The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1912-05-24

outer doorway, smoking, his short legs
wide apart, his expression one Of total
indifference. A big fellow stepped
/ past him, and saluted some one just
out Of sight
Nobody IN there, sir" he reported.
"All right, Mason" and Grant came
into view on a rangy sorrel. Get
your men back into saddle; Wen
move on
Think he went this way?" asked
the blacksmith carelessly.
How the hell do / know!" savage
ly. "He must have started this way,
but likely he took the north road
/ Wen set the chap before night. unless
he RUS into Delavan's fellows out
yonder See here, Farrell" holding in
his horse, Wen be back here about
dark, and will want something to eat 8"
you will be welcome to all you
find"
"You impudent rebel, you see that
you are here when we come. / know
you, you night rider, and will bring
you to book yet. Forward men-trot!
Close up the rank there, sergeant;
Wen take the road to the left"
watched them go past, the dust
covered green uniforms slipping by
the crack of the door, as the men
urged their horses faster. Farrell
never moved, the blue tobacco smoke
curling above his head, and stole
across the Uttered storeroom to a cob
webbed window, from which l could
watch the little column of riders go
down the hill. They finally disap-
peared in the edge of a grove, and
turned around to find the blacksmith
leaning against his anvil waiting for
me.
Genial young fellow, Grant" he
said. always promising to hang me.
but never quite ready to tackle the
job. Afraid l shall have to disappoint
him again tonight"
'You will not wait for him?''
Hardly. You heard what he said
about Delavan? That was the very
news l wanted to learn. Now l think
both those lads will meet me much
sooner than they expect"
He stepped forward into the open
doorway, and blew three shrill blasts
on a silver whistle. The echo had
scarcely died away, when, out from
a thick clump Of trees perhaps half a
r1i1a distant a hnrea ebot fortb rac
ing toward us. AS the reckless rider
drew up suddenly, saw him to be
barefooted, freckle-faced boy of per-
haps sixteen, his eyes bright with ex.
citement.
$50 it's you on duty, Ben" said Far
rell quietly, glancing from the boy to
his horse. well, you're in for a ride. |
Have the men at Lone Tree by sun
down; all of them. See Duval first. |
an tell him for me this is big thing. |
Now off with you!"
The boy, grinning happily, swung |
his horse around, and, jabbing his sides
with bare heels, rode madly away di-
rectly south across the vacant land. |
Within five minutes he had vanished |
down a sharp incline. Farrell was still
staring after him, when l asked:
What is it?"
"a little bit Of private war;" he
said grimly. 'If you'll go with me to-
night, Major, I'll show you some
guerilla fighting. You heard what
Grant said about Delavan. We've
been waiting five days for him to
head back toward Philadelphia. He
has twenty wagons, an foraging par
ty Of less than fifty men somewhere
out Medford way" with sweep Of hand
to the northeast. 'If he an Grant get
together the two commands will out
us, but well have the advant-
age of surprise, of a swift attack in
the dark. In my judgment that is
what Grant was sent out for-to guard
Delavan's wagons. His spy hunting
was personal affair My advice to
you, Lawrence, is to lie quiet here to.
day, and go along with us tonight. It
will be in the same direction you'll
have to travel, an you might have
trouble by daylight. No objections to
a fight, have you?"
"None whatever"
81 judged so from your face. Better
get what rest you can; we will have
-wenty miles to ride before dark. III
90 over into the timber there an feed
he horses"
l watched him cross the open land,