Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1916-03-17
i C0oNShEHT
A.cHeGNAr Em
cHAPrER xNt.I-cOntInued.

~
Permit me to answer for myself,
Lieutenant Harwood."
me OF my feet. How comes II you are
here?"
MY father is Dead" she answered
simply, the brightness vanishing from
her face. HE was killed only few
days ago."
81 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. I'll 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.
Il 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 q
most happy family reunion we're hav.
ing; Ill want the story presently, but
now | must look to my men. IT'S no
easy game we are playing"
Let me understand that, Heuten
ant" 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
he explained briefly. his glance search
ing out the dim interior. THE Yam
KEGS have a forage train out as far al
Hot Springs. got permission for Q
dash to cut them on. We took this
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 al
day, and seen nothing?"
"Oh! we've seen enough" and h,
laughed. But nothing we cared Il
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 o
mountain men along by here mayb,
two hours ago who rode up to tn,
door, and took look at the shebang
Whether they we're Yank or Reb
didn't know. Anyhow, we we're willinj
enough to see them pass on out o
sight. They looked and talked a
though they were spelling for a fight.
How many?"
Thirty or forty--a right smar
crowd. There were only two came ur
and rode round the church-a big fel
low with red beard, and little wea
zel-faced fox he called Kelly"
Yes. know them; they we're hunt
ing after US. Did they go on east?"
They did. so has everyone els
we've seen today. That's what pus
zled us. as to just what might be uI
| reckon you must be some popula
to create such a furore. Why, al
hour after sunup a whole blame CON
pany of bluecoats went by, riding Xix
mad, their horses dripping, and
young fellow squirting them on. He
lost his hat, and they never SO muc
as took a side look at this shebanf
They were in some hurry. my friend.
And neither party has returned
Not sign or them"
What force have you here?"s
"Twenty-eight enlisted men,"
you have pickets out?"
One man each way, a mile dow
the road, concealed. The tower u
there commands the country in bot
directions"
And your horses?"
Hidden in the grove yonder."
grasped the situation cleari
enough. and also comprehended IN
reckless nonchalance of the office
What was his purpose-his preseu
plan? 1t appeared to me that tn
conditions warranted a retreat. bac
along the unfrequented mountain ira
by which this daring party of adye,
turers had come. The troops, as we
as the guerrillas, must have disco,
cred by this time that we were not /
advance of them. They would retur
searching every nook and corner I
hope Of discovering our hiding placs
They might even unite their force,
impelled as they were By the same de
sire. and thus become truly formidab I.
Personal hatred Of me and the wish t
regain possession of Noreen. woul
animate and control both Anse Cowa
and the angry. Inundated lieutenant
While neither would likely confess hi
purpose to the other, yet their mutua
interests would naturally suggest Al
alliance. And there was no war feu
between the two which would necef