The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1912-08-30

Don't worry about me; those TEL
lows haven't any evidence against me
yet They're after you"
was through the intervening door
with a bound and an instant later had
burrowed under the crumpled papers.
The shifting Of the sun had left this
corner Of the repair shop In shadow,
but was scarcely outstretched In my
hastily improvised hiding place, when
| heard the blacksmith calmly open
his outer door, where he stood smok-
Ing, clad In leathern apron, awaiting
the approaching horsemen. They
swept about the corner Of the smithy
almost at the same moment, pulling
up their tired horses at sight Of him.
From amid the thud Of hoofs, and the
rattle Of accoutrements, a voice spoke
sharply:
so you're here, Farrell, you old
rebel hypocrfte. Well, what are you
hiding now?"
Il raj not aware that l had any
thing to hide, Captain Grant," was the
dignifled response. This Is my shop,
an where ! should be-"
"Oh, hell! We all know you we'll
enough, you old fox. and we'll catch
you red-handed yet, and hang you.
But we're not hunting after your kind
today. Did you g anything Of a fell
low In scarlet jacket along here last
night, or this morning?"
/ failed to catch Farrell's answer,
but the voice Of the officer was suf-
/ f1ciently loud to reach me.
"A rebel spy; the sneaking rascal
must have swan the Delaware. Well
look about your shop just the same
before we ride on. Mason, take a half
dozen men with you, and rake the
place over
l heard the sound Of their boots on
the floor, and burrowed lower In my
box. Two or three entered the old
shop, and began to probe abou. among
the debris. One kicked the box In
which I lay, and thrust a bayonet
down through the loose papers, barely
missing my shoulder. With teeth
clinched ! remained breathless, but
the fellow seemed satisfied, and moved
on, after searching the dark corner
beyond. At last | heard them all &c
out, mumbling to each other, and ven
tured to sit up again, and draw a fresh
breath. They had left the door ajar
and l had a glimpse through the crack
Farrell was leaning carelessly in the
outer doorway, smoking, his short legs
wide apart, his expression one of tota,
Indifference. A big fellow stepped
past him, and saluted some one JUS
out Of sight. .."
Nobody in there, sir" he reported
"All right, Mason" and Grant came
into view on a rangy sorrel. "Get
your men back into saddle; well
move on"
Think he went this way?" asked
the blacksmith carelessly,
How the hell do | know!" savage
ly. "He must have started this way
but likely he took the north road
Well get the chap before night, unless
he runs into Delavan's fellows oui
yonder. See here, Farrell" holding In
his horse, well be back here about
dark, and will want something to eat
you will be welcome to all you
find"
"You impudent rebel, you see thai
you are here when we come. ! know
you, you night rider, and will bring
you to book yet Forward men--trotl
Close up the rank there, sergeant;
we'll take the road to the left"
l watched them go past. the dust
covered green uniforms slipping BY
the crack of the door, as the mer
urged their horses faster. Farrell,
never moved, the blue tobacco smoke
curling above his head, and I stole
across the Uttered storeroom to a cob
webbed window, from which / coult
watch the little column Of riders &c
down the hill. They finally disap
peared In the edge Of a grove. and
turned around to find tie blacksmith
leaning against his anvil waiting fol
me.
Genial young fellow, Grant," he
said. Always promising to hang me
but v quite ready to tackle the
Job. Afraid / shall have to disappoint
him again tonight"
"You will NOT walt for himr'
Hardly. You heard what he said
about Delavan? That was the very
news / wanted to learn. Now ! think
both those lads will meet me much
sooner than they expect"
He stepped forward into the open
doorway, and blew three shrill blasts
on a silver whistle. The echo had
scarcely died away, when. out from
a thick clump of trees perhaps half a
mile distant, a horse shot forth. rae.
ing toward us. AS the reckless rider
drew up suddenly, | saw him to be Q
b~arefooted, ~freckle-faced boy Of per
haps sixteen. his eyes bright with ex
element.
80 it's you on duty, Ben" said Far
rell quietly, CHANGING from the boy tc
his horse. We'll, you're In for a ride
Have the men at Lone Tree by sun
down; all of them. See Duval first
an tell him for me this is a big thing
Now of with you'll"
The boy, grinning happily, swunf
bis horse around. and, jabbing his sides
with bare heels. rode madly away di
rectly south across the vacant land
Within five minutes he had vanished
down a sharp incline. Farrell was still
staring after him. when | asked: