Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1916-01-20
CHAPTER XII.
Waiting the Next Move

WdittU9 tUC NCNt "SNS.
"Anse-Kelly, are either of you
there?
There was the sound of chairs being
pushed hastily back from a table, and
rapid steps on the floor.
Yes; what's wrong? Have you
found something's"
Sure; Bill an I saw them; they
we're a tryin' ter git the boss; but
afore either of US could fire, they
sorter slipped long back o. Their fence.
an got away. It's darker'n hell out
thar, an Bill sed fer me ter cum In
yere an tell yer that If you EN- Kelly
wud cut across the road, an sorter
head the cusses off we'd bag the two
easy"
"Whar's the rest of Their boys?"
"Ridin' the Lewisburg pike accordin'
ter orders, | reckon. Leastwise we
amt seen 'em since yer toll US ter
watch Their stable. Bill an l can't
round them up alone"
"All right, Dave. Where are they
now?"
in Their orchard, creepin' long
the fence. Bills followin' 'em up, an
all you got ter do is run long the road
an git ter the corner ahead O. 'em
They can't go no other way"
/ caught glimpse Of the two as
they crossed the lower hall hurriedly.
The lamp fiickered in the draft of the
opened door, and one fellow swore
roughly, as he stumbled over some OBJ
stacle. Then the door closed, and the
flame steadied. In the silence we could
hear again the beating Of rain on the
roof over head.
who do you suppose they could
have seem" she asked.
Shadows likely enough Let them
hunt. We know now the house is de-
serted, and can find more comfortable
quarters-perhaps even slip away be-
fore anyone returns. You will 60
with me?"
"Of course; am not afraid of Tom
Wyatt"
We passed the ladder down slowly,
and carefully, until the lower end rest.
ed securely on the floor below. II
Nichols had recovered from the effect
of the severe blow, he had made no
sound, and had almost forgotten his
presence. / drew back, and permitted
the lady to descend first, holding the
upper supports firmly until her feet
touched the floor. 1t was a struggle
for me to force my larger bulk through
the narrow opening, but l succeeded
finally. and stood beside her. In the
brighter light could perceive more
clearly the expression of the girls
face, realized the friendliness of her
eyes. My frank confession had won
me her confidence; no matter where
her sympathy might be In this war
struggle my allegiance to the cause of
the South was no serious barrier be-
tween US; even the fact that l was
masquerading there in a stolen uni.
form and under an assumed name, had
not greatly changed her trust in an old
playmate. My heart beat faster to this
knowledge, yet, in some way. although
I rejoiced, the recognition brought
with it strange embarrassment.
1T sounds as though the storm was
harder than ever" she said. Where
shall we go?"
my choice would be to hide in one
of these rooms, for the present. at
least. We could scarcely hope to get
the horse out Of the stable unseen,
and even III we did. we would he lika
ly to ride into some Of the gang"
But they will return to the house."
Before they leave-yes; but 1t is
hardly probable they will search up
here again. Anse will be in ill-humor
enough when he decides we have real.
ly escaped, but will never imagine that
our hiding place Is in the house. They