The Columbus commercial., 1912-12-22

cFidently a fireplace or some Kind %
the first floor. with considerable
opening leading from Il into the chin
ncy We were scaling. for az Jed slow
ly passed. could perceive sudden
CLEAN Of light streaming across bis
face from the glare Of the lamps with.
In. He glanced anxiously that way.
but did not pause in his steady climb
upward.
A moment later crme opposite
that same beam OF radiance. and
cautiously peered down the sloped
opening that led TO the disused fire
place All | could perceive was
pair Of legs. evidently those OF cav
airy officer. Judging from the broad
yellow stripe down the seam of the
light-blue trousers. and the high boots
ornamented with rowel spurs. He
stood leaning carelessly against the
mantel. talking with some one Just
beyond the range OF my vision.
AT that moment the music ceased
suddenly. and afraid to proceed until
It should strike VI again. braced
r.yself securely on a projecting stone
and bent my head over the orifice un-
til could catch a portion Of the con-
versation being carried on by my un-
conscious neighbors.
NO" said the cavalryman. gruffly,
and apparently in reply to some previ-
Gus question, the fellow was most
devilish obstinate: wouldn't tell the
first thing; even threat OF treat
ing him as spy and hanging him
outright proved Of no avail But
Sheridan's theory is tina. Lee has or
dered Longstreet to hit our rear.
while he makes a direct attack In
front. That's why the old man pro-
poses to get In his work first, and
we march at daylight to form con
rection with Hancock. BY Jove.
Chesley. but that woman in black over
there with Follans' 'e is the handsom-
est picture I've seen south Of the line.
Mark how her eyes sparkle. and how
prettily the light CLEANS in her hair,
Who is She do you chance to know"
Yes" lisped the other, languidly,
met her at breakfast, headquarters,
this morning. Deuce6 pretty and all
that, mighty good style, too, but taken.
old man She's Brennan's"
What! not Major Brennan" in sur.
prise. why, he's always posed as a
bachelor among our fellows"
Don't know anything bout that,
dear boy" indifferently, but the lady
came in with him yesterday, was in
troduced to the crowd Of us as Mrs.
Brennan, and he called her Edith.
Deuced nice name, Edith AS Bren-
nan has shown such poor taste as to
be absent tonight, | am inclined to give
little OF my time to his lady. Far
and away the prettiest thing here.
Well, so long, Somers; see you in the
morning I'm going to give the fair
Edith a whirl"
The cavalry legs shifted tht : posi-
tion; the band resumed its functions.
and in the renewed activity and noise
| began again the toilsome climb, my
mind now q bowildered chaos between
my plain duty to Lee and M nearly
uncomfortable desire to meet once
/. ore the woman who was dancing In
the room below.
The little mountAineer. as active as
a cat, and not especially hampered by
lack of room In which to work, was
well above me by this time. The
chimney, acting as tube. brought
down to me from tiine to time the
slight noise of his climbing, varied
by an occasional exclamation or COM
ment, but ! could perceive no other
evidence of his presence, Above. all
was as black as the grave.
Holy smoke!" he calculated, prob
ably unaware that he was giving utter.
ance to his thoughts. THAT was
sharp rockl Durn if thars inch 9
skin left on my knee. Ought stop
thetl who's got hold O. my fut?"
Hush your racket, you little fool"
said angrily DO you want the
whole Yankee army to trap us here
like rats? cannot get up this chin
n any further; 1t is growing too
small to permit my body to pass
is thet so, Cap?" he asked anxious
ly. "Whut be We goin ter dew bout
it?"
made no answer for moment; |
was cropping about In the darkness of
our narrow quarters to see could
determine exactly where we were.
How high is this house, Jed, do you
know?"
Three stories an attic"
How far up are we"
"'Bout halfway long ther third
story, / reckon; must be ilst blow
whar ye are thet ! stuck my fut
down an openin' Reckon I was moth.
er fireplace. like thet one on ther
first flure."
lowered myself silently. and felt
along the stones until l located the
opening, and roughly measured its
dimensions.
Il shall have TO risk crawling out
here. jed" | said finally. for ] shall
surely stick fast II go up another
ten feet Do you suppose you can
squeeze through to the top?"
Il reckon kin" he returned calm.
ly. But hadn't we better stick ter.
gether. Capi"
mo-" | answered firmly. You 60
on. and one OF US must Get through
&c Lee Don't mind me at all; get
down from the roof as best you can
II ] am caught 1t wiz be all the more
important that you should succeed"