Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1916-01-13
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CHAPTER xxiIl-continued.
ILLUSTRATIONS

Cd uAe INC " 0ASWcI LUZ mySelii
Lieutenant Harwood."
'sNoreen Harwood! Why, II takes
me on my feet. How comes 1t you are
here?"
MY father is dead" she answered
simply. the brightness vanishing from
her face. HE was killed only few
lays ago."
x regret to learn that, cousin" and
he held out his hand. "Who Is this
man. and why are you here with him. p
HE has told you the TRUTH" she an.
swered quietly, her hand still within
his. Il have known him from child.
hood. II am his wife,"
There was a moment OF silence, OF
hesitation. heard the soldiers NOV.
sng about the room. and the murmur
Of voices speaking cautiously. Then
Harwood released her hand. and ex.
tended his own to me, his eyes frank
and cordial.
Il accept you on faith, comrade." he
said pleasantly, "but there is q spare
gray jacket strapped to my saddle
Yonder more becoming than that blue
coat. Saint Christopher! but it's q
most happy family reunion we're hav.
ing; Ill want the story presently, but
how ! must look to my men. It's no
easy game We are playing"
Let me understand that. lieuten.
tnt,' ] exclaimed, as he turned away
How does 1t happen you are here.
and for what purpose?"
"A Wild plan of my own, aided and
Abetted by the commander at Coving
ton. We are Of the garrison there, "
he explained briefly, his glance search.
Ing out the dim interior. "The Yam.
KEGS have forage train out as far as
Hot Springs. l got permission for a
dash to cut them of We took the
eut-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 to
measure swords with. The road yon.
der appears popular. but, by good luck.
no Yankee shows an eagemess to at.
tend church. There was q gang of
mountain men along by here maybe
two hours ago who rude up to the
door, and took took at the shebang.
Whether they were Yank or Reb
didn't know. Anyhow, we were willing
m -,
sight. They looked and talked az
though they were spelling for fight. "
"How many?"
Thirty or forty--a right smart
crowd. There were only two came up,
and rode round the church-a big fel.
low with q red beard. and a little wea.
sel-faced fox he called Kelly"
Yes. I know them: they were hunt.
ing after us. Did they 60 on east7"
They did. so has everyone else
we've seen today. That's what DUE
zled Us. as to just what might be up
I reckon you must be some popular
to create such furore. Why, an
hour after sunup a whole blame com
pany Of bluecoats went by. riding like
mad. their horses dripping. and q
young fellow squirting them on. He'd
lost his hat. and they never so much
as took side look at this shebang
They were in some hurry, my friend
And neither party has returned?'
mot sign OF them"
What force have you here?"
"Twenty-eight enlisted men"
you have pickets out?"
Zone man each way, q mile down
the road, concealed. The tower ur
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 q retreat, back
along the rnfrequented mountain trail
- by which fais daring party of adven.
turers had come. The troops, as well
as the guerriilas, must have discov.
erod by this time that We we're not in
advance of them. They would return
searching every nook and corner In
hope OF discovering our hiding place
They ,aight even unite their forces
lmpsl'aG as they were by the same de.
sire. ana thAs 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, humiliated lieutenant
While neither would likely confess bis
purpose to the other. yet their mutual
Interests would naturally suggest IN
Alliance. And .bSre was no war feud
between the two which would neces.
sarily prevent their cooperation. In
deed. the troopers would gladly vel
come aas excuse which would bring
Cowan's -sng of outlaws into closer
connection. And the outfit would
never pass by this church again with
out searching its interior. Only ca.
gerness, 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 do. lieuten
anti" | asked quietly. but with ms