The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1912-01-23

tnat your friends are strange to me.
You refer to the gentleman who ex-
pected to meet you on the road?"
ITO Major Brennan. yes"
There was nothing about the tone OF
her reply that invited me to press the
Inquiry further. One thing, however,
was reasonably certain,-the man she
called Frank" could not be her father.
/ longed to ask II he was a brother.
but the restraint of her whole manner
repealed the suggestion.
Did understand that you have
nursed in the Federal hospitals at
Baltimore7" questioned, more to con-
unue the conversation than from any
deep interest
Merely as volunteer. and when
the regular nurses were especially
busy Major Brennan was stationed
there for some time when ! first
visited him. and I felt II my duty as
loyal woman to aid the poor fell
lows"
remained silent, striving vainly
to frame some innocent question
which should solve for me the prob.
lem OF who and what she was. Sud-
bhe SpOke
Captain Wayne. I feel owe you
an apology for my unwarranted and
unladylike conduct last night. am
very sure now that you are a gen.
ueman. and will appreciate how bit
terly l was tried. how deeply have
ever since regretted tt
1t hurt her pride to say even this
much. as could tell by her downcast
eyes and heaving bosom, and I
fastened to relieve her embarrass-
ment
! You have nothing whatever to ask
forgiveness for" said earnestly.
Rather such a request should come
from me. l only trust. Miss Brennan,
that you will excuse my part In this
extremely unfortunate affair"
/ She sat looking down upon her
plate. her fingers nervously crumbiing
bit OF corn bread.
You do not even known who | am"
she said slowly. II am not Miss. but
! Mrs. Brennan
! felt as II dash Of cold water
had been suddenly thrown in my face.
Indeed" l stammered. scarcely
/ NAO "Ahe "haN bAiu~ lou appear 30
young girl that never once thought
OF you as being a married woman"
Il was married very early; indeed,
before / was seventeen. My hus-
band
| What she was about to add could
but conjecture. for q quick change In
I the expression of her face startled me-
What Is it?" questioned. half ris-
Ing to my feet. and glancing over my
! shoulder toward the wall where her
! eyes were riveted.
Something resembling hand
pushed aside the coat hanging yon-
der" she explained in low trembling
tone, and l thought l saw face"
Believing 1t TO be merely her over
wrought nerves which were at fault,
| sought to soothe her. 1T was prob
ably no more than a shadow" / said,
! crossing to her side Of the table. to
enable her better to feel the influence
OF my presence. Let us be content
to sit here by the door, for we should
be taking too great risk of discovery
II we yentured into the open"
| had barely spoken these words and
placed my fingers on her hand to lead
her forward when the small door
which opened into the shed was
thrown back noisily. and two great
shaggy dogs, the evident mates Of
the dead brute at our feet, leaped
fiercely In. She shrank toward me
with rob OF terror; but even as I
drew a revolver from my belt, a man
and woman appeared almost stimuli
taneously In that same opening.
Down, Douglas! down, Roderick!
Hal There lies Red Murdock. stark
and stiff!'-down. you brutes; you'll
be dead yourselves sometime"
The man strobe forward as he
spoke, clubbing the frenzied brutes
with the stock Of the long rifle he
carried.
Yelled on the view the opening
pack" he quoted, as he distributed
his blows impartially TO right and left !;
rock. glen. and cavern paid them
back Them thar be SCOTS words,
stranger, an reckon as how OF Sill
Walter knew whut he wus writin'
bout. Stop tibet blame youlin', you
Noderick, or I'll take tother end o.
! Nhlo gun NeI J0.
He rejoubled his efforts for peace
finally driving the rebellious beasts
back into one corner. where they sat
upon their launches and eyed us visit
fully.
Two dogs Of black Saint Hubert's
breed. unmatched Tor courage, breath
and speed" he exclaimed wiping the
PRECIPITATION from his face with the
back Of one hand and staring at us
specially the breath"
He was a fierce-looking little fellow,
scarcely more than a half-grown boy
In size, with round, red face full OF
strange wrinkles, and head as oddly
peak-shaped as ever looked upon II
went up exactly like the apex Of q
pear, while the upper portion was
utterly bald. He formed a most 70
markable contrast to the tall, raw
boned. angular female who doomed VI
like a small mountain Just behind him
II reckon as how you uns he'd quite
bit Of a scrap afors ye laid tibet
thar dorg out. stranger" he said, a
half-angry tone lurking In his deep
voice. The fleetest hound in all the
North an I'm burned II I list likes
Their way you uns makes yerselves OF
hum In this yere cabin"
"shet up. Jed Bungay," out in NJ,