The Rice belt journal., 1916-03-03
CHAPTER xIII-cOntlnued.

CHAPTER XIII-cOntlnued.
The captain fitted a pair O, glasses
70 MS eyes and surveyed me with
care. VIZ"
Why, bless me, so he is" he eiacu
lated. and you never saw him be-.
fore?" ' O
mo. and there is not another Third
u' S cavalryman west Of the AL
leghenies.
The girl laughed and laid her hand
on Whitlock's arm.
I told Lieutenant Raymond that |
would explain fully" she said pre.
tending to be amused. fit is the uni.
form my friend wears, must assume
all responsibility, as ! furnished It"
"You!" there was a sarcastic snear
IN the lieutenants surprised excIama.
ton. Why should you have in your
possession uniform Of the Third Reg.
ulars?"
i did not" she answered sweetly
but looking at Whitlock. That uni.
form belonged to my cousin. an ofi.
Ger Of the Third Kentucky"
Raymond uttered a smothered or.
preston, stared an instant at her
slightly averted face. and then with
one stride forward, swung me to the
light.
See here, Captain Whitlock," he
exclaimed Indignantly, Il cannot con.
ceive what object Miss Harwood NAV
have in desir lg to protect this man.
but this Is not the uniform Of any vol.
unteer regiment"
DO ! understand. lieutenant, that
you dare question my word?" she
asked proudly her eyes gazing
straight into his. 81 am unaccustomed
sir, to such treatment"
Wait moment. Raymond" broke
In the captain. There Is no Doubt OF
Miss Harwood's loyalty Let US hear
her explanation first. You say. Miss
HarwoOd, you know this man? that be
Is friend? May | ask his name?
Surely; ] only desire an oppor,
tunity to answer any question. He Is
Thomas Wyatt. the son OF the late
Judge Wyatt, whose home was on the
ridge yonder We were children 70,
gether."
"A rebel?"
Really. never thought to ask"
carelessly II was too glad to have
his protection. We've spoke only OF
our childhood days together. still
gathered the impression that MIR
Wyatt had never joined either side
and was merely here to look after his
property OF course he can explain
all that"
But how came be to be dressed In
that uniform?" burst In Raymond
viii you be courteous enough to
permit me to tell you? | have eLdeav'
ored twice already to fully explain.
MIR. Wyatt came here in the midst of
the storm last night He had found
his own home destroyed. and this was
the nearest shelter TO be found He
supposed the house deserted and
merely sought protection until morn
ing How | chanced TO be here you
gentlemen both know. and that mat
ter requires no explanation MIR. Wyatt
arrived with his clothing muddy. and
soaked with rain. gave him the
only change TO be found in the house
"a uniform belonging originally to a
cousin Of mine. Lieutenant Anton
Harwood. Third Kentucky cavalry.
But this is not the uniform worn
by volunteer troops. Captain Whit
lock. insist"
Really, Lieutenant Raymond" the
girl said. fronting him. her eyes
sparkling, this is becoming most tire
some What do care what uniform |;
Is! have told you where 1t came
from, how 1t CHANGED to be there and
the reason II was worn by this man
cannot be expected to know all the
petty distinctions OF the service"
But surely" spoke up the captain.
plainly bewidered. the suit he wore
when be came can be produced. You
know where that is?'
Il know where Il was" she an
3wered coolly Hanging before the
fireplace In the dining room How
,ver ! cannot guarantee that II re-
mains there now-this house has been
Quilted by Cowan's guerrilIas, and,