Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1916-01-27

tional In wartimes, and there is no one
here to properly introduce us, even il
that formality was desired. So l must
accept you on trust"
my uniform alone should be SUM,
Client guarantee"
She laughed; her eyes sparkling.
We'll. hardly. imagine you fail to
comprehend its really disreputable
condition. But-well, you-you look
ike an officer and gentleman"
For which compliment sincerely
thank you. However, Miss Harwood,
my story can be quickly told. am a
lieutenant, Third United States cav
alry-see, the numeral is on my hat
attached to Heitzelman's command,
now at Fairfax Court House. have
recently been detailed to the recruit
ing service, and ordered to this sec.
ton"
found it strangely difficult, 'front.'
ing her calm look of insistence, to 60
on. But there was no way Of escape.
Beyond doubt the sympathy of this
girl was with the cause of the North.
and If were to confess myself Tom
Wyatt, and Confederate spy, all hope
of the success of my mission would be
Immediately ended. Besides lacked
the will to forfeit her esteem-to per-
NIT her confidence in me to become
changed into suspicion.
Then will go on" / said more
slowly, endeavoring better to arrange
my story. II picked up a guide at
Fayette, but the officer in command
there could spare no escort. The man
who went with me must have been
traitor, for he guided me south into
the Green Briar mountains. Last night
at dusk we rode into camp of guer.
rillas.'
who commanded them? Did you
learn?"
"a gray-headed, seamed-faced noun
taineer, they called Cowan."
She emitted quick breath, between
closely pressed lips.
you know the man?" I asked.
Eyes; old Ned Cowan; he lived over
yonder, east of here in the foothills.
He and-and my father had some trou-
BILE before the war. He-he is vim
dictive and dangerous" She stopped,
her glance sweeping about the room.
IL have some reason to suspect"
she added, as If half doubling whether
she ought to speak the word, "that
either he, or one of his men, broke in
here
I'm search of something?"
"a paper; yes-a deed. OF course
may be mistaken; only it is not to be
found. The desk in the library was
rifled, and its contents scattered over
the floor when came. put them
back in place, but found nothing of
value among those that remained. My
father must have removed those Of i'm.
portance.
Possibly he carried them with
him?"
She leaned her head on her hand,
her eyes thoughtful.
Il think he once told me they were
left in charge of banker at Charles.
ton--an old friend 1t would be too
dangerous to carry them about with
him in the field. You see I do not
know very much about his affairs"
she explained 81 was away at school
when the war broke out, and we have
only met briefly since. My father did
not talk freely of his personal matters
even to me. learned of his feud with
Cowan by accident"
ut was feud them"
Con one side at least. My father
was shot at, and several of our out.
houses burned. The trouble arose
over the title to property. Cowan,"
she explained, was squatter on land
which had belonged to our family ever
| since my grandfather first settled here.
We had title from Virginia, but the
| tract granted had never been properly
| surveyed My father had it done, and
discovered that Ned Cowan and two Of
his sons occupied a part of our land
| with no legal right"
Her eyes uplifted to my face, and
then fell again, one hand opening ana
closing on the back of the chair She
laughed pleasantly.
II hardly know why am telling you
all this family history" she continued
almost in apology ut is as If / talked
to an old friend who was naturally In
terested in our affairs
Perhaps the manner Of our meeting
accounts for it," ventured. but
truly am more deeply interested than
| you imagine. 1t may prove of mutual
advantage for me to know the facts.
Did Major HARDWOOD try to force them
from his land?"
"Oh, no" hastily, my father had no
such thought. He tried to help them
| to purchase the property at very
small price, and on long time. His
| intention was to aid them. but he
found himself unable to convince either
father or sons Of his real purpose. They
either could not, or would not, under.
stand. Do you realize the reckless,
lawless nature of these mountain
men?"
Eyes. to some extent; they trust no
one"
THAT was the whole trouble. Seem
ingly they possessed but one idea
that if my father was killed they could
remain where they we're indefinitely.
Their single ins.inct was to fight it out
with rifles. they refused to either
4 purchase or leave"
/ There was silence, as though she
had finished. She had seated herself
on the wide arm Of the chair, still fac
ing me, and could hear the rain beat.