The state herald., 1916-05-19
CHAPTER Il-continued.

Things has changed sum since
then. Nobody lives ter hum eny more.
It's sure hell In Green Briar these
days-somebody is gettin' kilt every
day er two. The cusses travel In
gangs, murderin' an burnin' from one
end O. the county to the other" He
spoke In an even. drawing voice. with
not the slightest show of emotion, as
though telling an ordinary bit Of
news: "D-d II l know which outfit
is the wus-the Yanks or the Rebs."
Which are you with?"
who, me?" He paused in his bolt
ing of food. and gave vent to an un.
pleasant laugh. 81 rather reckon II
would puzzle the Lord Almighty ter
fer neither OF 'em. I'm fer or Jem
Taylor, an 1t keeps me tolor'ble busy
tending ter his affairs, without both
erin bout no government"
Then your name is Taylor?"
81 reckon it has been for bout sixty
along Buffalo crick, an SOM OF 'em
are Yanks, an a parcel of em are
Rebs, but they don't git oil Jem ter
take nary side. At that, I'm gittin' all
the fightin' banker arter. Naturally.
I'm a peaceful critter. II tn cusses let
me alone"
"Quieted down some over there late.
ly. hasn't it7'
Huh! Thar's a regiment O. blue
coats at Lewishurg. an few cavalry
men ridin' ther pixies. Don't amount
ter hill O. beans as fer us ther boys
are concerned. All they got ter do Is
so further back in the hills, an 20 =
bit more keerful. reckon, young
man, yen find plenty o. deviltry going
on in Green Briar, II ye ever git out
that away. Wal, thet's all thar Is fer
US ter eat, an I'm goin' ter take q
spooze"
He closed the door. fastening 1t So
curely with wooden bar. and
stretched himself out on the Aoor
The room was dark. as the only win.
dow was tightly boarded up. and using
my bundle for a pillow. lay down
also. In q short time his heavy
breathing was evidence enough that
Taylor slept. Slowly my heavy eyes
closed. and lost consciousness.
{ The sun was below the mountain
ridge, when the heavy hand OF the old
mountaineer shook me into sudden
.wakefulness. with nothing left to
eat We were not long in preparing for
departure. endeavoring vainly to get
my silent companion to converse. be-
ing rewarded merely by grumbled and
eyasive answers. Finally | desisted
in the attempt, content to follow his
lead. Taylor, astride his sorrel. with
gun resting srimly across hi1 knees,
rode straight through the brush. away
from the pike. down the valley OF .
small stream. In crossing. the horses
drank their MI.
How about the valley roadf" |
asked as we climbed the opposite
bank.
The leader glanced back at me.
This yere way is higher. an a darn
sight NOR quiet" he answered grufiiy.
Soldiers been marching over the pike
all day. Mout be all right fer yer. n
yerve got pass-but amt got none
Well hev' good 'nough rldin' in bout
a mile NOR"
You are aiming for the cut-on7"
Il be-yer do kno' sumthin' OF this
yere hntry. reckon. but yer'ye got
more eddication than eny Cowan ]
sver hooked up with siore. Yer don't
talk mono like mountin' folks"
drew n quick breath. sensing the
return OF suspicion.
That's true" admitted readily.
You see ! went to school at Coying.
ton. they were going to make a
preacher out OF me"
Taylor stared into my face, his
vague suspicion seemingly gone.
Well. Ill be d-d-a preacher"
He rodo on into the dusk, chuokllng.
and followed. smiling TO myself. glad
that the mans good humor had been
10 easily restored.
We were fed at hut back In the
foothills, where an old couple. the man
lame. wero glhd enough to exchange
their poor food for the late news from
the army. In which they had a son
Then We rodo steadily to the south.
When dawn came We we're TO the went
OF Wayncaboro. IN broken country, and
all through those long night hours
scarcely word had been exchanged
between us. We eampcd finally. IN IN.
bend OF a small stream. where high
bank, concealed ~ from observation.
There was little 10 cat In our hayer.
racks. but We munched what We had.
and Taylor, HIS eyes on the horses,
broke the silence
y reckon the critters don't need
more'n n couple hours rest" he said
They amt been rid nownya hard. nm
I'm fer sittin' through the gap durin'
dayiiEht-tho road amt overly good
Just now"
Across tho mountain.r n. thar,
zap berer"
"Ther road tor Hot Springs ia hon,
~ miles below yer cum over /,