Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1916-02-26


t;sm yere In six months The place
WAR the water runs. ont is Of the
south side. right down gainst the bot,
tom; ther cover Ter the opening is
screwed tight by wheel. or Ned
Cowan made Their contra ption an yer
kin stand on Their upper step an open
an shut the thing an never gil yer
feet wet"
Aud how big is.the .opening?"
"WM, Il don't jist know. but I've
crawled through thar nxiug a leak. an
ii die II onct. | reckon ! kin again.
'Taint morn bout six feet beyond ther
wall till it hits the edge o. Their ravine
| Thet's why the Yanks didn't make no
/. attack on tibet side o. Their church
thar amt no ROOM,
The whole situation lay clear before
me. i had no thought of utilizing this
unexpected opportunity myself. for /
meant to stay with the others. and
perform my part of the fighting to the
end: But here. was protection, and
possible escape, for Noreen. Yet could
! the preacher be trusted? Would he
/ play fair if | released him, and left
them alone together? Did not mis- in-
| terests also lie in getting away safe
ly? What act of treachery could he
commit, and. besides the girl was
armed.
How do yor.light this church,"
Candles mostly" surprised at the
| question, yer amt goin' fer ter light
up, are your"
mot here-no; but below; where IS
there one?"
''I reckon on thet thar shelf in the
pulpit yer'll find a dozen er So"
Bring a couple here, Noreen."
She slipped across silently. and
came back with two in her hand.
You are going to try to get away?"
she whispered. cautiously.
mo. not now An opportunity may
come later. If it was possible to slip
all these men out would gladly do so
but 1t is already TOO late for any
! such attempt. But there is a chance
| for you, and it is even barely possible
that, when all hope of defense is over.
"You-you promise that?" she asked.
IF / consent TO go, you-you viii come
later if you can?"
Yes will pledge myself to accept
every chance when can do no more
| fishhlg. I'll come to you, if l live.
Now. Nichols. i.sten-I am going to
set you free. and permit you 10 slip
down through that trap door with this
| lady. She is armed, and she knows
how to shoot. Attempt one treacher-
GUS trick and you pay the penalty"
II amt tibet kind" he whined.
'Oh, yes you are; but it viii never
pay this time Do1't take your eyes
off him, NOreen; the moment that trap
door closes light the candle and keep
the revolver ready. Mako him unscrew
! the cap, and leave it OFF out of the
! way Set the candle down in one cor
ner as ia back as possible. You bet.
ter 60 out first"
Il am not to wait for you?" be-
wildered
| Not in there-no; outside. for they
might fire the hliilding. Nichols,
where is the best place for the two of
you to hide so / could find your"
In the woods to the west; there is
trail half way down the ravine
climbn' up-an oil hog trail"
My fingers touched his throat, and
bent lower staring straight into his
eyes.
Now, mark wei what say.
Nichols. am going. to release you,
and give you chance to get away.
But you stay with the woman-do you
hear! Stay with her until you both
reach the Confederate lines at Coving-
ton. If ever get out. of here alive.
and learn you. have attempted any
trick, tn run you down Nichols, If it
takes ten years. Now.I cut the rope,
and you creep over to where that ring
is in the floor, and wait my order"
Evidently his limbs were numb from
the tight cord, for he crept the few
feet painfully, and then sat up rubbing
the afflicted parts with both hands.
swept one glance out through the win
dow, and then about the dim interior.
BuQGdNOl lAS W lOSatD. bAtC A4Sh hDfAA Cot
us Only one stood close enough to
observe our movements. and | sent
him with a message TO the sergeant
Now. Noreen." whispered swiftly.
this is the best time. Take these pa
pers; they are for Jackson; give them
TO the first. Confederate officer you
meet and have them forwarded at
once. Don't trust Nichols for single
moment out OF range of your revolver"
You Will not Gomez"
mot now; you would not wish me.
to, desert my omrades-would your"
"Oh, i do not know! do not know.
1t is so hard to decide You really
wish me to go? 1t will please your"
Yes" ...~
And you. will come Tiff you CAM
l am to wait, and--and hope for you r.
81 pledge you my word. dear girl"
She chung to my hands. her face up
lifted in the moonlight. 49,. ..t
Il am your wife, she said softly.
and Ill want you to" -:
Three shots rang out. clear and dis.
tinct without. and a voice shouted