The Red Cloud chief. [volume] (Red Cloud, Webster Co., Neb.) 1873-1923, 1916-01-06

WudE tuo Wd'ti ou' 10 NJ thV
south side. right down 'gainst the bot.
TOM Their cover ter the opening lie
| screwed tight by q wheel. OF Ned
Cowan made ther contraption. an yer
kin stand on Their upper step an open
an shut the thing. an never git yer
feet wet"
And how big Is the openlng7"
oval. ! don't fist know. but I've
crawled through thar fixing a leak. an
II I did II onct. I reckon ! kin again.
'Taint morn bout six feet beyond Their
wall I'LL Il hits the edge O. Their ravine.
Thet's why the Yanks didn't make no
attack on tibet side O. Their church
thar amt no room"
The whole situation lay clear before
me. had no thought OF utilizing this
unexpected opportunity myself. for
meant to stay with the others. and
perform my part of the fighting to the
end. But here was protection. and
possible escape. for Noreen. Yet could
the preacher be trusted? Would he
play fair II ! released him. and left
them alone together? Did not his In.
| hIbO TIC III Bcttiu6 away univ
iy? what act Of treachery could he
commit. and. besides the girl was
armed.
How do you light this church,"
Candles mostly" surprised at the
question. yer amt goin' fer ter light
up. are your"
mot here-no; but below; where Is
there one?'
~ reckon on tibet thar shelf in the
pulpit yer'll find dozen er So"
Bring a couple here. Noreen."
She slipped across silently. and
came back with two I'm her hand.
You are going to try to get away?"
she whispered cautiously.
mo. not now. An opportunity may
come later. II 1t was possible to slip
!. all these men out would gladly do so
but II is already too late for any
such attempt. But there is chance
for you, and II is even barely possible
that, when all hope of defense is over.
l may find some way of joining you"
"You-you promise that?" she asked
| If consent to go. you-you will come
later II you CAM"
yes; / will pledge myself to accept
every chance. when I can do no more
Z fighting. III come to you, II ! live
Now, Nichols, listen-l am going to
set you free. and permit you to sliI
. down through that trap door with this
( lady. She Is armed. and she knows
. how to shoot. Attempt one treacher
Gus trick and you pay the penalty"
II amt tibet kind" he whined.
"Oh, yes you are: but 1t will never
pay this time. Don't take your eyes
of him, Noreen; the moment that traT
door closes light the candle, and keel
the revolver ready. Make him unscrev
the cap. and leave II of out OF thu
way. Set the candle down In one cor
ner as far back as possible. You bet
| ter 60 out first"
II am not to wait for your" be
wildered.
mot in there-no: outside. for the!
might fire the building. Nichols
where Is the best place for the two O
you to hide so I could find your"
"In the woods to the west; there 4
N trail half way down the ravine
N climbin' up--an OIL hog trail"
My fingers touched his throat. an,
Il I bent lower staring straight into hi
III eyes.
N Now. mark we'll what say
Nichols. am going to release you
and give you a chance to get away
H But you stay with the woman--dO 20
hear! Stay with her until you bot
reach the Confederate lines at Covint
ton. /, ever get out of here alive
I and learn you have attempted an
N trick, IN run you down. Nichols. II
takes ten years. Now I'll cut the rop'
.. and you creep over to where that rim
Is in the floor. and wait my order"
70 Evidently his limbs were numb frol
-, the tight cord, for he crept the fe'
- feet painfully. and then sat up rubin
~ the afflicted parts with both hands.
swept one glance out through the vii
-. dow. and then about the dim interto
Q. endeavoring to locate the men nearei
US. Only one stood close enough
o. observe our movements. and ! SCI
him with Q message to the sergeant
Nov, Noreen," whispered swift
b. this Is the best time. Take these p
a. pers: they are for Jackson: give the
to the first Confederate officer yc
I; meet. and have them forwarded
10 once. Don't trust Nichols for sing
or moment out OF range OF your revolver
ne You will not conner"
Gu mot now; you would not wish n
rs to desert my comrades-w would you
on "Oh. I do not know! do not kno
II is so hard to decide. You real
wish me to go? II will please you?
Yes"
* "And you will come lift you cal
w. I am to wait. and-and hope for you
'se II pledge you my word. dear girl.
ON She chung to my hands. her face U
NJ lifted In the moonlight.
.er IL am your wife," she said soft
'se and IL want you to"
al a