Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1912-04-11
CHAPTER Xxxi.-continued.

CHAPTER xxxi.-continued.
"a mere waste of powder, | fear" |
was my reply, given thoughtlessly.
When the rush finally we are
likely to be without sufficient ammu-
tion to repel it. l hardly expect
those fellows out there Will ever
leave without a determined effort to
carry he house by storm. l have nj
doubt they are simply drawing all this
fire in the hope that our ammunition
will thus be uselessly expended. 1t
Rrised to see so experienced an officer
as Major Brennan yield to. In my
Judgment they will make an effort to
rush US as soon as there Is sufficient
light"
"But why not warn him?"
Major Brennan would scarcely vel
come any interference on my part"
"But surely, as a soldier, he must
value the advice of another SOLDIER"
Possibly you forget" | explained,
striving to speak as lightly of it as
might be, that there is a lack of
Friendship between Major Brennan
and myself"
"Still?" she asked. Truly I thought
that might all be over. Even If 1t sur
vtved until now, this noble act of
yours in coming to our defense should
have earned you his gratitude. He
he has never once mentioned your
name to me since that night"
mot even when I came here with
my troop. I believer"
mo; yet did not connect that
fact with the other. l supposed 1t a
mere oversight, or that he believed
the mention Of your name would not
greatly interest me. Surely, Captain
Wayne, you are not keeping open this
unhappy wound?"
"On my word, no; but | regret to
confess 1t is very far from being
closed"
"He-Major Brennan does not know,
then, that you are here now with me?"
She evidently hesitated to ask this
question.
Certainly not" in surprise at her
apparent innocence. you cannot have
supposed I had been SEM here by
him to talk with your"
FL did not know. | do not think
a realized" she stammered, vainly
seeking for words with which to make
clear her bewilderment. Il imagined
you might have come at his sugges-
tion to see that we were amply pro
Sected. This is all so very strange
He does notNeven know you are here
with u.s."
mo" l admitted reluctantly. per
Eaps | have no excuse even for being
here at all. My duty as a soldier is
certainly elsewhere, but l could no
rest content until knew you we're ii
q position Of safety. Believe me, MRS
Brennan, | have intended no indiscre
ton, but | was informed by a soldie
chat you were being held here unde
FIRE"
Her hand touched mine impulsively
and 1t was warm and throbbing.
II can merely thank you with al
my heart, Captain Wayne, and assur
you | both understand and appreciat
your purpose. But truly l do not wis
any trouble to occur again-you wi
go back to your post, will you not
You can serve me best In that wa!
and retain the gratitude and admirI
Gion I have ever felt for you"
AT once, Mrs. Brennan" | returne
earnestly. Il realize I have dor
wrong in ever coming here as | hav
1t is my first act of d~isobedience
orders In all my military life. b
tell me first that l have forfeitt
neither your confidence nor yol
friendship?
She paused a moment, then addt
quickly, as though in sudden rush
feeling: mo friend stands higher
my esteem than you--now please 6
Captain Wayne"
AS | crept back through the dar
ness, passing beneath the piano in
the front room, which was filled wi
the choking fumes OF powder, =
mind was a chaos Of emotions impt
sible to analyze. The very depth
love which drew me to her operat
now in restraint. God alone kno'
the struggle in the darkness as ] &C
tinued to move slowly away from b
and toward the door. So deep wal I
agitation, 50 intense my thought, u
1 scarcely realized was creepi
along barely beneath the dead line
those bullets which constantly sws
the apartment. Their crashing II
the wall was almost meaningless, a
Il rarely noted either the dense smo
II TIE ftful flashes Of fame is I
little garrison returned shot Tor -
III saa BrennAu'D voice-h0w hate