Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1915-10-21

there could spare no escort The man |
who went with me must have been q |
traitor, for he guided me south into
the Green Briar mountains. Last night
at dusk we rode into camp OF guer-
rillas"
Who commanded themf Did you
learn?"
"A gray-headed. seamed-faced noun
taineer. they called Cowan''
She emitted quick breath. between
closely pressed lips.
"You know the man!" asked.
"Yes: old Ned Cowan; he lived over
yonder, east of here In the foothills.
He and-and my father had some trou-
BILE before the war. He--he Is vim
| dictive and dangerous" She stopped,
| her glance sweeping about the room.
| IL have some reason to suspect"
she added. as II half doubling whether
she ought to speak the word. .that
either he, or one OF his men. broke in
here"
in search Of something's"
"A paper; yes-a deed. or course
may be mistaken: only 1t Is not to be
found. The desk In the library was
rified. and its contents scattered over
the floor when / came. / put them
back In place, but found nothing OF
value among those that remained. My
father must have removed those OF Inn
portance.
Possibly he carried them with
himi"
/ She leaned her head on her hand.
her eyes thoughtful
81 think he once told me they were
left In charge OF q banker at Charles
ton--an old friend. II would be too
dangerous to carry them about with
him in the field. You see ! do not
know very much about his affairs, 7
she explained. Il was away at school
when the war broke out, and we have
only met briefly since. MY father did
not talk freely Of his personal matters
even to me. learned OF his feud with
Cowan by accident"
1T was d feud them
"On one side at least. My father
was shot at, and several of our out
houses burned. The trouble arose
over the title to property. Cowan,'
she explained, twas squatter on land
which had belonged to our family ever
since my grandfather first settled here
We had title from Virginia, but the
tract granted had never been properly
surveyed. MY father had it done, ant
asronro.,a xLot Ma Ccynr ord twr ~
his sons occupied part Of our lant
with no legal right"
Her eyes uplifted to my face, ant
then fell again, one hand opening ant
closing on the back of the chair. Sh,
laughed pleasantly.
II hardly know why am telling 20,
all this family history" she continue,
almost in apology. 1T Is as II ! talke'
to an old friend who was naturally In
tereseed In our affairs"
Perhaps the manner of our meeting
| accounts for It," ventured. Blu
truly am more deeply Interested thai
you imagine 1t may prove of mutua
advantage for me to know the facts
Did Major HARDWOOD try to force then
from his land?"
"Oh, no." hastily. my father had n
such thought He tried to help Their
to purchase the property at q yer
; small price. and on long time. HI
intention WAS to aid them, but b
n found himself unable to convince eithe
, father or sons OF his real purpose. The
!. either could not, or would not, undel
!. stand. Do you realize the rockies,
a lawless nature OF these mountai
n men?"
). yes, to some extent; they trust n
one"
!. THAT was the whole trouble. Seen
ingly they possessed but one idea
that II my father was killed they coul
= remain where they were indefnitel.
. Their single instinct was to fight it OF
with rifles. They refused to eithe
!. purchase or leave"
There was silence, as though sh
!. had finished. She had seated herse
!, on the wide arm OF the chair. still IA
= ing me, and could hear the rain bea
ing hard against the side OF the hous
n. Suddenly she looked up into my face
"How odd that should talk to yo
so freely" she exclaimed. why !
N not even know your name"
Il Charles H. Raymond"
u could not be certain that the e
preston OF her eyes changed, for the
" suddenly looked away from me, ar
/. she stood again upon her feet.
q Raymond, you say!" the slighte
" hardening of tone apparent, ION r
i cruiting service from the Army OF Il
3. Potomac?" She drew quick breat
"a II think have heard the name
l. fore. Would you mind Il | did ask
q. see your orders?"
Not In the least" I answered. n
4. wholly surprised that she should ha,
n heard of the other. and confident Il
q papers / bore would be properly ex
In cuted. II prefer that you have I
h doubt as to my identity"
n. She took them, and / noted slig
"a trembling of her hands as she held Il
,e paper open In her fingers, her ey'
ID glancing swiftly down the write
r. lines.