Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1916-03-23
CHAPTER xxiIl--continued.
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EO


IL
Permit me to answer for myself,
Lieutenant Harwood."
"Noreen HARDWOOD! Why, 1t takes
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 few
days ago"
Il regret to learn that. cousin" and
he held out his hand. who is this
man, and why are you here with him?"
He has told you the truth" she an
swered quietly. her hand still within
his. 81 have known him from child
hood. IL am his wife"
There was moment of silence, OF
hesitation. | heard the soldiers NOV
ing 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.
Il accept you on faith, comrade." he
said pleasantly, but there is spare
gray jacket strapped to my saddle
yonder more becoming than that blue
coat Saint Christopher! but it's a
most happy family reunion we're hav-
ing; I'll want the story presently, but
now must look to my men. 'Tis no
easy game We are playing"
Let me understand that. lieuten.
ant" ] exclaimed. as he turned away
How does it happen you are here.
and for what purpose?"
"A wild plan of my own, aided and
abetted by the commander at Coving-
ton. We are of the garrison there"
he explained briefly, his glance search.
ing out the dim interior. THE Yam
KEGS have forage train out as far as
Hot Springs. ! got permission for a
dash to cut them Off We took the
cutoff, and landed here about daylight.
The train should have been along be-
fore now, but there is no sign of it.. .
you have been in hiding here all
day, and seen nothing?"
"Oh! we've seen enough" and he
laughed. but nothing we cared to
measure swords with. The road yon.
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 up 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 fight"
How many?"
Thirty or forty-a right smart
crowd. There were only two came up
and rode round the church--a big fel
low with red beard, and little wea
zel-faced fox he called Kelly"
Eyes, know them; they were 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 furore. Why, an
hour after sunup whole blame com
pany of bluecoats went by, riding like
mad, their horses dripping, and {
young fellow squirting them on. He't
lost his hat, and they never so much
as took 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, mile dowi
the road, concealed. The tower vi
there commands the country in boil
directions"
And your horsesw
Hidden in the grove yonder."
grasped the situation clearl,
enough, and also comprehended tn,
reckless nonchalance of the officer
What was his purpose-his presen
plan? 1t appeared to me that tn,
conditions warranted a retreat, bacl
along the unfrequented mountain trai
by which this daring party of adven
turers had come. The troops, as wei
as the guerrillas, must have discoy
cred by this time that we were not fl
advance OF them. They would return
searching every nook and corner ii
hope of discovering our hiding place
They might even unite their forces
impelled as they were by the same de
sire, and thus become truly formidable
Personal hatred Of me and the wish t
regain possession of Noreen, woul'
animate and control both Anse Cowal
and the angry. Inundated lieutenant
While neither would likely confess hi
purpose to the other, yet their mutua
interests would naturally suggest al
| alliance And there was No war fem