The Holly chieftain., 1916-02-04

trick on me and squeaIed TO the girl?'
Hanged if know" Was the sullen
reply. But it don't look like thar was
3 soul in the house"
l felt her hand touch mine softly.
and bent my head until her lips were
ar my ear
That was Anse Cowan," she whis-
pered. Il recognize that voice. What
do you suppose they will do now?"
My fingers tightened their grip; the
men below had moved on, their voices
grumbling along the hall.
They will discover the preacher
presently" | said, endeayoring to make
my words as reassuring as possible. Il
only wonder they have overlooked him
so long; l supposed he would make an
outcry."
She drew in her breath sharply, and
sat up. The movement was noiseless,
but in the instant OF intense silence
which followed. we heard below US the
sudden sound OF struggle, mufied
voice calling for mercy, the shuffling
of body being hauled forward across
the floor. Then someone ran along the
hall, passing just beneath US.
What have you found, Kelly" 1t
was Anse's voice roaring out the ques
tion. "Ah! the old fox dug out of his
hole, hey! Now see here, you canting
old Baptist hypocrite, what kind of a
trick is it you are playing on me-?
Stand him up there boys, against that
rail. Stop your bowling or I'll smash
you one in the face. Where did you
find the fool. Jack?"
Locked in closet yonder; looks
like it might be the girls room. The
darn fool Is too skeered ter talk yet"
well, III make him, er else thar'll
be dead preacher in bout minute.
| reckon as how I'll do as much skeer-
ing as anyone. Now, Nichols, ye see
thet! Whut the devil wus yer doing
in thet closet?"
"They-they done put me thar.
Anse."
go on. Who wus yers beside the
girl when yer cum?"
"A Yankee leftenant, a cavalryman
reckon from ther yellow stripes on
his legs"
"A Yank! Did yer hear the fellar's
name?"
Damn IL I'm sure; he's right good
sized man. an not bad lookin'. Pears
to me. now think of it, she called him
Raymond"
There was a gasping sound as
though Anse's hand had closed again
heavily on the fellows throat.
Raymond! reckon yer lyin' ter
me, parson. Yer heard tell O. thet fel-
Ter over in camp, an ther name stuck
'Twont be healthy fer yer ter play no
game yere."
81 amt, Anse. Quit a chokin' me.
never heard tell O. no Yank named
Raymond afore. Be thar one round
yere?"
Wall, thar was, but don't reckon
thar is now" doubtfully. Last
heerd tell O. him he wus over in Fay
etts ridin' like hell fer Charleston
Monte's band picked him up, an he
didn't find this kentry none too healthy
fer his line O. business, which was re-
cruitin'-whuts that, Kelly?"
Better let ther preacher tell his
story, Anse. We're losin' lot O. time;
l reckon thar must 4 bin some kind O.
male critter yere; 'taint likely ther
girl locked him up alone, an it don't
make no odds whut the Yank's name
was, nohow"
go on, Nichols; whut happened7
Tell us the whole Of it, but make II
short"
The preacher drew in a long breath.
evidently relieved to have the pressure
OF Anse's murderous fingers removed
from his throat He sputtered bit As
he began to tell his story and there
were mufled words we could not dis.
tinguish. Occasionally someone of his
auditors interrupted with an oath, or
exclamation. He spoke faster as he
proceeded, as though feeling less fear.
and eager to have the task over Final
ly Cowan interjected q brief question.
You damn coward! Did you tell"
Honest, Anse. don't jest know;
but reckon did spit it most out. fer
he'd q killed mo II hadn't"
DO you mean to say you told them
| was comm yere tonight, an goin' fer
ter mako the girl marry me-you
whinin' cur?"
How could help 1t, Anse? reckon
II thet feller he'd pistol ct your head
you'd did some talkin'. Maybe he's
a recruitin' officer, but he amt no
sorter man ter fool with onct he gifts
mad"
"Well, I'd sure like fer ter know who