Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1916-01-20
he Red Mist
A tale Of Civil Strife b. Randall Parrish

maculate blue, buckling the belt abou,
my waist. and securely hooking thu
/ saber. Then I scooped out Z hole ii
the soft dirt and buried the old uni
form. tearing my pass into shre,ds
scattering the fragments broadcast.
It was 30 lonely and still ali abou,
that / felt return Of confidence, 1
renewed courage. The house behind
me. and the stable before, were mere
outlines. scarcely discernible through
the gloom. Once safely in the saddle
I circled the gloom Of the house 81
lently. and followed the roadway ia
the gate.
Not light cleaned in any direction
and could recall no other house near
by. While 1t remained in view could
not remove my eyes from, the mansion
had just left, or forget the dead body
lying there in the dark. The shyina
OF my horse at the gate caused me ia
note the black something lyins
against the post. At first deemed II
mere shadow, but the animal would
not respond even to the spur, and j
dismounted better to ascertain the
cause of his fright. The negro lay
there. dead as his master. a knife
thrust In his heart. Then 1t was Tay.
lor alone who had done the foul decd
There was nothing could do but flee
swiftly through the night. My own
position was now far too desperate to
permit of my giving any alarm, or
seeking to trace the murderer. To fall
into Union hands would be my death
warrant. irrespective OF Harwood's
fate, and my duty lay in carrying out
the orders of "Old Jack" To allow
myself to be captured would spoil
everything.
] rode toward Hot Springs as rap
idly as dared, watchful of every
deepening shadow, until came to the
first struggling houses. These were
dark and silent, and not 80 much as q
dog barked as I walked my horse eau
ttously forward toward the main
street. saw but one dim light stream.
Ing through an uncurtained window Of
what looked like q law Office, and
passed close enough to learn that q
group of men within were playing
cards. 1t was highly probable these
belonged to the majors escort.
passed the place unobserved and rode
on into the night. feeling had escaped
from immediate danger. At what l
took to be the tavern corner / discov.
cred the road leading to the left and
turned in that direction, assured that
1t would lead directly into the heart
of Green Briar. The road ran through
thick woods. the darkness intense, and
as the way was silent and seemed de.
serted gave the animal the spur.
] must have loped along thus for ten
minutes. all thought Of pursuit already
dismissed. and my mind occupied with
plans for the future, when the woods
suddenly ended in q bare ridge, the
ribbon of road revealing itself under
the soft glow Of the stars. I know not
why I heard no sound Of warning, but
at the instant, q half dozen shadows
doomed up blocking the path. bare.
~ had time to rein in my horse before
We were intermingled, the surprise ev.
Identity mutual. although one Of the
newcomers was swift enough to seize
my animals bit, and hold him plung.
ing in fright. chung to the stirraps,
aware Of the flash Of Q weapon In my
face. and an oath uttered in grufl
voice.
"In Gods namel where did you come
from7 Here. Snow, see what this fell
low looks like"
The speaker had wide-brimmed
hat, drawn low over his face. and q
cape concealed his uniform. Blu,