The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1912-01-25

his superior officer, Major Brennan,
would not likely prove OF the same
mind"
Then you really must got"
UNLESS you specially desire to wit
ness cavalry skirmish in your front
dooryard, certainly consider It best"
and | held out my hand. Surely we
part as friends, and I may hope that
you will intercede in my behalf with
Mrs. Brennan?"
She rose up impulsively.
How ridiculous; how supremely RI.
diculousl Why, Of course will,
though don't suppose Edith really
cares very much. but she believed II
would be highly proper to be shocked.
| don't think she likes you so very
well anyway, Captain Wayne, for she
never will talk about you"
With these cheering words ringing
in my ears, and feeling thoroughly de-
feated in every cherished hope,
strode savagely down the long hill and
mounted my horse. How roughly for.
tune had suffeted me, to be sure, and
how extremely small the inspiration
left. Well perhaps / deserved 1t for
ever permitting myself to love one
whom I knew to be the wife of an.
other. Doubtless she had seized upon
this slight pretext to be rid Of me,
and was already rejoicing over It's
easy accomplishment.
In my agitation forgot entirely the
] Af NJ
house, and ordering my men into sad.
die prepared for departure without
giving thought to the little fellow
and his domestic troubles. chose
the road leading toward the north
west. for although had not asked the
! question conceived II highly probable
that Brennan and his party would ride
from the Federal calvary quarters at
Golfers Church, and l had no desire
to meet them. They were upon an
errand of mercy of far greater impor-
tance than my revenge.
As we swung along through the
heavily timbered land fringing our
road, Bungay pressed his mule into a
trot and finally succeeded in ranging
up at my side. Even In my disturbed
mental condition | was amused at his
unique style OF riding, although
would not wound him by laughing.
81 say. Cap" he said jerking the
words out to the mules hard trot and
grasping his saddle pommel desper.
ately, II sorter reckon as how therll
be some fun back thar afore long less
all signs fail"
"Why?" | stared at him, now thor.
oughly aroused to the thought that
he had important news to communi.
cate.
Wal" he explained slowly, ,"whin
ye wint OFF, sorter TUX a notion ter
look bout a bit. Used ter be an OIL
stompin' ground O. mine. So Dutchy
an me clumb thet big hill back o.
whar we halted, and by gum, down
thar In ther gully on L other side
thar's burned big camp O. fellers"
| reined 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?"
He scratched the back OF his head
thoughtfully, and answered with care
ful deliberation. "Durn 1t, | didn't
jine ye till after y'd started, an
reckon as how it took me all o. tew
mile ter git this yere blame muel up
ter whar | cud talk. Thar's quite a
smart bunch, but they had some pick.
cts out, an | cudnt git close 'nough
ter tell zackly Dutchy thought thar
but | jist don't know. They wusn't
dressed like sojers O. either army, an
! reckon they're out o. ther hills"
glanced at my little handful of
men, scarcely knowing what decision
1t might be wise to make. Undoubt.
edly they would fight II occasion
arose, but the odds were terribly
heavy; besides. If Brennan came, and
his party got away that same even
Ing, as was planned for them to do,
then II might not be necessary for us
to strike a 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-
presslonless face, you were with the
guide when he discovered this camp
How many do you think 1t 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"
mot 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
TO stOD and get n nut I reckon I fell