Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1912-01-05

might consent to temporary truce,
his superior officer, Major Brennan.
would not likely prove of the same
mind"
Then you really must gos"
Unless you specially desire to wit
ness cavalry skirmish in your front
dooryard. / certainly consider it best"
and held out my hand. Surely we
part as friends, and / may hope that
you will intercede in my behalf with
Mrs. Brennan"
She rose up impulsively.
How ridiculous; how supremely RI
diculous! Why, of course / will,
though / don't suppose Edith really
cares very much, but she believed II
would be highly proper to be shocked
I don't think she likes you so very
well anyway, Captain Wayne, for she
never will talk about YOU
With these cheering words ringing
in my ears, and feeling thoroughly de
feated In every cherished hope, ]
strobe savagely down the long hill and
mounted my horse. How roughly for
tune had sufeted me, to be sure, and
how extremely small the inspiration
left Well, perhaps I deserved 1t for
ever permitting myself to love one
whom I knew to be the wife of an.
other. Doubtless she had seized upon
this slight pretext to be rid of me,
and was already rejoicing over its
easy accomplishment.
In my agitation I forgot entirely the
presence of Maria Bungay at the
house, and ordering my men into sad
die prepared for departure without
giving q thought to the little fellow
and his domestic troubles. chose
the road leading toward the north
west, for although had not asked the
question | conceived it highly probable
that Brennan and his party would ride
from the Federal calvary quarters at
Golfers Church, and l had no desire
to meet them. They were upon an
GRAND of mercy of far greater impor.
lance than my revenge.
As we swung along through the
heavily timbered land fringing our
road, Bungay pressed his mule into
trot and finally succeeded in ranging
up at my side. Even In my disturbed
mental condition I was amused at his
Unique style OF riding, although I
would not wound him by laughing.
II say, Cap" he said, jerking the
words out to the mules hard trot, and
grasping his saddle pommel desper.
ately, 81 sorter reckon as how ther'll
be some fun back thar afore long less
all signs fail"
''Why?" l stared at him, now thor
he had important news to communi-
cate
Wal" he explained slowly, "whin
ye whit off, sorter TUX notion ter
look bout bit. Used ter be an OF
stempin' ground O. mine. So Dutchy
an me clumb tibet big hill back O
whar we halted, and by gum, down
thar in Their gully on t. other side
thar's burned big camp O. fellers"
refined up short, and with uplifted
hand signalled the men behind to
halt.
why didn't you tell me this be
fore?" / questioned sternly. How
many were there? and what did they
look like?'
He scratched the back of his head
shoughtfully, and answered with care
full elaboration. "Durn 1t, / didn't
ype We till after y'd started, an
reckon as how it took me all o. tew
mile ter git this we're blame muel up
ter whar I cud talk. Thar's quite
smart bunch, but they had some pick
cts out, an | cudn't git close 'nough
ter tell zackly. Dutchy thought thar
was nigh onter two hundred o. 'em,
but l list don't know. They wusn't
dressed like sojers o. either army, an
| reckon they're out O. Their hills
/ glanced at my little handful OF
men, scarcely knowing what decision
it might be wise to make. Undoubt-
eddy they would fight if occasion
arose, but the odds were terribly
heavy; besides, II Brennan came, and
his party got away that same even
lag, as was planned for them to do,
then it might not be necessary for US
70 strike blow | was certainly in
no mood to expose my small command
merely to save the empty house from
destruction.
"Ebers,' I said, turning toward the
Sergeant, who sat his horse with ex-
pressionless face. you were with the
guide when he discovered this camp.
How many do you think it contained?
and who were they?"
VEL dere vos more as two gom-
panies, Captain, und dere vos some
horses, but dey vos dressed-yet you
calls it?-all ober not ner same."
mot in uniform?"
dot yos it."
Have any of the rest of you seen
anything that looked suspieious?"
asked, glancing around into the DIFF.
ferent faces
Maybe l did" answered one of the
troopers named Earl. las we rode up
the first hill after leaving the house
my horse picked up stone, and | had
to stop and get II out / reckon fell
behind a auartar of a vnfIa ~ mora