River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1912-09-05
But what about yourself?"

Don : worry ABOUT me- LHOSe le1-
lows haven't any evidence against me
yet. They're after you"
/ was through the intervening door
with bound and an instant later had
burrowed under the crumpled papers.
The shifting of the sun had left this
corner Of the repair shop in shadow,
but was scarcely outstretched in my
hastily improvised hiding place, when
| heard the blacksmith calmly open
his outer door, where he stood smok-
ing, clad in leathern apron, awaiting
the approaching horsemen. They
swept about the corner of the smithy
almost at the same moment, pulling
up their tired horses at sight Of him.
From amid the thud of hoofs, and the
| rattle of accoutrements, voice spoke
sharply:
$50 you're here, Farrell, you old
rebel hypocrite. Well, what are you
hiding now?"
Il was not aware that / had any
thing to hide, Captain Grant," was the
dignified response. This is my shop.
an where / should be-"
"Oh, hell! We all know you well
enough, you old fox, and wen catch
you red-handed yet, and hang you.
But we're not hunting after your kind
today. Did you see anything of fell
low in scarlet jacket along here last
night, or this morning?"
l failed to catch FarrelIs answer,
but the voice Of the officer was suf-
i ficiently loud to reach me.
"a rebel spy; the sneaking rascal
must have swan the Delaware. Well
look about your shop just the same
before we ride on. Mason, take half
dozen men with you, ard rake the
place over"
/ heard the sound of their boots on
the floor, and burrowed lower in my
box Two or three enteyed the old
shop, and began to probe about among
the debris. One kicked the box in
which / lay, and thrust a bayonet
down through the loose papers, barely
missing my shoulder. With teeth
| clinched / remained breathless, but
the fellow seemed satisfied, and moved
on, after searching the dark corner
beyond. At last | heard them all go
out, mumbling to each other, and ven
| tured to sit up again, and draw fresh
breath. They had left the door ajar,
and / had a glimpse through the crack.
| Farrell was leaning carelessly in the
outer doorway, smoking, his short legs
wide apart, his expression one of total
| indifference A big fellow stepped
past him, and saluted some one just
out of sight.
Nobody in there, sir" he reported.
"All right, Mason" and Grant came
into view on a rangy sorrel. Get
| your men back into saddle; We'll
move on
Think he went this way?" asked
the blacksmith carelessly.
How the hell do | know!" savage
| ly. "He must have started this way,
but likely. he took the north road.
Well get the chap before night, unless
he runs into Delavan's fellows out
yonder See here, Farrell" holding in
his horse, we'll be back here about
dark, and will want something to eat "
''You will be welcome to al you
find
You impudent rebel, you see that
you are here when we come. l know
you, you night rider, and will bring
you to book yet. Forward men-trot!
Close up the rank there, sergeant;
| we'll take the road to the left"
i l watched them go past, the dust
covered green uniforms slipping by
the crack of the door, as the men
urged their horses faster. Farrell
never moved, the blue tobacco smoke
curling above his head, and l stole
across the Uttered storeroom to a cob
webbed window, from which / could
watch the little column of riders go
down the hill. They finally disap-
peared in the edge of a grove, and /
turned around to find tie blacksmith
leaning against his anvil waiting for
me.
Genial young fellow, Grant," he
said. Always promising to hang me.
but never quite ready to tackle the
| job. Afraid shall have to disappoint
him again tonight
you will not wait for him.?
4 AA0A AAS w hCdAQ nAdl AC ScllQ
about Delavan? That was the very
news | wanted to learn. Now think
both those lads will meet me much
sooner than they expect"
He stepped forward into the open
doorway, and blew three shrill blasts
on silver whistle. The echo had
scarcely died away, when, out from
thick clump of trees perhaps half a
mile distant, horse shot forth, rae
ing toward us. AS the reckless rider
drew up suddenly, saw him to be a
barefooted. freckle-faced boy of per-
haps sixteen, his eyes bright with ex-
citement.
$50 it's you on duty. Ben" said Far
rell quietly, glancing from the boy to
his horse. We'll, you're in for ride.
Have the men at Lone Tree by sun
down; all of them. See Duval first,
an tell him for me this is big thing.
Now off with you!"
The boy, grinning happily, swung
his horse around, and, jabbing his sides
with bare heels, rode madly away di-
rectly south across the vacant land.
Within five minutes he had vanished
down sharp incline Farrell was still
staring after him, when / asked:
/ tfWhaf is If 2's