The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1916-04-21
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CHAPTER xxIII-continued.

Permit me to answer for myself
Lieutenant Harwood."
''Noreen Harwoodl Why, 1t takei
me OF my feet. How comes 1t you are
here?"
MY father is dead" she answered
simply, the brightness vanishing from
her face. HE was killed only few
days ago."
Il regret to learn that, cousin" ant
he held out his hand. who Is this
man, and why are you here with him 2
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
HARDWOOD released her hand, and ex.
tended his own to me, his eyes frank
and cordial.
81 accept you on faith, comrade." he
said pleasantly. "but there is a spare
gray Jacket strapped to my saddle
yonder more becoming than that blue
coat Saint Christopher! but tits a
most happy family reunion we're hav-
ing; I'll want the story presently, but
now must look to my men. TITS no
easy game we are playing"
Let me understand that, lieuten.
ant" l exclaimed. as he turned away
How does it happen you are 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, 4"
he explained briefly, his glance search
ing out the dim interior. THE Yam
KEGS have forage train out as far as
Hot Springs. | got permission for
dash to cut them off. 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 a 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 I'D,
and rode round the church-a big fell
low with red beard, and little wea-
zel-faced fox he called Kelly"
Eyes, know them; they were hunt
ing after us. Did they go 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
] reckon you must be some popular
to create such furore Why, an
hour after sunup a whole blame COM
pany of bluecoats went by. riding like
mad. their horses dripping, and a |
young fellow squirting 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, q mile down
Lhe road. concealed. The tower up
Il ere commands the country in both
And your horses2"
Hidden in the grove yonder."
| grasped the situation clearly
and also comprehended the
What was his purpose-his present
plan? 1t appeared to me that the
conditions warranted retreat, back
long the unfrequented mountain trail
" which this daring party of adven-
urers had come. The troops, as we'll
IS the gusrrillas, must have discov-
red by this time that we were not in
dvance Of them. They would return
earching every nook and corner in !
ope of discovering our hiding place.
hey might even unite their forces,
mpelleG as they were by the same de-
ire. and thus become truly formidable.
'ersonal hatred of me and the wish to {
egain possession of Noreen. would I
inmate and control both Anse Cowan |
nd the angry, Inundated lieutenant. t
While neither would likely confess his I
urpose to the other, yet their mutual
,terests would naturally suggest an (
lliance. And there was no war feud E
etween the two which would neces- q
lr1ly prevent their cooperation. In
eed. the troopers would gladly well o
,me any excuse which would bring a
owan's gang of outlaws into closer n
,nnection. And the outfit would v
over pass by this church again with g
1t searching its interior. Only ca v
.rness, haste to overtake us in our n
flight. had led to their blind d
ding BY before. turned to Har- p
God, who was whispering nonsense VI
NOreen. Of
What do you mean to do lieuten- o.
~" ! asked quietly, but with my D,