Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1916-01-13
CHAPTER xxIii-continued.
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Permit me to answer for myself,
lieutenant Harwood."
''Noreen Harwood! Why, II takes
me OF my feet. How comes it you are
here?"
MY father is dead" she answered
simply. the brightness vanishing from
her face. HE was killed only few
lays ago."
Il regret to learn that. cousin" and
he held out his hand. "Who Is this
man, and why are you here with himi"
HE has told you the TRUTH" she an
swered quietly, her hand still within
his. Il have known him from child
hood. IL am his wife,"
There was a moment of silence, OF
hesitation. l heard the soldiers NOV
ing about the room. and the murmur
Of voices speaking cautiously. Then
HARDWOOD 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 Ia q spare
gray jacket strapped to my saddle
yonder more becoming than that blue
coat. Saint Christopher! but it's a
most happy family reunion we're hav,
Ing; I'll want the story presently. but
how ! must look to my men. IT'S no
easy game we are playing"
Let me understand that. lieuten.
ant" ! 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. 1.-THE Yam,
KEGS have forage train out as far as
Hot Springs. ! got permission for a
dash to cut them off, We took the
cut-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 a gang of
mountain men along by here maybe
two hours ago who RIDE up to the
door, and took took at the shebang.
Whether they were Yank or Reb |
didn't know. Anyhow, we were willing
enough to see them pass on out O.
sight They looked and talked as
though they were spelling for fight. "
'How many?"
Thirty or forty--a right smart
crowd. There we're only two came up
and rode round the church-a big fell
low with red beard, and a little wea
zel-faced fox he called Kelly"
"Yes, know them: they were hunt
ing after US. Did they 90 on eastf"
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 a furore. Why, an
hour after sunup whole blame com
pany OF bluecoats went by, riding like
mad. their horses dripping, and 9
young fellow squirting them on. He't
lost his hat. and they never so much
as took a 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, . mile dow
the road. concealed. The tower u,
there commands the country In botl
directions"
And your horses?
Hidden In the grove yonder."
l grasped the situation clearl,
enough, and also comprehended thu
reckless nonchalance of the officer
What was his purpose-his present
plan? It appeared to me that the
conditions warranted q retreat, baci
along the rnfrequented mountain trail
by which tAis daring party of adven
turers had come. The troops, as vel
as the guerrillas. must have discov
GIDO Uy lutS lihc Iunk VIC wCiC uOl IL
advance of them. They would return
searching every nook and corner II
hope of discovering our hiding place
They laight even unite their forces
lmpsl'aG as they were by the same de
sire. and thAs become truly formidable
Personal hatred of me and the wish t.
regain possession of Noreen. woule
animate and control both Anse Cowar
and the angry, humiliated lieutenant
While neither would likely confess biz
purpose to the other yet their mutua
interests would naturally suggest m
Alliance. And .hare was no war feuo
between the two which would neces
sarily prevent their cooperation. In
deed, the troopers would gladly wei
come anS excuse which would brinf
Cowan's ~ang of outlaws into closer
connection. And the outfit wouie
never pass by this church again with
out searching Its interior. Only ca
xerness, q haste to overtake US in oul
attempted flight, had led to their oiine
riding By before. | turned to Har
wood, who was whispering NONSENSE
to Eoreen.
what do you mean to do. iieuten
ant" asked euietly. but with M