Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1912-05-29

the sky
Great God. Wayne! - are too
latel" he cried wildly. "Taoss devils
have fred tho house"
With hercely throbbing heart l
gazed down at the flames far below IN
the black valley.
NO" / said with eager relief 1T is
the stable which Is ablaze. See. the
light falls full upon tho white side
of the house. Thank Heaven. We are
not too late"
As | sat my horse there, gazing
down upon that scene OF black rapine.
unwilling to venture into It's midst
until could formulate some definite
plan % action. fully dozen wild
schemes thronged into my brain, only
to DO cast aside. one after another. as
thoroughly impractcable.
we shall have to make a dash for
II, and trust In God" said Cation.
guessing at my dilemma.
NO." answered firmly, there
would be no possibility OF success in
such a course. Those fellows are old
hands. and have pickets out See,
Cation, that is certainly a picket-hre
yonder where the road dips. Every
man Of US would be shot down before
We penetrated those guard lines and
attained the house We have got to
reach their inner line some way
through strategy. and even then must
risk being fred upon by our own PEG
pie before we get within cover"
Even as was speaking evolved a
plan OF Acknowledgements II certainly
was, yet nothing better occurred to
me, and time was golden
"Ebers." | said. didn't | see an ex.
ira jacket strapped back OF your sad.
dle?"
TT is no good" he protested We
hemently, 1T Yos for der rain come"
"All right; hand It over to the Lieu
tenant here Cation, throw that uni
form coat Of yours into the ditch and
don honest gray for once Sands,
come here. Take your knife and cut
away every symbol of rank on my
jacket; tear 1t off. any way you can"
In another moment these necessary
changes had been accomplished.
Now" | ordered. pile your sabers
there with mine beside the road; then
hobble your horses, all but the mule:
shall want him"
Does we go der rest Of der way on
foot?" questioned the Sergeant, anx.
iously.
Certainly; and desire you to re.
member one important thing: let me
do the talking. but If any of you are
asked questions, we are deserters from
Hills corps, tired Of the war"
Mem Gottl" muttered the German
disconsolately. 81 hope It vos not long
off, Captain; am no good on foot in
der dark, by Chiminy."
You had better manage to keep VI
tonight, unless you are seeking tC
commit suicide, Now, men, mark me
carefully! Load your carbines. Are
you all ready? Sergeant, see that each
man has his gun properly charged and
capped. You are to carry your arms
as thoroughly concealed as possible;
keep close to me always; obey my or
ders instantly, and to the letter. We
are but twenty men pitted agains
over two hundred. remember, anC
when we strike, 1t must be both quicl
and hard"
mounted the mule, counted the
dim figures in the darkness. and theI
gave the order to march. AS w
moved slowly down the hill wa
aware that Cation walked upon ont
side Of me, while Bungay ploddec
along upon the other; but my mine
was so filled with the excitement o
our adventure and all that depended
upon its successful elimination, a
scarcely to realize anything other thai
the part must personally play. GOO
fortune and audacity alone could com
bine to win the game we were now en-
gagged upon.
A tall heavily beared mountainee
stood squarely in the middle of tn
| iOdu W Ilb uOl III vi JuS pIChGl-lll
could make out but little of him a
the light shone, excepting that h
wore high coonskin cap and bore
long rife.
Stop right thar" he called on
hoarsely, upon hearing us, who ar
you uns?"
AS he challenged, dozen other
sprang up from about the fame ant
guns in hand, came toward US on
run.
I'VE uns are doggoned tired O. so
dierin', an a gittin' nuthin' fer It,"
said in the slow Southern drawl, al
wanter jine yer gang, pervidin' thar
any show fer it.
How many are ye?" asked one {
the newcomers, striding forward b.
tween us and the sentry.
"A right smart heap O. bunch; bi
pickin' O 'em up ever since We le
: Charlotte" l returned evasivel
{ They be handles ter fight, an
: reckon as how ye kin use EN-, can
n ye?"
Maybe; who did We want ter see
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