Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1916-01-20

Fog. In command OF detachment of
he Twelfth Pennsylvania cavalry"
"oh, yes" responded more pleas
ently. .of General Ramsay's command.
You know Major Harwood, no doubt ?"
I'VE arc Of his escort" both suspi.
|eion and command lost before nv cool
assurance. ''You are In the service.
str?"
Third United States cavalry: on re.
Icruiting detail. was to meet Har.
wood at Hot Springs. but was told
10 had gone to Green Briar."
by whom?"
"A scout met by chance; he gave
:he name Taylor"
The captain swore grimly, glancing
across my horse Into the face of the
srooper opposite.
'Well. this stumps mel" his voice
crown suddenly harder. "It doesn't
sound straight. for we left him safely
q Hot Springs an hour before sun
down. and he had no purpose at that
sine except to wait there for Taylor.
/ Do you carry any papers?"
drew the ofdcial envelope from nv
pocket. and held 1t out to him calmly.
He opened the nap.
"A little light. Snow-yes. a match
will do"
The flame lit up their faces-the Off.
GER q thin-faced man with mustache
and imperial, his teeth oddly promi.
nent; the trooper older in years. but
smooth-shaven, with deep-set eyes and
square chin. Their uniforms were
dusty and well worn. The others.
clustered behind, remained mere shad.
ows. The captain took In the nature
OF the document at q glance, and I
marked q change in his expression be.
.ore the match went out.
"Oh, I see-you are Lieutenant Ray
lmond. Got to us earlier than you ex.
pected. Find many recruits north?"
NO." answered. taken completely
by surprise. but managing to control
Imy voice. THAT was why thought 1
might accomplish more In this section.
Those counties have been combed
over" hesitated an instant. and yet
it was best for me to learn what 1
could. Il was not aware, captain, that
my projected visit had been an
nounced."
He laughed. and tho second match
went out, leaving us again In dark
ness.
Nor was it, officially: merely a
friendly letter from an officer on
Heitzelman's STAFF to our major asking
for you q friendly reception. Camp
gossip brought the news to me. You
knew Harwood?"
mo; only General Ramsay advised
me to confer with him, because of his
intimate knowledge Of this section. He
belonged. believe, in Green Briar?"
Yes. we were at his place yester-
day; south Of Lewisburg. What sort
OF Q looking man was this fellow Tay-
!or?s
described him infinitely, hoping for
some recognition, but the captain did
not appear to recall any such charac-
Ter.
I'VE have only been In this region a
few months" he said, in explanation,
and l don't remember any such chap.
He Is none Of Ramsay's scouts. What
DO you say, snow?"
"Only man like that I've heard of,
sir. is old Ned Cowan, and It amt
likely he's left the mountains to go
into Old Jacks camp"
Fox laughed. as though the idea
amused him.
! Hardly. Cowan IL too well known
to take the risk. Either side would
hang the hound on sight. Well, let's
ride along into Hot Springs. You'll
come with US, lieutenant"
There was no excuse left me, no rea-
son that could urge for riding on
alone westward. Indeed. before 1
could clearly collect my thoughts, I
was in the midst of the l1orsemen.
slowly moving east once more over
the dark road Riding as rapidly as
the darkness made possible, we clat-
tered into the deserted street at Hot
Springs. and Fox cursed vigorously
the negligent guard. The sergeant
knew little OF where Major Itarwood
had gone, as he had given no orders.
and not even intimated the probable
time Of his return. When last seen he
was riding out the south road accom-
panied only by his servant.
Fox swore again, and ordered the
men into saddle. and we swung out at
3 sharp trot along the dirt pike. I
rode next him. but the captain was in
laUch rpRa I kent aiIonf Lnau,t,,o ,,,oII
the tragic discovery soon to be re-
gealed. The gray dawn began to steal
about us. making objects near at hand
visible, and revealing the tired faces
of the cavalrymen. There was suf1i-
Client light to enable US to perceive the
gloomy house in the oak grove, and
the mottonless form lying beside the
gate. Fox drew up his horse with a
Jerk. and leaned forward staring.
my God. men," he exclaimed,
choking, That's Harwood's Niger
Turn the body over. Green-ah! the
poor devil was knitted. Here. a half
dozen of you, unsling carbiues and
follow me-there's been dirty work
lone. Sergeant. don't lot your men
destroy those footprints in the road.
lively now, lsds!"
advanced with them up the drive.
way, fearful that IL held back it
might later be commented upon. The
front door refused admittance, but we
entered from the rear. Everything
within was exactly as had loft It,
L and In tho M rinr ok{11 aovl, AA..ooo