Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1916-02-12
CHAPTER "xxlII-continued.

''Noreen HARDWOOD! why. ii takes
me of my feet. How comes it you are
here?'
+ My father is dead" she. answered
simply, the brightness vanishing from
her face. "He>was killed only a few
days:ago." a. -.
~ regret to'learn that, cousin and
he held out his. hand. who is this
man, and why are. you here with him?"
|: He has told you the truth" she an
swered quietly. her hand still within.
his: Il have. known him from child
hood. It am his wife, -.
There was a moment of silence. Of
hesitation. 1 heard the soldiers NOV
ing about the room. and the murmur
OF. voices speaking cautiously Then
HARDWOOD released her hand, and ex-
tended mis- own to me. his eyes frank
and cordial. ...'.
4 accept you on faith, comrade, ;. he
said pleasantly. but there is a spare
gray jacket strapped to my saddle
yonder more becoming than that blue
coat. Saint Christopher but tits a
most happg family reunion we're hav
ing; III want the story presently, but
now l. must look to my men It's no
easy game we are. playing,
Let me understand that, lieuten-
ant" l exclaimed, as he turned away
How does it happen you. are here.
and for what purpose?"
"a Wild plan of my own, aided and
aoetted by the commander at Coving-
ton. We are of the garrison there. d"
he explained briefly, his glance search
ing out the dim interior. 1.-THE yam
KEGS have forage train out as far as
Hot Springs. got permission for a
cash to cut them off We took the
Gdt-off, and landed here about daylight.
the train should have been along be-
fore now, but there. is no sign of It,"
You have been in hiding. here all
day, and seen nothing?"
oh! we've seen enough. and. he
laughed. But nothing we cared. tn
measure swords. with. The road yon-
der appears popular, but, by good luck.
no Yankee shows an eagerness to at
tend church. There was gang of
mountain men along by here maybe
two hours ago Whe rode up to the
door, and took a look at the. shebang.
Whether they were Yank or Reb |
didn't know. Anyhow, we were willing
enough to see them pass on out o.
sight They looked and talked as
though they were spelling for a fight"
How many?" - .
=. thirty or forty-a right smart
crowd. There were only two came IN.
and rode n0und the church-a big fell
low with red beard, and little YEA
zel-faced fox he. called Kelly" j.
Yes, l know them; they were hunt
ing after US. Did they go on east?"
They did. so has everyone else
we've seen today That's what puz-
zled US, as to .dst what might be IN.
reckon you must be some. popular
to create such a furore. Why. an
hour after sunup a whole blame com
pany Of bluecoats. went by. riding like
mad, their horses dripping. and a
young fellow squirting them on. He'd
lost his. hat. and they never so much
as took side look at this shebaD~
They were in some hurry, my friend"
And neither party has returned?"
Not sign OF them"
What force have you here?"
Twenty eight enlisted men"
You have pickets out?"
"Onp man paQh
the road concealed. The tower I'M
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 present
plan? 1t appeared to me that. the
conditions warranted a retreat. back
along the unfrequented mountain tran
by which. this daring party of adven.
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
fmpelled as they were by the same de.
sire. and thus. become truly formidable;
Personal hatred of me and the wish to
regain possession of .Noreen,. would
animate and control both Anse :Cowan
and the angry. Inundated lieutenant
While neither would likely confess mis-
purpose to the other, yet their mutual
interests would naturally. suggest an
alliance. And there was no. var feud
between. the two which would neces-
sarily prevent+theh cooperation. In
deed, the troopers would gladly vel.
come any excuse which would bring
Cowan's gang =of outlaws into closer
connection And the outfit would
never pass BY this church again with
out searching it's interior Only ca
gcrnsss,. a haste to overtake US In our
attempted flight, had led to their blind
riding BY before. / turned. to Har-
wood. who was whispering nonsense
to .Noreen. .....
What do you mean to 90. Heuten-
anti" asked quietly. b.; with my
swn mind made up Remain herei@
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