Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1912-03-08

opening leading from it into the chin
ney we were scaling, for as Jed SLOW
ly passed, I could perceive a sudden
CLEAN of light streaming across his
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 l anne opposite
that same beam of radiance, and
cautiously peered down the sloped
opening that led to the disused fire
place. All l could perceive was a
pair of legs, evidently those OF a 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 n just
beyond the range of my vision.
At hat moment the music ceased
suddenly, and afraid to proceed until
it should strike W again, I braced
Lyself securely on a projecting stone
and bent my head over the orifice I'M
til l could catch a portion of the con-
versation being carried on by my IN
conscious neighbors.
mo" 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 a threat of treat
ing him as d spy and hanging him
outright proved of no avail. But
Sheridan's theory is tina. Lee has Or
dered Longstreet to hit u 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 o n
nection 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 yes sparkle, n 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 u 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.
| Deuced nice name, Edith. As Bren-
nan has shown such poor taste as to
be absent tonight, I am inclined to give
a 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 the posi-
ton; tho band resumed its functions,
and in the renewed activity and noise
began again the toilsome climb, my
mind now a bcwildered chaos between
my plain duty to Lee and ny nearly
uncomfortable desire to meet once
Lore the woman who was dancing in
the room below.
The little m%ountaineer, as active as
a cat, and not especially hampered by
| lack of room in which to work, was
we'll above me by this time. The
chimney, acting as a tube, brought
down to me from time to time the
slight noise of his climbing, varied
by an occasional exclamation or COM
ment, but l could perceive no other
evidence of his presence. Above, all
was as black as the grave.
Holy smoke!" he calculated, prob
ably w that he was giving utter
ance to his thoughts. "That was a
sharp rock! Durn If thar's a inch O
skin left on my knee. Ough! stop
tibet! who's got hold O. my fut?"
Hush your racket, you little fool"
I said angrily. do you want the
whole Yankee army to trap Is here
like rats? l cannot get up this chin
n. any further; it is growing too
small to permit my body to pass"
"Is tibet SO, Capt." he asked anxious
ly. "Whut be ye goin' ter dew bout
it,"
I made no answer for a moment; I
was cropping about in the darkness Of
our narrow quarters to see II l could
determine exactly where we were.
How high is this house, Jed, do you
known"
Three stories an attic"
"How far w are wei"
Bout halfway long Their third
story, I reckon; must be list blow
whar ye are thet I stuck my fut
down an openin'. Reckon t was moth
er fireplace, like tibet one on ther
first flure."
l lowered myself silently. and felt
along the stones until l located the
opening, and roughly measured its
dimensions.
81 shall have to risk crawling out
here, jed" I said finally, "for l shall
surely stick fast II I go up another
ten feet Do you suppose you can
squeeze through to the top?"
Il reckon I kim" he returned calm
ly. "But hadn't we better stick ter
gether. Cap?"
NO." l answered firmly. You 90
ON. and one Of N must get through
to Lee. Don't mind me at all; get
down from the roof AZ best you can.
II I am caught It will be all the o
important that you should succeed"
'''T 10 done-T thank thee, Roderick.
for the word: It nerves my heart, It
steels my sword"
Even % ho spoke I could hear him
creeping steadily upw.rd. It soon be-
came evident that his progress was