Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1916-01-13


a soul in the house."
/ felt her hand touch mine softly,
and bent my head until her lips were
at my ear.
That was Anse Cowan," she whis-
pered. Il recognize that voice. What
do you suppose they will do now?"
My fingers frightened their grip; the
men below had moved on, their voices
grumbling along the hall.
"They will discover the preacher
presently" said, endeavoring to make
my words as reassuring as possible II
only wonder they have overlooked him
so long; supposed he would make an
cutlery"
She drew in her breath sharply. and
sat up. The movement was noiseless,
but in the instant of intense silence
which followed, we heard below us the
sudden sound of struggle, muffied
voice calling for mercy, the shuffling
of body being hauled forward across
the floor Then someone ran along the
hall, passing just beneath us.
What have you found, Kelly?" II
was Anse's voice roaring out the CUES
ton. "Ah! the old fox dug out of his
hole. hey! Now see here, you canting
old Baptist hypocrite, what kind OF
trick is it you are playing on me?
Stand him up there boys, against that
rail. Stop your bowling, or III smash
you one in the face. Where did you
find the fool, Jack?"
Locked in closet yonder; looks
like it might be the girls room. The
darn fool is too skeered ter talk yet
We'll, I'll make him, er else thar'll
! reckon as how I'll do as much skeer-
ing as anyone. Now, Nichols, We see
tibet! Whut the devil wus yer doing
in tibet closet?"
"They-they done put me thar.
Anse."
go on. Who wus yere beside the
girl when yer cum?"
"A Yankee leftenant, cavalryman
/ reckon from Their yellow stripes on
his legs"
"A Yank! Did yer hear the fellar's
manner"
Damn if I'm sure; he's right good
sized man, an not bad lookin'. Pears
to me, now think of it, she called him
Raymond"
There was a gasping sound as
though Anse's hand had closed again
heavily on the fellows throat.
l,ysy,t Tor
me, parson. Yer heard tell O. tibet fell
Ter over in camp, an Their name stuck.
'Twont be healthy fer yer ter play no
game yere."
Il amt, Anse. Quit a chokin' me.
never heard tell o. no Yank named
Raymond afore. Be thar one round
yere?"
Wall, thar was, but / don't reckon
thar Is now" doubtfully. Last
heerd tell O. him he wus over in Fay
cite ridin' like hell fer Charleston.
Monies band picked him up, an he
didn't find this kentry none too healthy
fer his line O. business, which was re-
cruitin'-whut's that, Kelly?"
Better let Their preacher tell his
story. Anse. We're losin lot o. time;
/ reckon thar must bin some kind o.
male critter yere; faint likely ther
girl locked him up alone, an it don't |
make no odds whut the Yank's name
was, nohow."
go on, Nichols; whit happened? |
Tell US the whole of it, but make 1t
short"
The preacher drew in long breath. |
evidently relieved to have the pressure
of Anse's murderous fingers removed |
from his threat. He sputtered bit as
he began to tell his story and there
were muffied words we could not dis |
tinguish. Occasionally someone of his
auditors interrupted with an oath. or
He spoke faster as he
as though feeling less fear,
and eager to have the task over. Final
Iy Cowan interjected brief question.
You damn coward! Did you tell"
Honest, Anse. l don't jest know;
but reckon did spit it most out, fer
he'd a killed me If hadn't"
do you mean to say you told them
was comm yere tonight, an goin' fer
ter make the girl marry me-you
whinin' cur?"
How could help it, Anse? reckon
+ tibet Teller he'd pistol ct your head
you'd did some talkin'. Maybe he's
/ recruitin' officer, but he amt no
,orter man ter fool with onct he gifts
mad"
We'll. I'd sure like fer ter know who
lie is. He can't be Their Teller what got
away from Monte, fer he lit out fer
Charleston. How did this yere Teller
,it yere-on horseback"
Il didn't git sight o. no boss; thar
wus only one fourlegged critter in
her barn, an reckon as how the girl
must hey' rode thet"
Say. Anse," broke in the voice Of
Kelly, I'm bet this Yank is the one
het wus with Fox, an got away. He'd
led time 'nough fer ter git this fer on
ut"
But what does he cali hisself Ray.
nond fer?"
Damn IL l know-maybe he Jest
neerd tell of the other Teller, an
hought as how he'd git long easier
inder tibet name"
well, reckon it won't make much
Inference whut the russ' name is II
aver / git my hands on him." growled
)O0th of an inch This instrument will