The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1915-10-29


knowledge gave me courage to meet
that searching glance, and to lift my
hand in the salute due to an officer of
rank.
All" said Harwood In deep voice,
"a soldier from the valley?"
Yes. sir" respectfully, "the Sixty.
fifth Virginia"
How does 1t happen you wear ar
tillery uniform"
Expecting the question ] answered
unhesitatingly.
They'd lost SO many gunners, some
of us were detailed to help. Recruits
are coming In now"
What was your battery?"
"Staunton Horse artillery, sir"
"Stationed?"
AT Front Royal-that 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?"
oval. ! can't exactly say tibet |
dew, major" he said drawlingly, shift
ing his feet uneasily. "He says he's a
Cowan, frum over on Buffalo crick. "
"A Cowan!-you mean"
mo, he don't claim ter be none o.
oil Ned's brood-his mars wilder
woman. They amt no kin. reckon"
Whatever thoughts might have been
In Major Harwood's mind We're con-
cealed by an impressive facer as. he sat
there for moment in silence, gazing
at the two of US.
mo doubt you did what you be-
lieved to be best, Taylor" he Aafddat
last quietly. I'VE will talk II 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"
well. there is plenty of room. and
you are welcome. This house." he ex.
planned, belongs to friend OF mine,
who had to leave the country-too
Yankee for his neighbors. I find II
rather convenient at times All, Sam
that rasher of bacon looks prime-IlI
try some myself"
The three of US talked upon many
subjects, although Taylor said little
except when directly addressed, and
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
If this was true. then 1t must be also
a fact that Taylor was a Union spy
The meeting here had not been by
chance, although mystery involved
the hidden reason why. l, a 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, land you had better turn in
and get good nights sleep. Wen
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 walt. 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-
lor and so, after deliberately filling
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. A 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
latched, but there was no lock Then
was not being held prisoner.
After some minutes l extinguished
the light, and looked out of the win
dow. 1t was quite 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 unobserved
would be easy enough, and knew the
Dad sufficiently well to follow it safe
Y. But | desired to learn first what
hese two men were actually up to.
Such information might prove more
important than my investigations in
Green Briar. stole across to the door
and opened it 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 of
movement.
The silence continued. and began
10 cautiously steal passage down the
carpeted stairs, crouching well back
against the side wall. Little by little