The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1912-01-18

SSAA ia 49, ~
me a folded paper.
Dear Wayne" the private note
read. Believing you would be glad
to have the detail l have just ar.
ranged to send you at once upon some
active service. Please report at these
quarters Immediately, fully equipped
for the field"
Glad! It vas the very medicine l
most needed, and within twenty min
utes of my receipt of this communi-
cation l was with Maitland, thanking
him warmly for his thoughfulness.
Not another word, Wayne" he in
sisted. 1T is not much, a mere scout
ing detail w neutral territory, and
will prove dull enough. l only hope it
may help to divert your mind a tritle.
Now listen-you are to proceed with
twenty mounted men OF the escort
west as far as the foothills, and are
expected to note carefully three
things: First, the condition of for
age for the sustenance of a wagon
train; second, what forces of FEEDER.
al troops. If any, are along the Honey
we'll; and third. the gathering of all in
formation %obtainable as to the report
ed consolidation of guerillas for pur-
poses of plumber between the lines. II
time suffice. you might cross over into
the valley of the Cowskin and learn
the condition of forage there as we'll.
A guide will accompany your party.
and you are to avoid contact with the
enemy as far as possible. Your men
carry five days rations. You under
stand fully?"
Il do, sir: | presume am to start
at once?"
Your squad, under command OF
Sergeant Ebers, is already waiting put
side"
Are you all ready. sergeant?" l
asked Of the rather heavyweight Ger
man who stood fronting me-. his broad.
red face as impressive as though carved
from stone.
I've vos, captain" q
Where Is the guide?"
dot is him, NIT der mule, amt it,"
he answered. pointing with one huge
hand down the road.
Very well, We will pick him up
then as. We CO."
cared so little as to whether or not
he accompanied us at all, that We had
advanced some distance before the
thought Of him again occurred to me.
| knew the gentry fairly we'll, and had
experienced in the past so many evil
dences of their stupidity, if not actual
disloyalty, as to prefer my w knowl-
edge of the country to theirs. My
thought, indeed, for several miles was
not at all with the little party of
troopers jogging steadily at my heels,
nor, in truth, was 1t greatly concerned
with the fate of the expedition. That
was but service routine. and l rode
forward carelessly enough, never
dreaming that every hour of progress
vas bearing me toward the most i'm
portant adventure of my life. 1t was
the German sergeant who recalled me
to the responsibilities of command.
Captain" he exclaimed apologet-
ically, riding up to my side and wiping
his round, perspiring face with great
energy, I'VE are riding too hard, amt
We? Mein Colt, but der horses will
give out entirely, already"
"Is that SOP" l asked in surprise at
his words. A single swift glance
around convinced me he was correct,
for the mounts were exceedingly soft,
and already looked nearly played out
from our sharp pace. Very well,
we will halt here"
With a sigh of relief he drew back,
and as he did SO my Eyes fell for the
first time upon the guide. AS | live.
it was Jed Bungay. and when l stared
at him in sudden amazement he broke
into a broad grin.
"Durn if l didn't begin ter think as
how ye'd gone an clar forgot me.
Cap"
mot a bit of it. Jed" and rode up
to him and extended my hand. But
how anne you here? Are you the
guide?"
Sure thing, cap; know this yere
kintry like a buk. faded horsemen
from the west, at evening to the castle
pressed. by gum, you put BeelZeDuD
an me through a blamed hard jolt OF
it SO fur"
"Beelzebub?"
I'VE bet, Their mule; l reckon as how
We amt gone IN forgot him, hey ye?".
"Bungay. what has become of Ma,
ria?"
The little mans eyes suddenly filled
with tears.
Il jist don't know, cap" he answered
m%ournfully. "Whin l got hum Their
OF cabin he'd bin plum burnt down,
nary stick O. it left. by gum! an Ma
riar she wuz clean gone. Hain't seed
neither hide ner hair O. her since,
thet's a fac. An l sorter drifted back
ter you uns cause l didn't hev nowhar
else ter CO."
did you hunt for her among the old
plantations along the v~alley?" | asked,
deeply touched by his evident feeling.
She very likely sought refuge in
some OF those houses"
(TO BE CONTINUED.)
One of Lies Mysteries.