The Huttig news., 1915-09-25
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SYNOPSIS.

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 CHAPTER I-Confederate Sergeant Wyatt of the Staunton artillery is sent as spy to his native county on the Green Eriar by General Jackson.
 taineer named Jem Taylor, with whom he rides to a house beyond Hot Springs. l The three of us talked upon many subjects, although Taylor said little, except when directly addressed, and 1 noted that few references were made to the war. That Harwood was in the Federal service 1 had no doubt. although he was not in uniform and, if this was true. then it must be also a fact that Taylor was a Union spy The meeting here had not been by chance, although a mystery involved the hidden reason why I, known Confederate soldier, had been encour- aged to accompany the mountaineer to this secret rendezvous. At last the meal ended and the major pushed back his chair and motioned Sam to clear the table.
 You two men are tired out" he said genially, and you had better turn in and get good nights sleep. We'll all of us ride on into Green Briar to- morrow. I'll talk with you a minute, Taylor, in the parlor. before you go; but Cowan does not need to wait Help yourselves to the tobacco. Oh. Sam, show this soldier up to the back bed room and see he has everything he needs"
 It was clearly apparent that liar wood desired private word with Tay- Tor and so, after deliberately filling my pipe. 1 rose to my feet. stretching sleepily The black returned with a small lamp in his hand and led the way up the broad stairs. A moment later I was left alone in small room at the end of the upper hall with one window so heavily curtained as prob ably to render the light invisible from without The door was securely latched, but there was no lock. Then l was not being held prisoner.
 After some minutes I extinguished the light, and looked out of the win dow. It was quite drop, though not necessarily dangerous one, to the ground. Those dim outlines of build ings were probably the stables, where I would find my horse. With no guards the trick of getting away unobserved would be easy enough. and knew the road sufficiently we'll to follow 1t safe ly. But I desired to learn first what these two men were actually up to. Such information might prove more important than my investigations in Green Briar I stole across to the door and opened it noiselessly. There was no one visible in the upper hall, and I leaned over the stair rail gazing down, and listening. A light still burned within the dining room, but there was no sound of voices, or of movement.
 The silence continued, and l began to cautiously steal passage down the carpeted stairs, crouching well back against the side wall. Little by little I was able to peer in through the open door-the chairs were vacant; there was no one there. The gleam of the lamp revealed a deserted room, the table still filtered with dishes What had become then of Harwood and Taylor? Were they sitting beyond in the darkened parlor? l crept to the half-closed door The room was black and silent, although I could perceive dimly the outlines of furniture.
 Something-some vague sense or mystery, of danger, gripped me. l felt a strange choking in the throat, and reached for the revolver at my belt. It was not there; the leather holder was empty. My first sensation was fear, belief I was the victim Of treachery. Then it occurred to my mind that the weapon might have fallen from the open holster as l rest ed on the bed--a mere accident. Al least I would learn the truth of that dark room. l stepped within, circled the overturned chair, and groping foot encountered something lying on the floor. bent down and touched it with my hand; 1t was the body Of a man. The whole truth came to me in a fiash-there had been quarrel, a murder, unpremeditated probably, and the assassin had escaped. But which of the two was the victim? An in stant I stood there, staring about in the dark, bewildered and uncertain Then I grasped the lamp from the table in the other room, and returned holding the light in my hands. The form of Major Harwood lay extended on the floor, lifeless, his skull crushed by an ugly blow. Beside him lay revolver, it's butt blood-stained. Be yond doubt this was the weapon whicf had killed I picked 1t up wonderingl, it was my own.