Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1912-03-28
CHAPTER xxvlIi.-contInued.

I say, Cap" he said, jerking the
words out to the mules hard trot, and
grasping his saddle pommel desper-
ately, Il sorter reckon as how ther'l
oe some fun back thar afore long less
all signs fail"
Why?' l stared at him, now thor
oughiy aroused to the thought that
be had important news to communi.
cate.
wal" he explained slowly, "whln
re whit off, | sorter TUX a notion ter
look bout a bit. Used ter be an oil
stompin' ground O. mine. So Dutchy
an me clumb tibet big hill back O.
whar We halted. and by gum, down
thar in Their gully on T. other side
thar's a burned big camp o. fellers."
| refined up short, and with uplifted
hand signalled the men behind to
haIt.
Why didn't you tell me this be.
!ore?" | questioned sternly. How
many were there? and what did they
took like?"
He scratched the back of his head
shoughtfully, and answered with care.
ful elaboration, "Durn it, | didn't
fine We till after y'd started, an
reckon as how 1t took me all o. tew
mile ter git this yere blame muel up
ter whar | cud talk. Thar's quite a
smart bunch, but they had some pick
cts out, an | cudn't git close 'nough
ter tell zackly. Dutchy thought thar
wus nigh onter two hundred O. EN-,
but | jist don't know. They wusn't
dressed like sojers O either army, an
il reckon they're out O. Their hills"
| glanced at my little handful of
men, scarcely knowing what decision
1t might be wise to make. Undoubt.
eddy they would fight IL occasion
arose, but the odds we're terribly
heavy; besides, If Brennan came, and
his party got away that same even
ing, as was planned for them to do,
then it might not be necessary for us
to strike a blow. was certainly in
no mood to expose my small command
merely to save the empty house from
destruction.
"Ebers," | said. turning toward the
Sergeant. who sat his horse with ex-
pressionless face, you were with the
guide when he discovered this camp.
How many do you think 1t contained?
and who were they?"
Vel, dere vos more as two gom-
panies, Captain, und dere vos some
horses, but dey Vos dressed-vot you
calls it?-all ober not ner same
mot In uniform?"
Dot ,vos It."
Have any Of the rest OF you seen
anything that looked suspicious?" 1
asked, glancing around into the DIFF
ferent faces.
Maybe | did" answered one of the
troopers named Earl. LAS we rode up
the first hill after leaving the house
my horse picked up a stone, and | had
to stop and get 1t out. l reckon | fell
behind a quarter Of a mile or more,
and just as l started | looked back,
and a party of ten or twelve fellows
was Just riding in through them big
gates onto the front lawn. But them
fellows was soldiers for sure; they
rode regular like. and all of them
wore caps. 1t was so far of I couldn't
ell the color Of their clothes. but
Them caps made me think they was
Feds"
chose my course at once. This I'm.
toubtedly must have been Brennan's
7arty.
Thank you, my man; 1t would have
cen better II you had reported that
20 me at once" | said. However, |
understand the situation much better
now. Sergeant, we will go into camp
here. Post pickets In both directions,
but put your most careful men on
chat hill yonder. Let them report
promptly any signs OF fire to the
southeast. or any sound of guns"
We completed all our cooking be
ore dark. and when the night finally
closed down about us 1t proved to be
nm exceedingly black one. although
the skies clear. Sleep was an
impossibility for me. as my mind was
in constant turmoil.
Ebers was lying next me upon The
grass. solemnly putting at his huge
pipe. and | held my watch to the glow
an it's bowl In order to see the time
AZ wal nearly midnight.
Those fellows ought to be at II
before this" ] said to him. ~ they
Intend to accomplish anything TO
might
sI dink SO too" he answered slowly.
sill zee dot der guard Is all right
~ dsu VII not soms sIeep, for am