Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1913-08-01

our cary, ana the my8IeI1Ou8 OU&lo
broke out in dainty fanfare. It's echoes
died away in tho upper valley. I 70.
allied that It might play there all
night, and be unheard on the Tuxedo
side Of the Brewers.
Another abrupt command. and q
dare Of red light in. the tree-tops not
far ahead! Then the steady tramp Of
marching feet, mingled with the rat
tile Of arms. and in moment the
sounds died away. as II the strange
company had marched out of hearing.
After little space. before we could
concoct q plan Of action, they were
heard on the other side Of the ridge.
"A. sharp command to countermarch
was followed by another ringing call
that must have been audible far down
there by the Hills house.
With every weapon ready for in,
slant use, we crept north along the
ridge. picking our perilous way over
the bare rocks till we came unex.
pectedly to a cleft forty feet wide In
the hog-back. The wall on our side
overhung; and in the dark below the
uncanny military command was march.
ing west with measured tread.
We followed slowly along the brink.
unable to keep up with their pace. Fol-
lowing the sounds, it was apparent
that after they had marched through
the earth-foored cleft they turned
sharply to the south, so that their
course formed an L.
We came to another brink. and
looked down perhaps fifty feet. The
rocks formed a perfect oval pit, with
passageway leading north to the
cleft. In a tall iron pot burned a small
fire. newly lit. Behind it was the
opening of small cave, with the vine
curtain drawn aside, and held back
by three old rifles of varied sorts.
Underneath US, hidden from our sight
by the overhanging precipice, was the
little army; but in the center of the
pit. in the light Of the fire, pacing back
and forth before his men, was the
strange commander. ...-..
An old man he was, with unkempt,
gray hair and beard. and wretched
outfit Of clothes. Around him was an
old belt with q swordless scabbard,
On his head was a moth-eaten Cont.
Dental cooked hat, and over his shout.
der hung a brass bugle. green with
age and misuse. He was addressing
his troops in an incoherent, violent
strain, in which he was threatening
some one. Once or twice he mentioned
the name of Gerald Scott. One look
into his face showed the wild eye and
contorted features of the insane.
A rock slipped under Hills elbow
and went Gathering down. The old
man raised his glazing eyes, snatched
up one of the old guns. and was level
ing it at us. when the troops under
the rock ran out-merely Rand and
Tom Railway! ~ ~.
The gamekeeper blazed away, never.
theless, with shotgun in his ex.
citement, and blew the cooked hat
from the old lunatic's head. He
dropped the rifle, bounded like a deer
for the opening of the pit, and was
gone in the darkness before any could
stay him.
"Of all the laundering fools that
ever drew BREATH" shouted Rand,
shaking his fist up at the gamekeeper.
Hold on. Larry, explanations are in
ORDER" called.
care you there. too, Dunk" he an.
swered, in fine scorn. Explanations?
Yes, should think there were. Come
on down." =
We made our way. around, and de.
scelded with some difficulty into the
little amphitheater. Tom had thrown
some more twigs on the fire.
"Mr. Rand, how about chasing that
old fellow?" painted the senator.
ooh, let him co." said Rand. 1--WE
will get him later. There is not one
chance in a thousand Of overtaking
him tonight
Immediately related all that have
set down in the foregoing pages since
/ noted my last report to Rand. Sena.
tor Hills quickly shouldered the re-
sponsibility for this night excursion.
which seemed to have so thoroughly
upset Rand's plans.
''Well, gentlemen" said Rand, 1--WE
may as well make the best of things.
To begin with, we will try to simplify
this case as much as possible Let US
take it up point by point. Blyndvelt's
injuries were caused certainly BY an
accidental fall into the ravine, and I
am glad to hear that he is going to
recover. I examined the burn on his
face. and found every indication that
1t had been made by a tiny bit Of
flame. In the ravine found an unlit
cigar and a burned match. His face
had rested on the burning match
where he lay. Without doubt he saw
this poor creature. whom / have Just
had in hand. stealing along behind tho
senator here. and the next instant
made q misstep and slipped down the
rayine. The shot through tho window
was to q certainty the act Of this.
same old man, for the slug ], dug out
of the library wall could have come:
only from one Of these old guns.