The Holly chieftain., 1916-04-14
Qlep[D MIST
A TALF OF CIVIL STRIFE 7.
6RANDNL PARRISH "
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CHAPTER xxiil-conti,.ued.

Permit me to answer TOT myself
Lieutenant Harwood."
"Noreen Harwood! Why. 1t takes
me of my feet. How comes 1t you are
here?"
my father is Dead" she answered
simply. the brightness vanishing from
days ago."
Il 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 an
swered quietly. her hand still within
his. Il have known him from child
hood. IL 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 q spare
gray jacket strapped to my saddle
yonder more becoming than that blue
coat Saint Christopher! but It's q
most happy family reunion we're hav-
ing; I'll want tho story presently, but
now must look to my men. "Tis no
easy game we are playing"
Let me understand that. lieuten-
ant" exclaimed. as he turned away
,''How does it happen you arc 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. 1.-THE Yam
KEGS have forage train cat as far as
Hot Springs. got permission for
dash to cut them on, 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?"
"Oh! 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 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
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 fell
low with red beard. and little wea-
xel-faced fox he called Kelly"
"Yes, | know them; they were hunt
ing after us. Did they 90 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.
1 reckon you must be some popular
to create such furore. Why. an
hour after sunup whole blame COM
pany of bluecoats went by. riding like
mad. their horses dripping, and .
young fellow spurring them on. He'd
lost his hat. and they never SO much
as took side look at this shebang.
They were in some hurry, my friend" !"
And neither party has returned?"
mot sign OF them"
What force have you here?"
Twenty-eight enlisted men"
You have pickets out?"
Zone man each way. a mile down
the road. concealed. The tower up
there commands the country in both
directions"
And your horses?"
Hidden in the grove yonder."
grasped the situation clearly
enough. and also comprehended the
reckless nonchalance OF the officer.
What was his purpose-his present
plan? It appeared to me that the
conditions warranted retreat, back
along the unfrequented mountain tratl
by which this daring party OF adven.
turers had come The troops, as we'll
as the guerrillas. must have discov-
cred by this time that we were not in
advance of them. They would return
searching every nook and corner In
hope of discovering our hiding place.
They might even unite their forces.
impelled as they we're by the same de-
) sire. and thus become truly formidable.
Personal hatred Of me and the wish to
regain possession OF Noreen. would
animate and control both Anse Cowan
and the angry. humiliated lieutenant.
While neither would likely confess his
purpose to the other. yet their mutual
fnterosta would naturally sug1est m