The Clovis news. [volume] (Clovis, N.M.) 1907-1929, 1912-01-04
cHAeTER xvn.-consInuea.

t thHf
CHAPTER xvi-contlnued.
Colonel Curran is certainly to be
congratulated upon having found SO
charming a guide, madam, ard J. can
assure you I shall most gladly do my
part toward the success of the expedi-
ton. The Major was expected back
before this, believer"
lie left word that IT. he had not
returned by twelve ] was TO wait for
him no longer, as he should go directly
to his quarters. i find the life of a
soldier to be extremely uncertain"
We are our country's servants,
madam he replied rroudly, and then
taking u a pad Of blanks from his
pocket, turned TO me.
May ! ask you full name and
rank. Colonel2"
Patrick l. Curran. Colonel. Sixth
Ohio Light Artillery"
He wrote it down rapidly. tore Oh
the paper, and handed IL to me.
That will take you safely through
our inner guard lines" he said grave
~, that being as far Cs my jurisdic-
tion extends Goodnight, Colonel;
goodnight. Mrs. Brennan.'
We bowed tremendously, and the
net moment Mrs Brennan and +
ere out upon the steps, breathing
the cool night air. / glanced curious
" at her face as tho CLEAN of light
fell upon it-hOw calm and reserved
she -%ppeared, and yet uer eyes were
aglow with intense excitement. At
the foot of the steps he glanced up
at the dark, projecting roof far above
us.
Do you suppose he can possibly be
up there yet?" she asked, In a tone
Sc low as to be ~inaudible to the ears
of the sentry.
Who? Bungay?" ! questioned in
surprise. for my thoughts were else
where. ~oh, he was like a cat. and
there are trees at the rear. Prob
ably he Is sale lonr ago. or else
a prisoner once more"
Beyond the CLEAN of the
windows all was wrapped in complete
darkness, save that here and there
we could distinguish the dull red
glare Of camp-1res where the company
cooks gere yet at work or some
sentry post had been established. We
turned Sharply to the left. and pro
ceeded down a comparatively smooth
road, which seemed to me to possess
a rock basis, it felt hard. From
the position Of the stars / judged our
course to be eastward. but the night
was sufficiently Obscured to shrond
all objects more than a few yards dis
tant. Except for tho varied camp
noises on either side Of us the eve
ming was oppressively sim. and the
had the late chill Of high attitudes.
Mrs. Brennan pressed more closely to
me RS we passed beyond the narrow
zone of light, and unconsciously we
fell into step together.
A few hundred yards farther a fire
burned redly against a pile OF logs
The forms Of several men lay out
stretched beside it. while a sentry
paced back and forth. in and out OF
he range Of light. We we're almost
upon him before he noted our an.
preach, and ia his haf e he swung his
musket down from his shoulder until
The point Of It's bayonet nearly
touched my breast.
Halt" he cried sternly, peering at
ir Ia evident surprise. Halt this
road is closed
valley Forge" whispered the girl,
and noticed how white her face APP
peared 10 the flaming Of the fire
The word is an right. Miss re-
the fellow, %stoutly. yet with
out lowering his ~obstructing gun. "But
cannot pass any one out on the
e%ountefsign alone If you was going
The other way it would answer"
But we are returning from the Off
ball. she urged a%nxiously. and
on our way to Major Brennan S
quarters We have passes
Az she drew the paper from out her
one Of the men at the fire
sDrang 70 his feet and strobe across
lie narrow road toward u.s. lie was
smooth Of face and boyish looking.
but wore c%orporals stripes
What 10 it. Mapes2 he asked
sharply
Without waiting an answer he took
ne paper she held out and scanned
Y fapicly. |