The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1916-01-07

| the possibility that also might be re-
membered. Yet surely there was no
CLEAN of recollection in the eyes that
| surveyed me-and why should there
be? l had been an uninteresting lad
of fifteen when we last met This
knowledge gave me courage to meet
that searching glance, and to lift my
| hand In the salute due to an officer of
! rank.
"Ah!" said Harwood in deep voice,
"a soldier from the valley?"
Eyes, sir" respectfully. "the Sixty
fifth Virginia"
How does 1t happen you wear ar
tillery uniform"
Expecting the question / answered
unhesitatingly.
They'd lost so many gunners. some
are coming in now"
What was your battery?"
"Staunton Horse artillery. sir"
"Stationed7"
AT Front Royal-that was our win
ter camp"
He nodded, tapping his spoon
against the table. favorably impressed
by my prompt replies. His keen eyes
sought the face of the silent noun
taineer.
"You know this man, Taylor"
oval, can't exactly say tibet |
dew, major" he said drawlingly, shift
ing his feet uneasily. "He says he's
Cowan, frum over on Buffalo crick. ;"
"A Cowan!-you mean"
mo, he don't claim ter be none O.
Of Ned's brood-his mars wilder
woman. They amt no kin, l reckon"
Whatever thoughts might have been
in Major Harwood's mind were con-
cealed by an impressive face, as he sat
there for a moment in silence, gazing
at the two of us.
mo doubt you did what you be-
lieved to be best. Taylor" he said at
last quietly. 1--WE will talk it over
later You are both hungry enough
to eat. l suppose? Draw up some
chairs and Sam will find something.
No objection to remaining here over
night, Cowan?"
"I'd be glad to get on, sir. but my
horse is about used up. The roads
have been hard and we have travelled
rapidly"
well, there is plenty of room, and
you are welcome. This house." he ex-
planned, belongs to friend of mine.
who had to leave the countryside
Yankee for his neighbors. l find it
rather convenient at times. All, Sam,
that rasher of bacon looks prime-Ill
try some myself"
The three of US talked upon many
except when directly addressed, and
noted that few references were
made to the war. That HARDWOOD was
in the Federal service l had no doubt.
although he was not in uniform, and,
If this was true, then it must be also
a fact that Taylor was a Union spy.
The meeting here had not been by
chance, although a mystery involved
the hidden reason why /, known
Confederate soldier, had been encour-
aged to accompany the mountaineer
to this secret rendezvous. At last the
meal ended and the major pushed
back his chair and motioned Sam to
clear the table.
You two men are tired out" he said !
genially, and you had better turn in
and get a good nights sleep. Well |
all of us ride on into Green Briar to-
I'll talk with you minute.
Taylor, in the parlor, before you go;
but Cowan does not need to wait. Help |
yourselves to the tobacco. Oh, SAM
show this soldier up to the back bed
'oom and see he has everything he
needs"
1t was clearly apparent that Har-
wood desired private word with Tay-
or and so, after deliberately filling
ny pipe. | rose to my feet. stretching
deeply. The black returned with a
mall lamp in his hand and led the
way up the broad stairs. A moment
alter l was left alone in a small room
It the end of the upper hall with one
window. so heavily curtained as prob
bly, to render the light invisible from
Without. The door was securely
atched, but there was no lock Then
was not being held prisoner.
After some minutes | extinguished
he light, and looked out of the win
ow. 1t was quite a drop, though not
ecessarily dangerous one, to the .
round. Those dim outlines of build ]
lgs we're probably the stables, where {
would find my horse. With no guards ,
ne trick of getting away unobserved
-ould be easy enough, and knew the |
bad sufficiently well to follow it safe |
:. But desired to learn first what {
lese two men were actually up to. '
UGH information might prove more |
Important than my investigations in '
reen Briar. stole across to the door r
nd opened it noiselessly. There was t
0 one visible in the upper hall, and d
leaned over the stair rail gazing
own. and listening. A light still
lrned within the dining room, but
lere was no sound of voices, or of :
ovement. =
The silence continued. and | began '
cautiously steal passage down the :,