up before RB 90 suddenly that
It was only BY Q quick effort l pre-
vented q collisioa. EvSn as l held
my horse poised halt IN air, I per.
ceived It was Craig himself whO
blocked tho way.
What 70 It, sergo&EEF'
"A pickoL sir, at the end Of the
road" he said, quietly. II kinder reck.
onsd they'd hev son1B sort o. guard
thar, 30 I crept uD on the quiet ter be
sure. The feller helped me OFT a bit
by strihn' q match ter see what time
twas, or I reckon I'd q Walked over
aim in ther dark"
'.Had We better ride him DOWN." !
asked, thinking only how rapidly the
night hours were speeding and Of the
importance Of the duty pressing upon
an.
Not with ther woman, Sir" he an
Swered in . low, reproachful voice.
Besides We never could git through
without Q shot, an R by any dern luck
It should turn out 70 be cavalry out
lpost-an' 1 sorter Feckon that's what
It is-why, our horGss are in no shape
fer a hard run. Yes uns better waiG
here, sir, an let me SDnd ter that sogeR
man quiet like, an tSen p'raps We unG
kin all slip by wiLAaut . stirrin' up
ther patrol"
'WeIl," I said, Hiluctantly, yield
ing to what l felt Gas doubtless the
wiser course, and n1< chanically grasp
ing th9 rein he ll out to me, sc
ahead. But be { SrBful, and don't
waste any time ] Ue hear the SOUND
of a slJot we shall fhs forward under
spur" 6
"AIl right, sir, u59 there'n be 70
fuss, fJP know ! u whar thsr fSliST
is"
Timo seems CT finally long when
one is compelled D wait in helpless
uncertainty, every brve on strain.
Hold yourself ,Rdy for a sudden
start" I said, wa llngly to my corn
panion. eff therl lB any noise Of o
struggle yonder | lhall drive In the
spurs"
AS 1 spoke ing the sergeants
horse around to ny side, where
could control him gore readily.
There was no gly from the wom-
an, but noticed she OndeaVored to
draw together tb /, tapping cape Of
her cloak, as thoI gh she felt chilled
by the wind and her figure seemed to
stiffen in the saddle.
It came at last-not the sharp flash
Of a musket cIeaving the night In
twain, but merely the tall figure OF
the sergeant, stealing silently out OF
the gloom like a black ghost, and
standing at our very horses heads.
"All clear, sir" he reported in q
matter-of-fact tone. But we shall
hev ter move mighty quiet, fer ther
main picket post amt more nor a
hundred yards ter the right o ther
crossin'."
He did not remount, but, with reins
flung loosely over his arm, led the
way slowly forward, and carefully we
followed him.
What had become of the sentinel
did not know, respecting CraigS eVi-
dent desire for silence; but O we
drew nearer the White BriaP road l
sought in vain to pierce the dense
gloom and note some sign Of gtrug-
gle, some darker shadow whore .
body might be lying. There was notA-
ing visible to tell the story.
The sergeant walked without tho
least hesitation across the open space,
directly into the deep shadows OpD0.
site, where the cross-road continued
ko hold way. Crouching low in the
saddle, we followed him as silently
as though we were but spirits Of tho
night. Up the road I caught the red
glsam Of fire almost spent, and .
black figure crossed US, casting an odd
shadow against the face Of tile rock
where it was lighted by he fickering
red blaze. It was all over i1i . mo-
ment, a mere glimpse, but It formed
one Of those sudden pictursa which
paint themselves on the brain, and
can never after be effaced. 4 recall
yet the long shade cast by tlaiI mans
gun, the grotesque shape OF AaS Zap
ping army overcoat, the quick CAa1go
In the silhouette as he wheS8Sl 10 re-
trace his beat. But there was no
noise, not even the sound oS hig foot
STEPS, reaching US. Even 90 ] gazed,
lying open ut full length upon my
horse, We had crossed The open, and q
perfect tanEIS Of low bushes hA "
as completely as II we hsd entered the
yAwning mouth Of o c0ysFH.
A hundred yards or more Of sharply
cuHving road dsnsely hR0a with shrub
bsry on eithsf hand, 0ad thea Craig
swVag into saddle end again gave
Reue 20 his horse.
'emuSt ride for n MSw," A0 saia,
Gegssly. when thet patrol makes
tAoas round, thsm felleVs Will 10 after
- heG"
URwed @9 Uiged horse 20 Q gallop.
RaWBalnS upOn CFaig's heels No closely
Go ! dared. nor die glance back, for
Z 0ea well that . ssaA picket was
4s somewhere BY the crossroads.
CO chat his comrades would hG heard
Ss5@ before dawn. W5 were sowing
apsl9 now; for the road undOr fcot
SW better - VIC advanced, and gave
eaaa ths daii tssHd n soft earth In
egenA VI tho fattlins Gang of TIA
rocks ~ lad been 81 nns aeeast tonaea :
Then. nuddsnl N|1 horse var