Marble Hill press. (Marbel [sic] Hill, Mo.) 1881-1923, 1915-10-07

the possibility that ! also might DO re-
membered. Yet surely there was no
CLEAN Of recollection IN the eyes that
surveyed me-and why should there
be! had been an unlnteresting lad
OF fifteen when We last met. This
knowledge gave me courage TO meet
that searching glance. and to lift my
hand In the salute due to an ofiicer OF
rank.
"Ah!" said Harwood In deep voice,
"A soldier from the vaileyf"
Yes, sir" respectfully. tho Sixty.
nth Virginia"
How does It happen you wear ar
tillery uniform"
Expecting the question I answered
unhesitatingly.
| They'd lost so many gunners, some
OF us we're detailed to help. Recruits
are coming in now"
| What was your batterys"
"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. Taylors"
wal, ! can't exactly say thet |
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"
NO, he don't claim ter be none o
OF Ned's brood his mars Q wilder
woman. They amt - kin. I reckon d"
Whatever thoughts might have been
In Major Harwoods mind were con.
cealed by an impassive face. rs he sat
there for a moment In silence. gazing
| at the two OF US.
No doubt you did what you be.
lieved to be best. Taylor" he said a,
last quietly. We will talk II over
later You are both hungry enough
to eat. SUPPOSED Draw up some
chairs and Sam win 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 10 plenty OF room. and
you are welcome. This house." he ex.
planned. belongs to friend OF mine.
who had TO leave the countrywide
Yankee for his nelghbors. ind (,
rather convenient at times. All. Sam.
that rasher OF bacon looks prtme---IIl
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 90 doubt,
although he was not In uniform. and.
II this Was true. then II must be also
q fact that Taylor WAS q Union Spy
The meeting here had not been by
chance, although a mystery Involved
the hidden reason why ]. known
Confederate soldier. had been encour-
aged 10 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 q good nights sleep Wen
all OF US ride on into Green Briar to-
morrow Ill talk with you q minute.
Taylor. In the parior. before you 70:
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 hs
needs"
II was clearly apparent that Har.
wood desired a private word with Tay-
lor and so. after deliberately illing
my pipe. | rose TO my feet. stretching
sleepily. The black returned with q
small lamp In his hand and led the
way up the broad stairs. moment
later was left alone In a small room
ut the end OF the upper hall with one
window. so heavily curtained as prob |
shly 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 ] extinguished |
the light. and looked out OF the win |
dow II was quite . drop. though not |
necessarily 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
road sufficiently well to follow II 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 Briar. stole across to the door
and opened II noiselessly. There vas
no one visible in the upper hail, and
| leaned over the stair rail gazing
down. and listening. A light still
burned within the dining room. but