The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1912-04-20


unique style OF riding, although 4
would not wound him BY laughing.
Il say. Cap. he said, jerking the
words out TO the mules hard trot, and
grasping his saddle pommel desper.
ately, ~ sorter reckon as how ther'n
be some fun back thar afore long less
all signs fail"
"Why?" | stared nj him, now thor
oughly aroused TO the thought that
he had important news 10 communt
cate.
Wal" he explained slowly, "whin
We whit of, sorter TUX 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 { other side
thar's a burned big camp o. fellers."
refined up short. and with uplifted
hand signalled the men behind to-
halt
why didn't you tell me this be-
fore?' | questioned sternly. How
many were there? and what did they
look like?"
lie scratched the back OF his head
thoughtfully. and answered with care.
full elaboration. "Durn II. | didn't
jine We till after yd started, an |
reckon as how il took me all O tew
mile ter git this yere blame muel up
ter whar | cud talk Thar's quite
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. 'em,
but | jist don't know. They wusn't
dressed like sojers o. either army, an
] reckon they're out o Their hills
glanced at my little handful OF
men, scarcely knowing what decision
IL might be wise 10 make. Undoubt-
eddy they would fight II occasion
arose. but the odds were terribly
heavy; besides, II Brennan came, and
his party got away that same even
ing, as was planned for them TO do.
then IL might not be necessary for us
10 strike 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 We're with the
guide when he discovered this camp.
How many do you think Il 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"
Not in uniform
Dot vos IT,"
Have any Of the rest Of you seen
anything that looked suspicious?'
asked. glancing around into the diff
ferent faces.
Maybe / did" answered one Of the
troopers named Earl AS we rode UP
the first hill after leaving the house
my horse picked up stone, and ! had
20 stop and get It out | reckon ] fell
behind quarter OF a mile or more,
and just as | started | looked back,
and 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 81 them
wore caps II was so far on ! couldn
tell the color Of their clothes, but
them caps made mo think they was
Feds
! chose my course at once This un-
doubtedly must have been Brennans
party.
Thank you. my man. II would have
been better II you had reported that
10 me AZ 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
that hill yonder Let them report
promptly any signs Of fire TO the
southeast, or any sound Of guns
We completed all our cooking be-
fore dark and when tho night finally
closed down about as IL proved TO be
an exceedingly black one, although
the skies were clear Sleep was an
impossibility for me, as my mind was
in constant turmoil
Ebcrs was lying next me upon the
grass. solemnly putting az his huge