Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1912-08-01

l8ntern down and place his FOOT on
the first rung OF the ladder. Then
there was a single sharp cry startled.
agonized-a moan. and the heavy, fall
OF body. Without thought l
leaped through the hole down into the
darkness. struck against a PROSTATE
figure. stumbled slightly. rafting the
lantern with my foot; my extended
hand gripped ut something. which
gave way. aud stood cropping blindly
about without sound to guide me.
knew what had happened. and now.
the first mad rush over. my heart was
in my throat. felt for the lantern
with my foot found It at last. md
managed To apply n match to the
wick. AT the foot OF the lndder lay
the soldier. knife thrust In his
throat, his head bent bnck. his dead
eyes staring up at me. In the grip OF
my fingers was a rag. strip of red
calico. evidently ripped from dress.
That was ALL
With heart beating rapidly re
traced my steps. moving backward.
the lantern held before me- Corporal
Masterson. with two troopers. was at
the foot of the ladder bending over
the motionless form. The corporal
Strengthened up. his face white.
"Somers is dead. SIR" he said, his
voice full of horror-"knifed In the
throat"
Yes. corporal. 1t is q part of the
mystery of this house,"
Take the body up the ladder" /
commanded.
They went at the grewsome job re-
luctantiy. vet evidently glad enough to
get out of the hole. two of them lift
ing from above. with Masterson help
ing below. As the corporal's legs dis
appeared mounted close behind,
holding the lantern beneath and lay
Ing hold OF the trap before extin-
guished the light. 1t was with dis
tinct feeling of relief that l closed the
heavy door and stood upon it
"O'Brien"'
"Yis. sor."
Everything right here?"
"Jist about as We left it. sor. only
the colonel seems to have got part of
his senses back. an the other fellow
swore so loud bucked him with q
bit o. rag Av yen keep still. sor, j
think yell hear some noise jist back
of the cabin"
We were instantly quiet, the men
holding their breath to listen. could
distinguish sound as though of NOV
ing bodies, but was unable to guess
at the cause.
what is it?"
Horses, sor. They've got them
picketed out there-some reb an
some Yankee. no doubt
"Masterson. leave two men here to
guard that trap and the prisoners
They will remain until they hear the
sound of firing in front of the house
and then mount and join us. Well
leave horses for them. You take half
our force and clear out the guard on
the Kitchen porch-there are six men
there. Make 1t quick action, and as
soon as the job is accomplished fall
back here behind the cabin O'Brien.
with two OF the troopers. attend to
any scattered rebs you find along the
north side. The rest Of us will see
to the horse herd. and inside of ten
minutes we ought to be in saddle.
Don't fire single shot more than is
necessary"
They filed past me one by one,
crouching down in the shadows Just
outside the door.
Now, OSBrien. select the next three
and steal around the other side Of
that negro cabin. AS soon as Master
son goes forward make run for
those bushes along the, carriage drive
The rest of you fellows come with
me-"
Out of sight. vet not far away.
horses were champing at their bits.
Some one on the Kitchen porch
laughed. and man walked to the
we'll. ! turned back until saw the
crouching figures of the corporars
squad.
All right, Masterson," said. .go
in.".
X saw them rise swiftly to their feet
and slip noiselessly along. the protect
ing side of the cabin, the dull gray of
the eastern sky already rendering things
slightly visible. but waited for moth
ing more. We likewise had our work
to accomplish. A dozen swift steps
brought us to the horse herd, nor did
we fire a shot. the single guard being
so surprised at our unexpected appear
aiee TO fail fail even III speech.
The horses were tied along rail
fence. completely equipped. exactly as
they were captured at the time of first
attack. and my little party swung
hastily into saddle. gathering up the
bride reins of as many other horses
as we could safely lend. AS j held
my own bunch back moment. SO as
TO give all the men time to gather
more closely in. three shots-two the
sharp reports of carbines. the third
the grrffer note Of a mgsket -sonnded
beyond the negro cabins, while in the