The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1912-02-17
1owrIe and his gang

step and closed the door tight behind
us. Jed had scrambled 10 his feet,
and rubbing himself vigorously with
one hand utilized the other 10 drag
outward rough cupboard. which APP
peared TO be a portion OF the house
itself AS II swung open there was re-
vealed behind II a fair-sized opening
extending into the face OF the hill II
was a most ingenious arrangement,
doubtless finding frequent use In those
troublesome times. It's presence par
TALLY explained how Jed had thus far
escaped the CONSUMPTION officer. Into
this hole we entered one al a time,
and when the heavy cupboard had
been silently drawn back into place,
found ourselves enveloped in such
total darkness as 10 make any move
ment a dangerous operation. felt
the clasp OF my companions hand
I tighten, and knew that her whole form
was trembling from intense excite.
ment.
Do not permit the darkness to
7 alarm you" | whispered softly, bend
ing down as I spoke until ! could
feel her quick lreathing against my
/ cheek. Our visitors are not likely 20
remain longer than viii be necessary
70 get something 70 eat They need
never suspect our presence, and all
we have TO do is to wait patiently
until they move on ! only wish
could discover something upon which
you might sit down"
pray do not think me a coward"
she answered, but / have heard OF
this man Lowrie in the Federal camps,
and | would rather die than fall into
his hands"
/ had heard OF him also. and OF his
outrageous treatment OF women. The
memory caused me TO clasp my hand
warmly over hers. and set my teeth
hard.
1T may not prove 10 be Lowrie at
all" | said soberly; but all these
gentry are pretty mum alike. fear.
However, ! promise that you shall
never fall alive into the hands OF any
OF their breed"
Before she could answer me other
than by slight nesting closer in the
darkness, Bungay whispered: This
we're hole. Cap, leads down ter tho
right, an comes out In sort o gully
bout hundred feet back. Thar's
light 'nough ter see ter walk by alter
We turn the corner, bout twenty
feet er so. You uns kin go on down
thar IL ye'd rather, follerin' Their dorgs,
but ] reckon as how I'll stay right
yere an sorter see how Their oil woman
comes out
Where, where was Roderick then?
One blast upon his bngle horn
Were worth a thousands men
II you uns like ter see a burned good
fight maybe ye better stay tew-ther
oil woman is pisen II she once gifts her
dander up"
His voice was expressive OF great
expectations. and had reason to be-
lieve his faith in Maria would be
justified. Before any of us, however,
had time 20 change our positions we
heard the fellows come stamping
roughly into the cabin The thin slabs
which divided us scarcely muffled !
their loud voices.
Well. old woman, exclaimed one in |
voice so gruff as 10 seem almost as
sumed, pretending TO be alone, are ]
you, with all those dishes sitting out Z
on the table: just been eaten off. too.
Have MT seen no strange party along
the road this morning, have ye?"
Nary a one said Maria, and | !
Mew from her voice she was standing !
close beside the fireplace
Are you Mrs. Bungay?'
Il reckon ! am, II it's any o. yer
business"
Don't git nifty, old woman, or we're 4
liable to give you a lesson in polite.
ness before we leave" The leader l
dropped the butt OF his gun with
crash on the floor Where Is the III.
tie sneak. anyhow"
What do you want Of him."
Want him 20 go long with us;
we're hunting some parties and need
a guide. They toll us up the road
bit he knew every inch o. these yere
mountings"
There was pause, as II Maria was
endeayoring 10 decide as to the hon
esty OF the speaker. Her final answer
proved the mental survey had not
proven satisfactory.
Wal. reckon she said calmly,
"as you uns II be more likely ter
find him down bout Connersyille"
Then whuts all these we're dirty
dishes doing on the table2"
He'd sum Yankee officers yere they
just rode on down Their trail as you
uns cum up"
Like hell calculated the fellow
with complete loss OF temper See
here. old woman. we're too old birds
TO be caught with any such chaff
Wen take look around the old she
bang anyhow. and while we're at II
You put something on the table for me
and my mates 10 eat I"