The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1916-02-18
CHAPTER XII.
Z WaItino the Next Move. !.

pushed hastily back from a table, and
rapid steps on the .foor -@.s&ys3. J.-
Yes; what's wrong? Have you
found something's"
Sure; Bill an / saw them; they
were q tryin' ter git the boss; but
afore either of us could fire.. they
| sorter slipped long back. o. Their fence.
an got away. It's darker'n hell out
thar, an Bill sed fer me ter cum in
yere an tell yer that if you. zen Kelly
wud cut across the road, an sorter
head the cusses off we'd bag the two
| easy" .t'. ~" e4't.@.'.''. f''''-4
..'Whar's the rest of ther boys?" ''''
"Ridin' the Lewisburg pike accordin'
ter orders, / reckon. Leastwise we
amt seen em since yer toP as ter
watch Their stable. Bill an ] can't
round them up alone" t.t
"All right, Dave. Where are they
noW?' 80 .''.'' ~. '>.'. 's.s''. go -.
I'm Their orchard, creepin' long
the fence. Bills followin' 'em up, an
all you got ter do is run long the road
an git ter the corner ahead O. EN-.
They can't go mo other way
l caught a glimpse of the two as
they crossed the lower hall hurriedly.
The lamp fickered in the draft of the
opened door, and one fellow swore
roughly. as he stumbled over some OBJ
stacle. Then the door closed, and the
flame steadied. In the silence we could
hear again the beating of rain on the
roof over head vas 90
who do you suppose they could
have SEEM" she asked. ... -'''.-
Shadows likely enough. Let them
hunt. We know now the house is de-
serted. and can find more comfortable
quarters-perhaps even slip away be-
fore anyone returns. You will go.
with me?"
"Of course; 1 am not afraid of Tom
Wyatt. ...., 3D.. -
We passed the ladder down slowly,
and carefully, until the lower end rest
ed securely on the floor below. If.
Nichols had recovered from the effect
of the severe blow, he had made no
sound, and i had almost forgotten his
presence. / drew back, and permitted
the lady to descend first, holding the
upper supports firmly until her feet
touched the floor. 1t was a struggle
for me to force my larger bulk through
the narrow opening, but / succeeded
finally, and stood beside, her. In the
brighter light l could perceive more
clearly the expression of the girls
face, realized the ,friendliness of her
eyes. =. My. frank confession had won
me her confidence; no matter where
her sympathy might be in this war
struggle my allegiance to the cause of
the South was no serious barrier be-
tween US; even the fact that | was
there In a stolen uni
form and under an assumed name, had |
not greatly changed her trust in an old
My heart beat faster to this |
knowledge, yet, in some way, although |
| rejoiced, the recognition brought |
with it strange embarrassment. aA.. !
ut sounds as though the storm was |
harder than ever" she said, Where |
shall we go?"
my choice would be to hide in one
Of these rooms, for the present, at
least. We could scarcely hope to get
the horse out of the stable unseen.
and, even If we did. we would be like
y to ride into some of the gang"
But they will return to the house,"
Before they leave-yes; but it Ia
hardly probable they will search up
lere again. Anse will be in ill-humor
enough when he decides we have real
y escaped, but will never imagine that
,ur hiding place is in the house. They
will give up by daylight, and then the
way will be clear -'-'
"And where will you go r.
Why" in surprise. Il could not
cave you alone until placed you in
he care Of friends"
AT Lewisburg, you mean?"
IF that is where you wish to co."
Her eyes met mine frankly, but with ,
n expression in their depths failed to
athom. .' ...'':.,'
mot wearing that uniform" she
aid quietly, ''or under the name of
lieutenant Raymond. Do not misun- :
erstand There is friendship between
s-personal friendship, the memory !
[ the past. a knowledge of the init
lacy between your father and mine. r
lore, | am grateful to you for the /
ervice you have been to me this '
Ight; nor do / hold it against you that I
ou risk your life in the cause for :
hich you fight. But am Union. Tom
vyatt. and ! cannot help you in your
ork, nor protect you. When day
yht comes l am going to say good-by b
and forget that | have even seen Il
,u.p
But. protested, why could we F
It part. IL we must. at Lewisburg. fl
ter know you are safer" 81
There are Federal troops at Lewis W
lrg. They know me, and their COM K
ander is aware of ny acquaintance IL
tn the ohicer whose name you have v
sumed." ~ st
yet, In q measure, at least. you m
list me7 / want you to consider me jr
personal friend" 10
why do" her eyes opening widely W
ia for your own protection refuse