Licking Valley courier. [volume] (West Liberty, Ky.) 19??-current, 1912-07-03

2'V>
."ouck, Now, Yer Damn Rebel" He
Said HoarseIy; "Be UP an Lam
Me One, an Here's the Rope!"
bled, in lady's delicate handwriting.
Don't despair; If they are away I'M
til after dark will arrange. Can do
nothing before" There was no sigma
lure, but needed none to know whose
fingers had held the pencil. Ny lips
pressed the paper ere tore it into
fragments, and scattered them outside
the bars.
The hours of that afternoon dragged
themselves along with exasperattng
slowness, as l listened for hoofbeats,
imagining every sound the approach
Of returning horsemen. With no
longer any doubt of her intention, my
apprehension riveted itself on the pos
sibillty of the British getting back
before darkness gave opportunity for
putting her plans into execution. As
to what they might be cared moth
ing, being ready to assume any risk
which would lead to escape. AS the
gray of twilight approached, my ears,
strained to the slightest sound, distln-
guished the changing Of sentinels. But
/ waited vainly for any visitor; dark
ness closed me in, but no one came
with food.
| pressed my face against the bars
striving to look into the night, my
only reward the glimpse Of few dis
tant stars. Suddenly, as I stood there,
voices sounded at a distance, the
words indistinguishable, and then foot
steps crushed along the graveled foot.
path, as though number of men were
running toward the back Of the house.
They were below my range Of vision,
but moment later heard the sounds
of scattered shots, and saw the sharp
flash of firing. was still clinging to
the bars, trying to determine what II
all meant, when the door was opened
The light of a lantern in hiss hand
revealed a green and white UNIFORM
and the deeply scanned face Of man
of fifty.
Quick now, yer damned rebel" he
said hoarsely. BE up an lam me one
and here'e tha rnne"
what" -,
Didn't yer hear? or wasn't yer toll
the game? Sufferin' Moses, It's go
to be played swift, or yen lie here
an rot. That's what that bald-headet
skate iG out thar leadin' 'em off for
I'm ter come in wild yer supper; y,
slug me first sight, bind me up wi,
the rope, and skip. 'Tis dirty job
but the friends of ye pay well for II
30 come on now"
/ comprehended the plan in q fash
She had discovered sentry none
would buy; to lead the others ava
long enough to effect my escape, Pete
had taken to the woods with q CUR
Whether he escaped or was captured
the delay would be short. With tn
knowledge came action. ] bore tn
unresisting Ranger TO the floor, hur
ing down the tray of food he bore /
; mass of broken crockery, and boun
, him hand and foot, leaving the fello'
lying across the open doorway. II
was without arms, except his heav
gun, which l left beside him. An II
slant paused to ask question, hol,
ing aloft the lantern SO as to see h
face.
a "Now, man, speak quick; you wei
; given some word for me? Some Il
a structions how was to get away?"
y Sure; but We drew those core
A tight! You are to so upstairs, OF
h the front door, and turn to the righ
q there's horse in the thicket beyor
y the summer house. Damnation, loose
A that ankle rope, will ye?"
a gave 1t twitch, but felt little cor
:. passion for the fellow, and ran up Il
steps, leaving the lantern below.
knew the way even in the dark, ~
= experienced little trouble In feeling n
a passage. / met with no interference
4 and heard no sound, the house seel
=, ingly deserted. Only as | opened 4
- front door could l hear distant, IRE
10 ular firing to the northwest. Assur
:, that no guard remained. / flung m
=. self recklessly over the porch rail on
n the smooth turf Of the lawn. The dI
"A outlines Of the lattieed summer hou
"a could be discerned not thirty feet
n tant, and started toward 1t unhe
.. tatlngly. I had made half the distan
a. when horse Weighed suddenly to I
w right, and, startled at the sound, l I
70 fiat, creeping cautiously forward In
a the shadow OF a low bush. had rie
10 to my knees, believing the amin
~ must be the one left there for my II
q. when heard the growl of a voice
Y mans voice, from out the sunni
house.
70, An instant l could not locate {
nj sound nor distinguish II clearly; tn
sentence cut the air so distlnc
's' that | recognized the speaker. Graz
~ What was he doing here7 Had
'm delayed too long? Had Fagin's p
er suers returned2 II so, why was
ne there in the summer house, and W
NO whom was he conyersing? crouch
10 back listening, afraid to move.
Gu II saw the CLEAN Of your VIII
y. !" skirt as / rounded the house." he
,'e claimed. "By Cad, thought
ne horse was going to bolt with me. #
NJ bit of luck this, finding you out h
~ alone. What's going on out yonde
ns "There was an attack on the no
ne guard, and Mr., Seldom is in purs
lia But how does It happen you have
III turned alone? Has anything occur