Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1916-01-20
CHAPTER xxx.
The Trail to Covington.

and spark of fire cleaned through
the darkness. 1t was far enough away
to give me little concern, yet the re-
port must have been heard by the cav
airy squad now well out in the open,
for they wheeled their horses and rode
straight toward the ravine. Their
course would bring them higher up,
with suspicious once aroused. twas
likely they would patrol the banks,
seeking for some passage below. Con-
fident the distance between us was
sufficient to hide my movements so
long as | kept we'll back in the shadow
Of the trees, | led the horse forward.
advancing as rapidly as I dared to
travel, using one hand to steady Ray
mond's body swaying across the sad
die. 1t must have been a quarter of
miie, or more, to where the forest
spread out from the bank into dark
tangle Of trees, extending half across
the ridge. The winding of the ravine
took me out of sight of the body OF
horsemen above, yet | knew they had
galloped to the edge of the gorge, and
were calling to whoever was below |
could hear the shouts, without catch
ing the words, ana even imagined |
distinguished q faint cry in return. By
slipping the lieutenant's belt over the
saddle horn, thus preventing his limp
body from sliding off, | urged the ami
NAL to a sharp trot.
What was before us in those dark
woods was all conjecture | pos
sessed infinite confidence in NOreen.
The very silence, coupled with the fact
been met with along the way, con-
yinced me that they had safely at
tanned the rendezvous, and were now
there, anXiously awaiting my arrival.
The time had not been long, and the
girl would never consent to proceed
alone with Nichols, until she had lost
every hope Of my joining her. He
might not remain willingly in such
close proximity Of danger but | could
count on her to keep the fellow there
until the last possible moment We
went down into a shallow gully, and
then climbed the opposite bank, hav-
ing to force a passage through thick
scrub, I pressing the branches aside
to prevent their scratching RaymOnd's
face. He gave utterance to a grOan,
and l lifted his head, supporting it on
my shoulder as we topped the rise.
The horse SHE'D, l caught glimpse Of
a shadow fitting across an open space
"Noreen!"
"Is it really you? | could not tell
the horse; the something across the
saddle"
She came forward with a swift
spring, not satisfied until her hand
actually touched me.
"Oh, am SO glad-you are not even
hRrt?"
mot seriously; battered up a bit
Nichols? ?"
Eyes, he is here; there beside the
tree. Tell me what has happened!
What have you here?- Why it is ii
man." she shrank back, Ia dead
mani"
mo, not dead" l fastened to ex-
plain, unbuckling the belt, and lower
ing the still limp body to the ground.
Here, parson don't let the horse
stray. We cannot waste many min
utes here; there are cavafrymen scout
ing the edge Of the ravine yonder, and
they may come as far as this. That
is why | brought the fellow along-to
keep him from being found. Do you
recognize the face, Noreen?"
1t was dark and shadowy where we
were and she was compelled to bend
low to distinguish the features. Her
lips gave a startled, half-suppressed
cry:
''Why it is Lieutenant Raymond!
You-you fought together? How did
he come here?"
81 think he suspected we might
manage to escape from the church. He
was more anxious to capture me than
he was to fight evidently, for l caught
no glimpse of his face during the
melee. But he, and three troopers
"SAS nluQGn dI Tic SOSO vi Tic WOOOS
watching where the trail comes up
from the ravine."
Yes" breathlessly, 1--WE saw them
come across, just after the torches be-
gan to flare UP inside the church. Then
later another man rode along there"
THAT was Kelly; he brought word
that We had got away | was within
ten feet of them when they met. The
lieutenant swore at the news, and sent
the four men down the trail to search
he offered one hundred dollars for
me, dead or alive"
She arose to her feet, but the dark
ness prevented my seeing the express
sion on her face.
HE did! This MANI" she ex
claimed, the horror of the thought Wis
ible in the tone. why, what is it tc
him? | do not understand why he
should exhibit such bitterness was
determined to convict you from the
first. There was no feud between you