The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1912-07-11

TO touch O'Br1en. whispering 70 MIN 10
take her at once TO Donald. heard a
kiss. the murmur OF low voices con-
versing. and. with grttted teeth. turn
ed back TO hasten the movements Of
the men below.
up with you. Iads-no talking. but
come up one at time"
| leaned over. counting as they came
up. their forms outlined by the flame
of the lantern In the channel. The last
one clambered through the opening
and found room to stand in the mar
row space The soldier below. the
light on his upturned face. still held
the lantern level with his head.
shall PUT IL out now. sir. anc
come up?" he questioned
~Yes-they are all here a."
] saw him turn down the wick and
blow out rhe dame. In the dense
blackness below heard him set the
lantern down and place his foot on
the first rung of the ladder. Then
there was single sharp cry-srsFtled.
agonIzed-a moan. and the heavy fall
OF q body Without thought |
leaped through the hole down into the
darkness struck against PROSTATE
figure. stumbled slightly. rafting the
lantern with my foot: my extended
hand gripped at something. which
gave way. and ! stood cropping blindly
about without sound 70 guide me.
] knew what had happened. and now.
the first mad rush over. my heart was
in my throat. felt for the lantern
wirh my foot. found 1t nj last, and
managed 10 apply a match TO the
wick. At the foot OF the ladder lay
rhe soldier. knife thrust In bis
throat. his head bent back. his dead
eyes staring mp ar me. In the grip OF
my fingers was a rag, strip OF red
calico. evidently ripped from a 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 il dead. sir" he said. his
voice fun OF Demonstrated in the
throat"
yes. corporal. II Is part of the
mystery OF this house."
Take the body up the ladder"
commanded
uho, ,,-o,, ot tba eyrarsor1oa foh TO-
luctantly. yet evidently glad enough 10
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. IL was with u dis
tinct feeling Of relief thar closed the
heavy door and stood upon It
"O'Brienr'
"Yis. sor."
Everything right here:"
''Jist about as We left ii. sor. only
the colonel seems 70 have got part of
his senses back, an the other fellow
swore so loud | bucked him with
bit o. rag. Az yen keep still. sor. !
think yen hear some noise jist back
Of the cabin"
We were instantly quiet. the men
holding their breath to listen. could
distinguish a sound as though Of NOV
ing bodies. but was unable to guess
ar 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 Wen
leave horses for them. YOu take half
our force and clear out the guard on
the Kitchen porch there are six men
there Make it quick acrion. and as
soon rs rhe job is accomplished fall
back here behind the cabin O'Brien.
with TWO OF the troopers. attend 10
any scattered rebS you find along the
north side The rest OF MS 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 fled past me one by one,
crouching down in the shadows just
outside the door.
Now. O'Brien. select the next three
and steal around the other side of
that negro cabin. As soon as Master
son goes forward make a run for
those bushes along the carriage drive.
The rest of you fellows come With
me"
Ont OF sight. vet not far away,
horses were champing at their bits
Some one on the kitchen porch
laughed and man walked TO the
well. turned back until | saw the
crouching figures of the corporal's
squad
.All right, Masterson." | said. go
in"