The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1916-04-21
CHAPTER xXlll-Continued

Permit me to answer for myself
Lieutenant HarwOOd."
"Noreen Harwood! Why, II takos
me off 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 a few
days ago."
/ regret to learn that, cousin" and
ne held out his hand. who is this
man, and why are you here with him?"
lie mas told you the truth" she an
sWeFed quietly, her hand still within
his Il have known him from child
MOOD II am his wife"
There was a moment Of silence of
hesitation. heard the soldiers NOV.
Jug ABOUT the room, and the murmur
OF voices speaking cautiously. Then
HarWood released her hand. and ex.
tended his own to me. his eyes frank
and cordial.
! accept you on faith, comrade," he
said pleasantly, but there is a snare
gray Jacket strapped to my saddle
Fonuer more becoming than that blue
coat Saint Christopher! but It's 2
most happy family reunion we're hay
lhg' Ill want the story presently, but
now must look to my men. 'Tis no
easy game we are PLAYING"
Lei me understand that, ieuten
ant exclaimed as he turned away
how does 1t happen you are here.
and for what purpose?"
"A Wild plan of my own, aided anr
aoetted by the commander at Covine
Ton. We are of the garrison there
ne explained briefly. his glance search
ing out the dim interior. THE Yam
KEGS nave forage train out as far as
hot Springs. | got permission for o
dash to cut them off. We took the
cut-off, and landed here about DAYLIGHT
The train should have been along be.
lore now, but there Is no sign of It Il"
You have been in hiding here all
day. and seen nothing?"
oh! we've seen enough" and no
laughed. But nothing we cared 70
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 I'D to the
door, and took look 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 a fight"
How many?"
thirty or forty-a right smart
crowd. There were only two came ND,
and rode round the Church-a big fel.
low with a red beard, and a little wea.
zel-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 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, a 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 nonchalarce of the officer
What was his purpose-his present
plan? 1t appeared to me that the
conditions warranted a retreat, back
along the unfrequented mountain trail
by which this daring party of adven.
turers had come. The troops, as we'll
as the guerrillas, must have discoy.
| cred by this time that we we're not in
advance of them. They would return
searching every nook and corner 10
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 wei
come any excuse which would bring
Cowan's gang of outlaws into closer