Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1916-04-27
A Tale Of Civil Strife by Randall Parrish

asked. II though, you HAD gone until
1 heard that sound
Il had to laugh when the truth
finally came to me: that is Cane
Ridge"
'Where-where the Baptist church
s?"
Exactly; where Parson Nichols
points out TO his congregation the
straight and narrow way There is
bride path Wonder leading up from lie
valley. which will save us IA fiva..a..c
detour. But IL means we aye sti" III
Cowan's country, and to climb there
with horses viii require the use Of
daylight
You think Anse-"
rs probably back before :h's, aud
he does not discover the body of OLD
Ned, he will naturally conclude we
will head east My only hope is that.
not having seen us las: night ne may
imagine we chose tie southern rorte.
and ride there first Bi.t i: he did.
AouOltCSS uC WOulu otu0 SOANe Os.c Cl
his men scouting this way"
"You have heard--seen notllns?"
NO. We are too far back; TIE noise
of an army passing along the pike
would not reach here If We get to
Cane Ridge church before dark. we
must trust to luck. and the night for
the next thirty miles"
You fear Cowan's gang more than
he troops Surely they will pursue?"
NO doubt: Piekney will be raving.
and Raymond crazy to get hand on
me. Ay! there will be some galloping
Of troopers. should have liked to
see Fcx's face when he heard the
news. BY heavens! they are like
enough to charge him with conspiracy.
'or he was officer CT the day How
aver, ] do not greatly fear them. they
VIII make noise enough TO warn US,
and couldn't track bear. II is the
mountain men we m,'st ss!ard against,
hey are wolves 70" Sept wello"
AFTER the first matt nour am
'ested. and strong. Shall we go now"
w uSl w lidNe Cdl0n. NGTG HAY
oe no other opportunity. and there ls
ample time"
We sat over the poor meal a long
while. talking like old friends, laugh
ng over revived memories, almost for
getting that we were fugitives, our
7ery lives at stake. Twice we heard
guns. but the reports were but distant
echoes. sounding afar Off to the west
ward. Yet these made me nervous to
get away. and when number sounded
.ogether-almost n volley, distinctly
audible. hastenad to pack what little
.emained OF food on our horses. and
ed the way forling the shallow
stream. and guiding my horse up the
opposite bank into the deep shadow OF
he woods beyond The summit OF
he hill was open. except for con-
siderable grove to the rear OF the
church. That editice appeared, as |
remembered it. unchanged in any re-
;pect-a fairly large building, con-
,tructed solidly of logs, with square,
,laphoarded tower In front, four win
lows on each side. containing small
panes Of glass, a number OF them
broken. We were at the rear which
showed larger window, and mar
COW door at one corner, protected by
porch. 1t appeared desolate and
deserted the loneliness accumulated
~ the empty hilching racks on either
vide.
We advanced side by side along
What was once well-trodden path,
making no attempt at concealment.
indeed. any such effort would have
been useless. as the crest of the ridge
lay open. and bare of vegetation. but
vas so fully convinced we We're unob-
served that took no precautionary
satire thought. indeed. centered upon
he girl at my SIDE
The heavy latch of the front door
lifted easily 10 the pressure of my
hand. and we stepped into narrow
vestibule, Noreen grasping my arm
lervously, as she faced the Swallowed
Interior of the deserted building Some.
instinct of caution caused me to close
The door behind US, and then drew
ler forward. laughing at her fears.
Until we obtained glimpse of the larger
:oon. already becoming obscvred by
he approaching night. 1t was rather
'habby-looking place, not overly clean,
aven in that merciful dimness Rude
benches without backs. stretched al.
most from wall to wall narrow aisle
ooHtnO ia thu pit
cove. and scarcely discernible except
barest outlines. recognized a big
3lble. lying open on the gaunt pulpit
stand A book Of some kind, dogs.
cared and coverless, lay on the floor
At my feet. and bent to pick it up.
As came upright again, a man
stepped from the shadow of corner.
and the steel barrel of revolver
dashed before my eyes. felt Noreen
fringe against me. uttering a muftled
cry.
Stand as you are. Yank," said
'ather pleasant voice. Pardon me,
ady."
He was young fellow, with bold.
black eyes. little. jaunty mustache.
md mouth Inclined to laugh, but
What | stared at in open-eyed aston
shment, was his broad-brimmed hat
md natty gray cavalry jacket.
Some surprise party. reckon. he
'huckled grimly Here, Wharton.
dndly relieve the gentleman of his
arsenal: take the ladys gun, also. It's
Ill right. boys
To my unbounded amazement, up
rom the floor where they had been
ying concealed beneath the benches.