Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1915-12-23
Eyes. sir" The sergeant advanced.

SOuOuCI Lie Iduy oAu 6CAtlOAoh ~
the sanctity of the pulpit, sergeant
where they may commune with the
presiding genius of this house of wor
ship erected in the wilderness"
You mean you hold prisoner Par
son Nichols ?" | asked.
mo doubt it's he. We discovered
the party alone here, and held hin
for the pleasure of his company"
Just moment, lieutenant" and
faced him squarely, ignoring the griI
of Wharton's hand on my arm
There is no reason to hold us prison
ers; all there is Yankee about me is
this uniform. / have just escaped
from the Federal guard at Lew1sburg.
His eyes, laughing, yet suspicious
swept our faces.
I'm not easily fooled" he said, "bu1
ready enough to learn. Who are your
Thomas Wyatt, sergeant, Stauntor
horse artillery"
"By all the gods, it soundeth
strange. How came you here?'
"On Jackson's orders. l was born
in this county, and because of that he
chose me to find out the numbers and
disposition of the Federal troops in
this neighborhood, together with some
other facts he wished to know. l was
captured in Federal uniform, and held
under death sentence as a spy.
escaped last night"
.FAnd tho WOman 2'
She threw back the cape which had
partially concealed her face, revealing
her bright eyes and flushed cheeks.
Permit me to answer for myself,
Lieutenant Harwood."
'Noreen Harwood! Why, it takes
me off my feet. How comes it you are
here?"
my father is dead" she answered
simply, the brightness vanishing from
her face "He was killed only few
days ago."
81 regret to learn that, cousin" and
he held out his hand. "Who is this
man, and why are you here with him %
"He has told you the TRUTH" she all
swered quietly, her hand still within
his. Il have known him from child
hood. II am his wife,
There was a moment of silence, Of
hesitation | heard the soldiers NOV
ing about the room, and the murmur
of voices speaking cautiously. Then
Harwood released her hand, and eX-
tended his own to me, his eyes frank
and cordial
II accept you on faith, comrade," he
said pleasantly, ~but there is a spare
gray jacket strapped to my saddle
yonder more becoming than that blue
coat. Saint Christopher! but it's a
most happy family reunion we're nav
ing; I'll want the story presently, but
now l must look to my men. IT'S no
easy game we are playing"
Let me understand that, lieuten-
ant" l exclaimed, as he turned away.
"How does it happen you are here,
and for what purpose?"
"A wild plan of my own, aided and
abetted by the commander at Coving-
ton. We are of the garrison there,
he explained briefly, his glance search
ing out the dim interior. "The Yam
KEGS have forage train out as far as
Hot Springs. | got permission for a
dash to cut them off. We took the
cutoff, and landed here about daylight
The train should have been along be-
fore now, but there is no sign of it"
You have been in hiding here all
day, and seen nothing?"
ooh! we've seen enough" and he
laughed. But nothing we cared to
measure swords with The road yon-
der appears popular, but, by good luck,
no Yankee shows an eagerness to at
tend church. There was a gang of
mountain men along by here maybe
two hours ago who rode up to the
door, and took look at the shebang.
Whether they were Yank or Reb l
didn't know. Anyhow, we were willing
enough to see them pass on out O.
sight. They looked and talked as
though they were spelling for fight"
How many?"
Thirty or fOrty-a right smart
crowd. There were only two came up,
and rode round the church-a big fel-
low with red beard, and a little wea-
zel-faced fox he called Kelly"
Eyes, l know them; they were hunt
ing after us. Did they go on east?"
They did. So has everyone else
we've seen today. That's what puz-
zled us, as to just what might be up.
| reckon you must be some popular
to create such a furore Why, an
hour after sunup whole blame com
pany of bluecoats went by, riding like
mad, their horses dripping, and a
young fellow squirting them on. He'd
lost his hat, and they never so much
as took a side look at this shebang.
They were in some hurry, my friend
And neither party has returned?"
mot sign of them"