Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1912-06-13

in concealment and had fallen u, ep.
Your voices :lwoke me. | was IL mem.
her OF Reynolds battery. having en-.
listed from illinois," Then | told her
| OF my wound and consequent plight.
She did not change her posture. yet
as paused could plainly hear her
rapid breathing.
"But-but it was not the orderly you
attacked" she exclaimed. lit was
Calvert Dunn"
Yes. it was Lieutenant Dunn. but
] assure you he was left nnhurt. What
followed ! think you already know.
| how was discovered by Joe and your
brother. how in the gloom they very
naturally miStook me for Dunn. how
they insisted upon my coming up to
| he house | was compelled to yield
To their insistence. or else fight them.
1 never thought mt that moment of
Dunns special mission: it merely seem
ed as il tue mistake in identity gave
me an opportunity for escape. You
realize how all the rest was forced
upon Ele There appeared no possible
way w uNOIN w uulJISslSu.
paused in vain; there was no sound.
no movement
II knew how you dreaded that mar
lfage with Calvert Dunn"
And she burst forth. did you i'm
agine would prefer one with you?"
"Certainly not. but it saved you from
him and from what might have proved
lifetime Of misery. You need never
see me again. and any court would inn
mediately grant you divorce on the
ground OF fraud. l even doubt il such
marriage would be held legal"
"Rut-but you do not understand"
her words almost sobs. II have. ridden
away with you. am here alone with
you now"
My purpose is to leave you at Fair
view. 1t will require no more than
two hours from the time we left your
people before we arrive there. No
one need ever know the truth. except
ing those anxious to protect your good
namc You may trust me implicitly"
Trust you-you: What. after all
'i'i''' Ahi'S' NOdi llCSs So'lI XIV S.SulOtJ.
ping. your spying. your trucking OF me
INTO this awful situation? God forgive
me. Married to Yankee. Release my
rein"
] hesitated. the 0erce flamins up OF
her anger SO suddenly paralyzing 10y
senses. There was II swift upliftins
of her arm to Il level with my head.
III mean it. You thought me help
less and and in your power. but al
not. You drop that rein or I'll fire.
Oh. eau do it. you-you miserab bile
Yankee spy! bate aud despise YOU"
She drew back her horse. wheeling
the animal about. yet turning in the
saddle herself so as to keep me In
view.
II do not know why do not kill
your she exclaimed. her voice grow
ing bitter with anger 1T Is what
should do You deserve it by your
own confession. and the one shot
would release me. Married to Van
kee. every syllable kissing from her
lips THE very thought crazes me
and puts murder in my heart. am
going to I'airview alone alone. Do
you hear that? Ii you dare attempt
To follow me | will shoot YOU in your
tracks as would dog. you low
! down Yankee cur
both horse and rider disappeared in
the gloom
Surprised certainly was by this
unexpected outburst, Scarcely realiz-
Ing previously the indomtal,Ie spirit
of the girl. before the sound of her
mares dying hoofs had ceased to echo
along the hard road | had given my
roam the rein and was squirting speed
lily after. We We're between the lines
of two hostile armies. in u debatab!e
country. where bands of irresponsible
guerrillas, deserters and fleeing con
scripts roamed unchecked by authori
ty. where no woman alone In the
night could be considered SAFE. for an
instant.
1T seemed to me we must have fully
covered that quarter of mile back
to where she had indicated the branch
road as leading down toward Fair
view. yet there was no turning or
pause in the swift pace There was
an opening between the walls of rocks
to my left. visible even in that dark
ness. and drew up the roam sharply.
swinging myself instantly to the
ground and feeling about hastily with
my feet for the ruts OF IL Travelled
roadway. There could be no other
road branching off at this point. Yet
tile girl w;ls riding directly west ward.
riding at full speed. her horses hoofs
sounding fainter each moment.
stood there an instant. puzzled. I'm.
certain. Then the truth came to me
in fash. She. suspected had over
heard more than had confessed: that
knew Of the projected movement Of
the gray army and that it was now my
purpose to warn the blue. That was
why she had called me spy" that was
why she was now riding straight on at
top speed. desperately. through the