The Springfield herald., 1912-10-25
but what about yourself?"

bOu WOlTy uDout ues tuoSt iSl-
lows haven't any evidence against me
yet. They're after you"
l was through the intervening door
| with bound and an instant later had
burrowed under the crumpled papers.
The shifting Of the sun had left this
corner of the repair shop in shadow.
but I was scarcely outstretched In my
hastily improvised hiding place. when
I heard the blacksmith calmly open
his outer door. where he stood smok-
ing. clad in leathern apron. awaiting
| the approaching horsemen. They
swept about the corner OF the smithy
| almost at the same moment. pulling
up their tired horses at sight OF him
| From amid the thud of hoofs. and the
rattle Of accoutrements. voice spoke
sharply:
so you're here. Farrell. you old
| rebel hypocrite. Well, what are you
hiding now?"
Il was not aware that I had any
thing to hide. Captain Grant" was the
| digniied response. This is my shop.
an where should be-"
"Oh. hell! We all know you well
enough. you old fox, and wen catch
you red-handed yet. and hang you.
But we're not hunting after your kind
today. Did you see anything OF a fel-
low In scarlet jacket along here last
night. or this morning"
failed to catch Farrelrs answer,
but the voice of the officer was suf-
i ficiently loud to reach me-
"A rebel spy: the sneaking rascal
| 49, NJ. =
look about your shop Just the same
before We ride on. Mason. take half
dozen men with, you. and rake the
place over"
heard the sound Of their boots on
the floor. and burrowed lower in my
| box. Two or three entered the old
shop. and began to probe about among
the debris. One kicked the box in
which | lay. and thrust bayonet
down through the loose papers. barely
missing my shoulder. With teeth
clinched l remained breathless. but
the fellow seemed satisfied. and moved
on, after searching the dark corner
| beyond. At last ! heard them all go
out. mumbling to each other. and ven
tured to sit up again, and draw a fresh
,
and | had glimpse through the crack.
Farrell was leaning carelessly in the
outer doorway. smoking. his short legs
wide apart, his expression one of total
indifference. A big fellow stepped
past him. and salutcd some one Just
out of sight.
Nobody In there. SIR" he reported.
"All right, Mason" and Grant came
into view on rangy sorrel. Get
your men back into saddle: we'll
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 get the chap before night. unless
he runs into Delavan's fellows out
yonder. See here. Farrell" holding in
his horse. well be back here about
dark. and will want something to eat"
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 !:
| we'll 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
| 4
watch The little column OF riders go
down the hill. They finally disap.
peared in the edge of grove. and |
turned around to find tie 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 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 wanted to learn. Now think
| both those lads will meet me much
sooner than they expect"
He stepped forward into the open
doorway, ana DleW tnree snrlll DlaSts
on silver whistle. The echo had
scarcely died away. when. out from
thick clump of trees perhaps half a
mile distant. a horse shot forth. rae
ing toward us. AS, the reckless rider
drew up suddenly. l saw him to be a
barefooted, freckle-faced boy OF per
haps sixteen. his eyes bright with ex
citement.
so it's you on duty, Ben." said Far
rell quietly. glancing from the boy to
his horse. We'll. 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 sharp incline. Farrell was Still
staring after him. when | asked: