Marble Hill press. (Marbel [sic] Hill, Mo.) 1881-1923, 1915-09-30
CHAPTER II.


An Un~eiecWe Companion.
II was In the chill OF a cold gray
morning that rode into Strasburg.
| Jogging along a. the rear OF squad,
ron OF Fifth Virginia cavalrymcn who
| CHANGED TO be headed for the same
| place. These found quarters In the
! town, but proceeded mile or more
south on the valley pike. uuul /
| reached a sIngleruomed cabin. heavy
wooden shutters barring the windows
! the door closed and securely fastened
The place 10 all Appearances Was de-
serted. and had been for long while
Although situated scarcely hundred
feet back from the valley turnpike.
which was never without Its travellers
and along which armies marched and
countermarched. the surroundings
were those OF remote wilderness. /
dismounted. and leading my horse,
pressed a difficult passage through the
bushes, To my surprise the rear door
stood slightly aiar. and my eyes per
ceived the movement OF an iil-dehned
shadow within.
Hello there" called out, yet In.
stinctively drawing a step backward.
is there any room here for a tired
man7"
The tall, angular figure OF noun
taiueer Immediately appeared In the
doorway. and a gray. wrinkled face.
scraggly bearded, looked forth. the
eyes glintlns and filled with sus.
picion.
Wal. who be ye. an whut DO 70
want yere!"
Il am soldier" | replied. rather
shortly. not particularly pleased with
either the mans Appearance or man
ner. Myself and horse ara about
worn out. I nlstook this for . de-
serted cabin"
''whar be ye bound ar whut may
ye be up to a-travelin aloas"-
smiled. endeavoring to retain my
temper.
See, here. friend" returned short.
ly. Il have rs much reason 10 ask
you such questions as you have NE
However, am willing enough TO an
swer am on furlouEh, and am 20
ing home across the mountains TO see
my folks. Do you knos Raleigh
county,"
The man. who vas now standing up
right In the doorway, one hand grip
ping the barrel OF a musket the early
morning light on his withered face.
stared unwinkingly into my eyes
y rather reckon do young man.
he replied slowly. Fur ! was raised
up on the Green Briar. VIA, mout
be yer manner"
"Cowan." answered promptly. my
mind instantly alert, and aware had
made a mistake"
"HoL. We don't say One o oil Ned
Cowan's boys
No. am a son OF Widow Cowan.
over on Coal creek"
There was not the faintest glim'
mer In the cold. blue eyes, no evidence
OF any recollection In the wrinkied
face. His Jaws rose and 'eli on the
tobacco which extended his cheek
81 don't reckon I've been over that
way fer nigh on fifteen year" he said
at last refectively, An somehow ]
don't Just recall no Widow Cowan-
but know oil Ned mighty veil. He's
took TO the brush with his hole breed |
since this fracas started an som |
-.. A.~snA hta hnuaa 49, cant tha l
oil woman after EN-. It's plumb hell |
In Green Briar. Maybe yer a Cowan,
but I'm ID II ye look ike eny o.
thet OUTFIT ever see a:ore. What
part O. the army wus ye vi;hT"
"slrty,Hfth Virginia - Covington
Captain Daniels"
The older man chewed awhile In 81
ienee, evidently impressed with the
seeming frankness OF the reply.
wal, ye mout be Cowan. o.
course" he admitted reluctantly.
"Enyhow reckon II don't make no
great difference. fer II ye be soin' ter
Green Briar We kin ride awhile ter.
sether. Two IL better than one these
days. Hitch yer boss on, thar In the
scrub alongside o. mine. an then come
In yere. Well eat bite fust. an then
lis down Q spell. fer I've been a-ridin'
most o. Their night myself
His voice vas hardly as cordial a.
his words sounded. but felt 10 besf
to accept the rather surly invitation.
/ led M horse down the dim path u