The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-05-24

rouBnly INTO the CABIN. The thin slabs
which divided us scarcely muffled
their loud voices.
Well, old woman" exclaimed one In
voice SO gruff as to seem almoe! as.
sumed. pretending to be alone, are
you. with all those dishes sitting out
on the table; Just been eaten off, too
Have MT seen no strange party along
the road this morning, have ye?"
Nary a one." said Maria, and
knew from her voice she was standing
close beside the fireplace.
Are you Mrs. Bungay!"
Il reckon ! am, II It's any o. yer
business
Don't git nifty, old woman, or we're
liable to give you lesson In polite.
ness before we leave" The leader
dropped the butt of his gun with q
crash on the floor. Where is the lit.
tie sneak, anyhow"
What do you want of him?"
Want him to 60 long with US;
we're hunting some parties, and need
q guide. They toll us up the road a
bit he knew every inch o. these yere
mountings"
There was q pause. as II Maria was
endeavorirs to decide as to the hon.
esty Of tho speaker. Her final answer
proved the mental survey had not
proven satisfactory.
"Wsl, ] reckon she said calmly,
"as you uns III be more likely ter
find him down bout Connersviile.
Then whut's al these yers dirty
dishes doing OF. the tablet"
He'd sum Yankee officers yere: they
Just rode on iown thsr trail a. you
unr cum up"
Like hell" calculated the fellow
with complete loss of temper. See
here. old woman, we're too old birds
to be caught with any such chaff.
Wen take Q look around the old she
bang anyhow, aud while we're at II
you put something on the table for me
and my mates to eat"
The voice and manner were rough,
but ! was Impressed with certain &C.
cent creeping into the mans speech
bespeaklng education. More, In spite
OF an apparent effort to make II 80, his
dialect was not that Of those noun.
tains.
Even a. he uttered these last words,
throwing into them q threat more in
tho tone than the language. 1 became
aware Of thin ray Of light pens.
trsting the seemingly solid wall just
In front Of me. and bending silently
forward could dimly distinguish the
ellipticsl head Of Bungay as he applied
one eye to q small opening he had
industriously made between the logs.
Grasping Mrs. Brennan firmly by the
hand 10 that We should not become
separated. I crept across the interven.
Ing blackness. and reached his side.
"IIoly smoke. Cap" the little man
muttered In suppressed excitement, "a
he realised my presence, ITS yoin'
ter be bilin' hot In thar mighty soon.
Mariar's steam IL q risin'."
He silently made room for me, and
bending down 30 as to bring my eye
upon level with his, I managed to
gain some slight glimpse Of the scene
within the cabin. ,..
Mrs. Bungay stood with her back
to the fireplace. an iron skillet firmly
gripped In one hand. Her face was
red with indignation. and there was
q look In her eyes. together with q
defiant set to her chin. which prom.
ised trouble. In front Of her, care.
lessly resting on the table. his feet
dangling In the air, was q sturdy.
looking fellow Of forty or 50. with
red. struggling beard covering all the
lower half Of his face, and q weather.
worn black hat pulled 80 low as al.
most to conceal his eyes. His attire
was nondescript, as though he had
patronized the junkshop of both
armies. In his belt were thrust a re.
volver and q knife. while within easy
reach Of his hand q musket leaned
against q chair. Two others Of the
party. younger men, but even more
roughly dressed than their leader,
were lounging between him and the
door.
Bungay chuckled expectantly.
20 Lord! IL they only git the OIL
gal just little more riled," he whis.
psred hoarsely. jumping up and down
on one foot In his excitement, they'll
hev ther fight of their life"
DO you know the fsllows?" I asked.
'Is that Red I.owris!"
He shook his head.
Never laid eyes on any Of 'em
afore, but 20 bet they're no good
Reckon they're part O. his crowd"
The man who posed as the leader OF
the party picked up the empty cof.
fse-pot beside him and shook Il.
Come. now. Mrs Bungay," he com.
manded. IL tell you we're hungry, SO
trot out some hoecske and FIJI up this
pot, unless you want to reckon with
Rad Iowris'