Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1916-02-17

harder to understand" her voice hesi-
tating slightly, "arose because there
was something about you so oddly IA
miliar; IL felt that ought to recog-
nize your face; that somewhere we
had met before-have we?"
Yes, Miss Noreen; am Tom
Wyatt"
Why! Why. of counsel" the swift
expression was one Of intense relief.
How stupid Of me! Oh, am SO glad
that know To my surprise she
held out both hands impulsively. "Your
being a spy doesn't make any differ
ence now that know who you really
are. 1t is no wonder did not recog-
nize you-why you were only a boy
Not when you rode by my mother
and me on the pike"
IA year ago? l remember; yet
hardly caught q glimpse of you
through the dust. You were just boy
when you were here last. Why you
had long curls."
And thought Noreen Harwood the
most beautiful little girl had ever
SEEN"
"Why you-you are in even greater
danger than L.
"Oh, no; from all | have seen and
heard the Cowans must be in sympa-
thy with the South, or they never
would have made the attack on Fox's
party. or held Lieutenant Raymond
prisoner had considered going di-
rect to Anse. revealing my identity,
and demanding protection"
Her hands grasped my sleeve.
mo, not that! You do not under,
stand, Tom Wyatt. These men care
nothing for the issues of the war. They
merely use them to cover up their own
lawless deeds. and to assist in work
ing out schemes of revenge. They are
neither Federal, nor Confederate; they
are robbers. murderers, and thieves.
ls Anse Ccwan here tonight for any
purpose but his own? You realize
what that purpose is.''
Il have heard enough to make me
certain" answered. HE would force
you into marriage to thus gain control
of this property. The killing of Major
HARDWOOD was part of the plan"
You know then of my fathers
death? You know that report to be
true? Why. you said you were with
Captain Fox at Hot Springs! Is 1t
so?"
Yes, Miss Noreen, 1t is true. / saw
your fathers body, and that Of his
servant Tom. l came across the noun
tains with the man who killed them
both. / supposed him to be scout.
He called himself Jem Taylor, and
when they first met your father adj
dressed him by that name. They met
by appointment at house mile south
Of Hot Springs. Your father said moth
ing to you of such MANI"
mo: ! saw him but for moment
as he passed through Lewisburg on
his way east. He was to meet scout
beyond the mountains, but no name
was mentioned. What did the man
Taylor look like?"
Il described him to Captain Fox,
and one of his men. a sergeant. in
stantly pronounced the fellow to be
old Ned Cowan."
Ned Cowan! Why, that could net
be! My father would never have an
appointment alone with him. They
have been deadly enemies for years."
THAT may be true, Miss Noreen. 1
can only tell you what little / know.
Your father might have been deceived:
drawn. into trap. He was there ap-
parently by appointment to confer
with man known to him as Taylor.
Who Taylor really was l cannot say
but he was an enemy. not friend, Of
Major Harwood. do not insist that
the fellow was Ned Cowan, but / am
sure he belonged to the gang. we
trailed him nearly to New River. and,
had gone into camp amid the noun