The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1914-01-31

ABOVE u III tAAtt ~AAtANVs FN'Ns y"
she sat studying her map. she De-
came aware OF a faint tremor In
the solid earth under her horses
feet. II grew 10 a duh Earring VI
hration--nearer $500 nearer--nearer--
and she hastily backed her horse
into the DEPTHS OF the laurel.
snrang TO the ground and placed
both gauntleted hands over her
horses nostrils
moment later the Confederate
cavalry swept through the clearing
at a trot--a 1aunty. gray column
riding two abreast. then falltns
into single file IA they entered the
bride path at canter.
There we're only a hundred OF
them--probahly some OF Stuarts
riders. Tor they seemed strangely
familiar
What we're they doing here
she did not know. There seemed
no logical reason for their pres
ence.
This must be the burnt clear
ing: her map and the cabin eorfoo-
Grated her belief. Then IL VAS
here that she was to meet this I'M
krpvr man In Confederate unitorm
and Union pay--a spy like herself
and give him certain Information
and receive certain information In
return.
Her instructions had been uuus'
allv rigid: she was to take every
prccaution: use native disguise
whether or not II might appear
NECESSARY. carry no papers, ana lev
any man she might encounter
make the advances until she was
absolutely certain OF him. For
there was an ugly rumor afioat
that he had been caught and hang
I'd and that Confederate might
attempt TO impersonate him. so
~he looked very carefully at her
man. then out OF the thicket at the
burnt clearing. There was the
wretcbed cabin named as rendez-
wong the little garden patch with
standing corn and beans. ana mere
and there a following squash.
AT last. with a slight SILVER, she
oneued her saddle bags and drew
o,,t the dress she meant to wear
= dIugy. earth-coiored thtng or
Bingham
Dressed now In the scanty. col
crless clothing OF poor white
IT the plne-woods. limbs and body
tanned with walnut. her slender
feet rubbed In dust and then thrust
stockingless into shapeless shoes.
she let down the dark. lustrous
mass of her hair, braided II. tied
il with faded ribbon. rubbed her
hands In vood-mold and crushed
green leaves over them I'LL they
seemed all stained and marred
with toll. Then she gathered an
srmful OF spIinter-wood.
Head bent. she moved on In the
rhiftiess, hopeless fashion OF the
sort OF humanity she was repre-
sentlng. furfively taking her bear
Ings and making such sidelong OBJ
servations as she dared. To know
the shortest way back 10 her horse
might mean life TO her. She I'M
derstood that. Also she fully re
allied that she might at that very
Instant be under hostile observa-
ton. In her easily excited imagin-
alton. all around her the forest
seemed to conceal hundred malev-
client eyes. She shivered slightly,
wiped the perspIration flom her
brow with one small bare fist. and
Nodded on, clutching her llght-woot
to her soft. rounded breast.
And now at last she was near
ing the open cabin door: and she
must not hesitate, must show no
suspicion. SO she went In. drag
ging her clnmsily-shod feet.
A very young man in the uni
form OF a Confederate cavalry Off
Ger was seated inside before the
empty fireplace Of baked clay. He
had a bad scar on his temple. She
looked at him, Stimulating dull sur
prise; he rose and greeted her
gracefully.
"Howdy," she murmured in re-
Spouse, still staring.
rs this your house," he asked.
"Suh?" blankly.
IL this your house,
Il reckon" she nodded. How
come you all in my house,"
He replied with another ques-
ton:
What we're you doing in the
woods"
"Light-wood she answered
briefly. stacking the fragrant
splinters On the table.
DO you live here all alone?"
Reckon I'm alone when | live
heah." sullenly.
what is your name7" He had
trick OF coloring easily.
What may be yoh name. sub -
she retorted with a little flash OF
Southern spirit. never entirely
auenched even in such as she
seemed 10 be.
Genuine surprise brought the
red back into his face and made
IT, worn az IT was. seem almost
handsome. The curious idea came
10 her that she had seen him be-
fore somewhere. At the some mo.
ment speech seemed to tremble on
his lips. he hesitated, looked at
her with new and sudden keen
ness, and stood looking.
Il expected to meet somebody
here" he said at length.
She did not seem to compre.
bend.
b expected TO meet a woman
Lere."
"Whog Me-" incredulously.
He looked her over for while
carefully. looked AZ her dusty bare