Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1916-04-06

c1tement, ana he grlpped me tightly.
81 amt afeerd ter tell you. cause
l knew both yer daddies, an reckon
yer'll take me long with yer. won't
you? Yer won't leave me yere fer ter
face that Anse Cowan? Yell promise
me THAR"
"0f course, Nichols" said sooth.
ingly, the mans cowardice almost dis
gushing, IF you show US way OF
escape well go together If the chance
comes-what is it? Speak quick?
IL know the OIL trail over the
mountings down ter Covington; 1
reckon as how you couldn't never git
thar without me. IL thought It all
out while was lynn we're trussed up
like turkey, but they never Civ me
no chance fer ter get loose. Now IL
you folks will cut this yere rope often
my legs I'll show yer how fer ter git
out-an' nobody1l never know nuthin'
bout it,"
Explain first" / said shortly. "As
far as trust goes. have confidence In
you, Nichols. just so far as can see
you. What is below?"
Five steps leadin' down inter a
wood tank" he explained slowly. real
izing that his only hope of release lay
In full description. Its empty now.
an dry as board; amt been bap-
tism yere in six months. The place
whar' the water runs out is at the
south side, right down 'gainst the bot
tom; Their cover ter the opening Is
screwed tight by wheel. OF Ned
Cowan made Their contraption. an yer
kin stand on Their upper step an open
an shut the thing. an never git yer
feet wet"
And how big is the opening?"
wal. | don't list know, but I've
crawled through thar fixing leak, an
if did ii onct, | reckon l kin again.
faint 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. ! 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 IL / released him, and left
them alone together? Did not his in
terests also lie in getting away safe
ly? What act of treachery could he
commit, and. besides the girl was
armed.
How do you light this church,"
Candles mostly" surprised at the
question, yer amt goin' fer ter light
up, are you?"
Not here-no; but below; where is
there one?"
II reckon on tibet thar shelf in the
pulpit yer'll find dozen er So"
Bring 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. II 1t was possible to slip
all these men out would gladly do SO
but it is already too late for any
such attempt. But there is chance
for you, and it, is even barely possible
that, when all hope Of defense is over.
may find some way of joining you"
"You-you promise that?" she asked.
IF consent to go, you--you will come
later If you CAM"
YES; ! will pledge myself to accept |
fighting. I'll come to you, If l live.
Now, Nichols, listen-I am going to
set you free, and permit you to 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"
Il amt tibet kind" he whined.
"Oh, yes you are; but it will never
pay this time. Don't take your eyes
off him, Noreen; the moment that trap
door closes light the candle, and keep
the revolver ready. Make him unscrew
the cap, and leave it off out of the
way. Set the candle down in one cor
ner as far back as possible. You bet
ter go out first"
Il am not to wait for your" be-
wildered.
mot in there-no; outside, for they
might fire the building. 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 a
climbin up-an OIL hog trail"
My fingers touched his throat, and
/ bent lower staring straight into his
eyes.
"Now, mark well what say.
Nichols. i 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 l ever get out of here alive.
and learn you have attempted any
trick, I'll run you down, Nichols, If it
takes ten years. Now I'll 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, |
endeavoring to locate the men nearest |
US. Only one stood close enough to
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