The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1916-02-11
CHATTER xxIII--censInusa.

me on my feet How comes II you are
heref"
MY father Is dead she answered
simply. the brightness vanishing from
her face. ~Tie was killed only few
days ago
= regret to learn that. cousin" and
he held out his hand. who is this
man, and why are you here with him T.
he has told you the truth" she an
swered quietly, her hand still within
his = have known him from child
hood. ri 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
HARDWOOD released her hand, and ex.
tended his own TO me. bis eyes frank
and cordial.
Il accept you on faith. comrade," he
said pleasantly. "but there Is a spare
gray jacket strapped TO my saddle
ynnder more becoming than that blue
coat Saint Christopher but It's a
most happy family reunion we're hay
Ing: III want the story presently, but
now ] must look to my men. 'Tis no
easy game we are playing"
Let me understand that. lieuten
ant" ] exclaimed. as he turned away
How does II happen you are here.
and for what purpose?"
"A Wild plan OF my own, aided AM
abetted by the commander at Covine
ton. We are OF the garrison there.
he explained briefly, his glance search
Ing out the dim interior. "The Yam
KEGS have forage train out as far as
Hot Springs got permission for
dash to cut them of. We took the
cut-off. and landed here about daylight
The train should have been along be-
fore now. but there lie no sign OF IT,"
You have been In hiding here ali
day. and seen nothing9"
OH we've seen enough" and he
laughed. but nothing we cared to
measure swords with. The road Won.
der appears popular, but. by good luck
no Yankee shows an eagerness TO at
tend church. There was gang OF
smountain men along by here maybe
Two hours ago who rode up to the
door. and took look at the shebang
Whether they were Yank or Reb /
didn't know. Anyhow, we were willing
enough to see them pass on out @
sight They looked and talked ms
though they were spelling for a fight. .
How many?"
Thirty or forty--a right smart
crowd, There were only two came up.
and rode round the church--a big fel.
low with red beard, and a little wea.
.zei-faced fox he called Kelly"
Yves. ! know them; they were hunt.
ing after us. Did they go on east 2"
They did, so has everyone else
we've seen today. That's what puz.
zled us. as to Just what might be up.
reckon you must be some popular
TO create such furore. Why. an
hour after sunup a whole blame com.
pany OF bluecoats went by, riding like
mad. their horses dripping, and
young fellow squirting them on. He'd
lost his hat, and they never SO much
as took side look at this shebang.
They were In some hurry, my friend"
And neither party has returned?"
mot sign or them"
What force have you here?"
'Twenty-eight enlisted men"
You have pickets out?"
"One man each way, a mile down
the road, concealed. The tower mn
there commands the country In both
directions
And your horses?"
Hidden in the grove yonder."
grasped the situation clearly
enough, and also comprehended the
reckless nonchalance of the officer
What was his purpose-his preaent
plan? Il appeared to me that tha
conditions warranted retreat hack
along the unfrequented mountain TRAN
by which this daring party OF adyen.
turers had come. The troops. as we'll
as the guerrillas. must have discov.
cred by this time that we were not IN
advance OF them. They would return
searching every nook and corner In
hope OF discovering our hiding place
They might even unite their forces
impelied as they were by the same de
sire, and thus become truly formidable.
Personal hatred OF me and the wish 10
regain possession Of Noreen, would
animate and control both Anse Cowan
and the angry. humiliated lieutenant
While neither would likely confess his
purpose to the other, yet their mutual
interests would naturally suggest an
alliance. And there was no war feud
between the two which would neces-
sarily prevent their cooperation. In.
deed. the troopers would gladly well
come any excuse which would bring
Cowans gang of outlaws into closer
connection. And the outfit would
never pass by this church again with
out searching its interior. Only ca
gerness, haste TO oyertake US in our
attempted fight, had led to their blind
riding by before. ! turned to Har.
wood. who was whispering nonsense
TO Noreen.
What DO you mean TO do, lieuten
santr' asked quietly. but with my
own mind made IN "Remafn hera1D