Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1915-09-30

instantly. my heart throbhing with |
the possibility that also might be re
membered. Yet surely there Was no |
CLEAN Of recollection In the eyes that |
surveyed me-and why should there |
be? had been an embarrassing lad |
OF fifteen when we last met This
knowledge gave me courage to meet |
that searching glance. and 20 lift my |
hand In the salute due to an officer OF |
rank.
Ali" said Harwood In deep voice.
"a soldier from the valley?''
Yes. sir" respectfully. "the sixty
fifth Virginia"
How does It happen you YEA, ar.
tillery uniform?"
Expecting the question ] answered
unhesitatingly.
They'd lost SO many gunners. some
OF us we're detailed to help, Recruits
are coming In now
what was your battery"
"Staunton Horse artillery. sir.
"Stationed?"
AT Front Royal--thnt was our win.
ter camp
He nodded. tapping his spoon
against the table. favorably impressed
by my prompt replies. His keen eyes
| sought the face OF the silent noun.
| taineer.
You know this man. Taylor?"
wal. cant exactly say tibet 4
dew. major" he said drawiingly. shift
ing his feet uneasily. "He says he's
Cowan. frum over on Buffalo crick."
"A Cowan!--you mean"
mo. he don't claim ter be none o.
Oh Ned's brood his mars wilder
woman They Amt no kin. reckon"
Whatever thoughts might have been
In Major Harwood's mind were con-
cealed by an impassive face. as he sat
there for q moment In silence. gazing
at the two of us.
"No doubt you did what you be-
lieved to be best. Taylor" he said at
last quietly. I'VE will talk 1t over
later. You are both hungry enough
to eat, / suppose? Draw up some
chairs and Sam will find something
No objection to remaining here over
night Cowan?"
"I'd be glad to get on. sir, but my
horse is about used up. The roads
have been hard and we have travelled
rapidly"
We'll, there Ia plenty Of room, and
you are welcome. This house." he ex-
planned. belongs to a friend Of mine.
who had to leave the country--too
Yankee for his neighbors. find It
rather convenient at times. All. Sam.
that rasher of bacon looks prime--Ill
try some myself"
The three OF us talked upon many
subjects. although Taylor said little,
except when directly addressed, and
I noted that few references were
made to the war. That Harwood was
in the Federal service had no doubt,
although he was not In uniform. and.
II this was true, then 1t must be also
fact that Taylor was Union spy.
The meeting here had not been by
chance. although a mystery involved
the hidden reason why /, known
Confederate soldier, had been encour-
|
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 a good nights sleep. Well
all of us ride on into Green Briar to-
morrow. III 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"
1t was clearly apparent that Har-
wood desired private word with Tay-
Tor and so, after deliberately filing
my pipe. rose to my feet. stretching
sleepily. The black returned with a
\ small lamp In his hand and led the
way up the broad stairs moment
later | was left alone In a 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
iatched, but there was no lock Then
| was not being held a prisoner
After some minutes | extinguished
the light. and looked out of the win
dow. 1t was quite a drop, though not
necessarily a dangerous one. to the
ground. Those dim outlines OF build.
ings were probably the stables, where
/ would find my horse. With no guards
the trick of getting away unobseryed
would be easy enough. and knew the
road sufficiently we'll to follow 1T safe
ly. But / desired to learn first what
these two men were actually up TO-
Such Information might prove more
important than my investigations In
Green Br:ar. stole across to the door
and opened 1t noiselessly. There was
no one visible In the upper hall, and
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 oil
movement