Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1916-02-18
CHAPTER xxIII-contInued.
Il COcK2lGHT
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Permit me to answer Tor myseif,
Lieutenant Harwood."
"Noreen Harwoodi Why, it 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
days ago"
II regret to learn that, cousin" and
he held out his hand. "Who is this
man. and why are you here with him? ?"
He has told you the TRUTH" she an
rwered quietly. her hand still within
his Il have known him from child
hood. IL am his wife,
There was 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 is spare
gray jacket strapped to my saddle
yonder more becoming than that blue
coat Saint Christopher but tbs a
most happy family reunion we're hav-
Ing; I'll want the story presently. but
now l must look to my men. 'Tis no
easy game we are playing"
Let me understand that, lieuten
ant, exclaimed, as he turned away
How does it happen you are here.
and for what purpose?"
"A Wild plan of my own, aided anc
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 ] got permission for a
dash to cut them off. We took the
cutoff. 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?" ese...
oh! we've seen enough" and he
laughed. But nothing we cared to
measure swords with. The road Won.
der appears popular, but, by good luck
no Yankee shows an eagerness to at.
tend church. There was a gang of
mountain men along by here maybe
TWO hours ago who rode ND to the
floor. and took look at the shebane
whether they were Yank or Reb
didn't know. Anyhow, we were willing
enough to see them pass on ont a.
sight. They looked and talked as
though they were spelling for a fight"
How many?"
lnlrty or forty-a right smart
crowd. There were only two came nm
and rode round the church-a big fell
low with red beard, and little wea.
zei-faced fox he called Kelly"
Yes, know them; they we're hunt
ing after us. Did they go on east?"
They did. so has everyone else
we've seen today. That's what puz-
zled US. as to just what might be up.
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 a
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?"
"One man each way, mile down
the road. concealed The tower up
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 retreat, back
along the unfrequented mountain trail
by which this daring party Of adven-
turers had come. The troops. as well
as the guerrillas. must have discoy-
cred by this time that we were not in
advance of them. They would return
searching every nook and corner in
hope of discovering our hiding place.
They might even unite their forces,
impelleC as they were by the same de-
sire. and thus 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. Inundated lieutenant.
While neither would likely confess his
purpose to the other. yet their mutual
interests would naturally suggest an
alliance. And there was no war feud
between the two which would neces-
sarily prevent their cooperation In
deed. the troopers would gladly well
come any excuse which would bring
cowans gang of outlaws into closer
connection. And the outfit would
never pass by this church again with
out searching it's interior. Only ca