The Huttig news., 1915-10-16

" " There Was the Sound of Chairs Beina
 Pushed Hastily Back.
 harder to understand" her voice hesi tating slightly, "arose because there was something about you so oddly ia. miliar; I-I felt that l ought to recog. nize your face; that somewhere we had met before-have we?"
 Yes, Miss Noreen; am Tom Wyatt"
 Why! Why, of course!" the swift expression was one of intense relief. How stupid of me! Oh, am so glad that I know. To my surprise she held out both hands impulsively Your being spy doesn't make any differ. ence now that I know who you really are. It is no wonder 1 did not recog nize you-why you were only boy
 Not when you rode by my mother and me on tie pike"
 "A year ago? remember; yet hardly caught glimpse of you through the dust. You were just boy
 
 had long curls"
 And thought Noreen Harwood the most beautiful little girl 1 had ever seen."
 Why you-you are in even greater danger than I.'
 "Oh, no; from all have seen and heard the Cowans must be in sympa-
 
 would have made the attack on Fox 's party, or held Lieutenant Raymond prisoner, l had considered going di rect to Anse, revealing my identity and demanding protection"
 Her hands grasped my sleeve.
 s'No not that! You do not under, stand, Tom Wyatt. These men care nothing for the issues of the war They merely use them to cover up their own lawless deeds, and to assist in work. ing out schemes of revenge. They are neither Federal, nor Confederate; they are robbers, murderers, and thieves Is Anse Cowan here tonight for any purpose but his own? You realize what that purpose is.'
 T have heard enough to make me certain" l answered. He would force you into marriage to thus gain control of this property. The killing of Major Harwood was part of the plan"
 You know then of my fathers death? You know that report to be true? Why, you said you were with Captain Fox at Hot Springs! Is it so?"
 Yes, Miss Noreen, it is true saw your fathers body, and that of his servant Tom. came across the noun tains with the man who killed them both, supposed him to be a scout He called himself Jem Taylor, and when they first met your father ad- dressed him by that name. They met by appointment at house a mile south of Hot Springs. Your father said noth. ing to you of such a man?"
 No; l saw him but for a moment as he passed through Lewisburg on his way east. He was to meet scout beyond the mountains, but no name was mentioned. What did the man Taylor look like?"
 T described him to Captain Fox. and one of his men, sergeant, in stantly pronounced the fellow to be old Ned Cowan."
 Ned Cowan, Why, that could not be- My father would never have an appointment alone with him. They have been deadly enemies for years" That may be true. Miss Noreen. 1 can only tell you what little know. Your father might have been deceived, drawn into a trap. He was there ap. parently by appointment to confer with man known to him as Taylor Who Taylor really was l cannot say but he was an enemy, not friend of Major Harwood. 1 do not insist that the fellow was Ned Cowan, but l am sure he belonged to the gang. We trailed him nearly to New River, ana had gone into camp amid the mopp tains when the Cowans attacked us In my judgment the killing of your fa- ther. and the raid on this house to night, form part or the same plan"
 do not think she was crying, al. though her face was buried in her hands. l turned my eyes away. down through the seuttle hole, but nothing moved along the hall below The house seemed absolutely deserted, but the lamp continued to burn. and yet, even as 1 felt the strangeness of such in- tense silence, door slammed some.