The Julesburg grit-advocate., 1916-05-18

instantly, my heart throbSaag with
the possibility that also might be re-
membered. Yet surely tAsss cas- no
sleam Of recollection II the eyes that
surveyed me-and Vhy should there
be: ! had been an unintesesting lad
Of fifteen when we last met This
knowledge gave me courage to meet
that searching glance. and To lift my
hand In the salute due to an oflicer Of
rank.
"Ah!- said Harwood in deep voice.
= soldier from the valley!"
Yes, SIR" respectfully. "ths Sixty
fifth Virginia"
How does It happen you wear ar
tillery uniform?"
Expecting the question ! answered
unhesitatinsly.
They'd lost SO many gunners. some
Of US were detailed to help. Recruits
are coming in now"
what was your battery?"
"Staunton Horse artillery. SIR"
"Stationed!"
AT Front Royal-that was our win
ter camp"
He nodded. tapping his spoon
against the table, favorably impressed
by my prompt replies. His keen eyes
sought the face Of the silent noun
taineer.
you know this man. Taylor?"
Wal. ! can't exactly say thet I
dew. major" he said draWlingly. shift
ing his feet uneasily. "He says he's q
Cowan. frum over on Buffalo crick."
"A Cowan!-you mean"
mo. he don't claim ter b. none O
ol' Ned's brood-his mars Q ytdder
woman. They Amt NO kin. reckon"
Whatever thoughts might have been
In Major Harwood's mind were con.
cealed by an impassive face. - he sat
there for . moment In silence. gazing
at the two Of u.
mo doubt you did what you be-
lieved to be best. Taylor" hs said at
last quietly. I'VE will talk It over
later. You are both hungry enough
to est. I suppose! Draw up some
chairs and Sam will nnd something
No objection to remaining here over
night, Cowanf"
"I'd be glad to get on. sir. but my
horse is about used up. Tho roads
have been hard and we have Travelled
rapidly"
well. there 10 plenty Of room. and
you are welcome. This house." he ex-
planned, belongs to a friend Of mine,
who had to leave the country-too
Yankee for his neighbors. fnd it
rather convenient at times. All. Sam.
that rasher of bacon looks prime-lu
Try some m. self"
The three Of US talked upon many
subjects. although Taylor said little.
except when directly addressed. and
l noted that few references we're
made to the war. That Harwood was
in the Federal service had no doubt,
although he was not In uniform. and.
II this was true. then it must be also
. fact that Taylor was 4 Union spy.
The meeting here had not been by
chance. although q mystery involved
the hidden reason why l. known
Confederate soldier. had been encour-
aged to accompany the mountaineer
to this secret rendezvous. At last the
meal ended and the major pushed
back his chair and motioned Sam to
clear the table.
you two men are tired out" he said
genially. ''and you had better turn In
and get . good nights Sleep Well
all of Us ride on into Green Briar to-
morrow. I'll talk with you a minuts.
Taylor. in the parlor. before you 90;
but Cowan does not need to wait. Help
yourselves to the tobacco. Oh. Sam!
show this soldier up to the back bed.
room and see he has everything he
needs"
1t was clearly apparent that Har-
wood desired q private word with Tay-
lor and 60. after deliberately nlling
my pipe. rose to my feet. stretching
sleepily The black returned with =
small lamp In his hand and led the
way up the broad stairs. A moment
later was left alone In a small room
at the end Of the upper hall with one
"'hNO"s w uSoNhy tdluCu d8
ably to render the light invisible from
without. The door was securely
iaeched. but there was no lock Then
! was not being held prisoner.
After some minutes | extlnguished
the light. and looked out of the win
dow 1t was quite a drop. though not
necessarily dangerous one, to the
ground Those dim outlines of build.
ings were probably the stables. where
! would find my horse With no guards
the trick of getting away unobserved
would be easy enough. and knew the
road sufficiently well to follow 1t safe.
ly But ! desired to learn first what
these two men were actually up to-
Such information might prove more
important than my investigations in
Green Briar stole across to the door
and opened it noiselessly. There was
no one visible in the upper hall, and
| leaned over the stair rail gazing