Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1912-02-07

hiiul play WIN Nhlbt MuNIe Tue hAhhNs
we're life and death. felt my pulses
throb as / rode steadily forward. fair
~ tArdsting tho darkness aside. my
teeth hard set. my left hand heavily
on a revolver butt
How. in such situation. the nerves
Jingle and the heart bounds to each
strange sight and soundi Haiti
what was that2 Poohi no more than
the deeper shadow OF a sharply pro
iecting rock. around which We pick
careful way. our horses erowding
against each other In the narrow
space And thatg Nothing but the
faint moan Of tho night wind amid
the dead limbs OF tree An! mark
that sudden fash Of light The hand
that closes iron.llke upon the loosened
rein opens again. for 1t was merely a
star silently falling from out the
black depths Of the sky Then both
OF us halt at once. and peer anXiousiy
forward. The figure standing direct
ly in the center Of our path, can II be
a sentry at lastf A cautious step for
ward. a low laugh from the sergeant,
and We circle the gaunt. blaekened
stump. as silent ourselves az the
night about us. but with hercely beat
ing, expectant hearts,
But harki Surely that was no com
mon sound, born Of that drear loneli-
ness! No cPyalryman can mistake the
Jingle OF aceoutrements or the fuD
thud Of horses's hoofs. The road here
must have curved sharply. for they
were already go close upon US that,
almost simultaneously with the sound.
we could distinguish the deeper
shadow of a small compact body OF
horsemen directly in our front To
left of US there rose. sheer and black.
the precipltous rock; to right we might
not even guess what yawning void.
It was either WITT CT sword play now.
know not how It may be with others
in such emergencies. but with me It
always happens that the sense OF fear
departs with the presence OF actual
danger. Before the grewsome fancies
OF imagination | may quake and burn
like any maiden alone upon q city
street at night, until each separate
nerve becomes a very demon Of men,
tai agony; but when the real and
known once fairly confronts me. and
there Is work to do, | grow instantly
cool to think. resolute to act, and find
a rare Joy In It 1t was so now, and,
revolver in hand but hidden beneath
my holster flap. leaned over and
touched Craigs arm.
Keep quiet" whisp~ sternly
Let them challenge first, and nc
firing except on my order"
Almost with the words there came
the sharp hail:
Halt! Who comes there?"
drew the cape OF my riding jacket
closer, so as better to muffle the
sound of my voice.
Friends, OF course; who would you
expect to meet on this road?"
Fortune seemed with me in tbs
chance answer, for he who had haileC
exclaimed:
"Oh! Is that you, Brennan
There was no time now for hest
fancy; here was my cue, and mus
plunge ahead, accepting the chances
ventured 1t.
mo; Brennan couldn't come. an
here in his place"
Indeed! Who are your"
Major Vilke."
There was moments painful
, pause, in which could hear m!
d heart throb.
''Wilkie;| repeated the voice. doubt
y fully. There is no officer of tina
name in the Forty-third."
2 well, there chances to be such al
l. officer on the staff" retorted. permit
}. ting trace OF anger to appear in m
# tone, "and am the man."
n What the devil is the difference
n Hale, Just what his name is?" boone
deeper voice back in the group. w
e are not getting upa directory OF tn
p sixth corps. OF course he's the ma
d Brennan sent, and that Ia all we'v
got to look after"
II "Oh. all right, certainly, major" n
turned the first speaker, hastily. "Bu
t the night is so cussed black ! SUI
IS posed we must be at least mile thi
n side Of where we were to meet. How
D. ever. we have the lady here for 20,
Is all right, and she is anxious enough {
e get on"
"a ITO FYT CONTTNTTEnO