The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1915-12-10
CHAPTER xI.
Waiting the Next Move.

Inere was the SOUND OF chairs DelnS
pushed hastily back from table. and
rapid steps on the floor.
Yes; what's wrong? Have you
found something
Sure; Bill an saw them; they
were tryin' ter git the boss; but
afore either OF US could fire. they
sorter slipped long back O. Their fence,
an got away. It's darker'n hell out
thar, an Bill sed fer me ter cum In
yere an tell yer that II you EN- Kelly
wud cut across the road, an sorter
head the cusses off we'd bag the two
easy"
"Whar's the rest of Their boys?"
'Ridin the Lewisburg pike accordin'
ter orders, | reckon. Leastwise we
amt seen EN- since yer toll US ter
watch Their stable. Bill an can't
round them up alone"
"All right. Dave. Where are they
now?" !,
In Their orchard, creepin' long
the fence. Bills followin' EN- up. an
all you got ter do is run long the road
an git ter the corner ahead o. 'em
They can't go no other way"
caught glimpse of the two as
they crossed the lower hall hurriedly.
The lamp fiickered in the draft of the
opened door, and one fellow swore
roughly, as he stumbled over some OBJ
stacle. Then the door closed, and the
flame steadied. In the silence we could
hear again the beating of rain on the
roof over head.
who do you suppose they could
have seem" she asked
Shadows likely enough. Let them
hunt. We know now the house is de-
serted, and can find more comfortable
quarters-perhaps even slip away be-
fore anyone returns. You will go
with me?"
"Of course; | am not afraid of Tom
Wyatt"
We passed the ladder down slowly,
and carefully, until the lower end rest
ed securely on the floor below. If
Nichols had recovered from the effect
of the severe blow, he had made no
sound, and had almost forgotten his
presence. / drew back, and permitted
the lady to descend first, holding the
upper supports firmly until her feet
touched the floor. 1t was a struggle
for me to force my larger bulk through
the narrow opening, but succeeded
| finally, and stood beside her. In the
brighter light | could perceive more
| clearly the expression OF the girls
| face, realized the friendliness of her
eyes. My frank confession had won
me her confidence; no matter where
her sympathy might be in this war
struggle my allegiance to the cause OF
the South was no serious barrier be.
tween us; even the fact that | was
masquerading there In a stolen uni
form and under an assumed name, had
not greatly changed her trust In an old
playmate. My heart beat faster to this
knowledge. yet. in some way. although
rejoiced, the recognition brought
with 1t strange embarrassment
1T sounds as though the storm was
harder than ever" she said Where
shall we go?'
| ONE
of these rooms, for the present, at
least. We could scarcely hope to get
| the horse out of the stable unseen.
and, even If we did. we would be like.
ly to ride into some of the gang"
but they will return to the house. =
Before they leave-yes; but it is
hardly probable they will search up
here again. Anse will be In ill-humor
enough when he decides we have real.
ly escaped. but will never imagine that
our hiding place is in the house. They
will give up by daylight. and then the
way will be clear"
"And where will you go?"
why" in surprise. Il could not
leave you alone until placed you In
the care of friends"
AT Lewisburg. you mean?"
IF that is where you wish to CO."
Her eyes met mine frankly, but with
an expression in their depths failed to
fathom.
mot wearing that uniform" she
said quietly. "or under the name OF
AhdJ AlOhd. LO AOl ullSuh
derstand. There is friendship between
us-personal friendship, the memory
of the past, knowledge of the init
macy between your father and mine
More. | am grateful to you for the
service you have been to me this
night; nor do hold 1t against you that
you risk your life in the cause fol-
which you fight. But am Union. Tom
Wyatt. and | cannot help you in your
work, nor protect you. When day
light comes am going to say good-by
and forget that have even seen
you"
But" l protested, why could we
not part. If we must. at Lewisburg
after know you are safer"
There are Federal troops at Lewis
burg. They know me. and their com
mander is aware of my acquaintance
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