The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1919-12-04
distinguis

Again | permitted my body to sink into
easier stroke, satisfied / had not been
seen.
/ swan slowly ashore. creeping up
the low bank into the seclusion of a
shallow, sandy gully, scocped out by
tine late rains. Immediately about me
all was silent, the steadily deepening
gloom rendering my surroundings
vaguely indlstinct.
Thus far | possessed no plan-ex-
cept to seek her. | would venture for
fortune might direct my steps Alright.
! would have to discover first Of all,
where Kirby had taken Eloise-into
Whose hands he had deposited the girl
for safekeeping. This task ought not
to be difficult. The settlement was
small, and the camp itself not a large
one; no such party could hope TO en-
ter its confines without attracting at
t%ention, and causing comment. Once
i had Illus succeeded in locating her,
the rest ought TO prove comparatively
easy-a mere matter of action. For |
had determined to play the spy no
longer; to cease being a mere shadow.
/ proposed finding Eloise. and telling
her the whole truth following that,
and assured of her support, | would
defy Kirby. denOunce him If necessary
to the military authorities, identifying
myself 10y means OF my army commits
sion, and insist IN the immediate re-
lease of the girl. The man had broken
no ~law--unless the wanton killing of
Shrunk could be proven against him
and ] might not be able to compel his
arrest. Whatever he suspected now
relative TO his prisoner, he had orig
i1aiiy supposed her 10 be his slave. his
property. and hence possessed a right
now under the law to restrain her lib
erty. But ever IL l was debarred from
bringing the man to punishment, l
could break his power, and overturn
his plans. Beyond that it would be a
personal matter between us; and the
thought gave me Joy.
| attained my feet, confident and at
ease, and advanced up the gully, NOV
ing cautiously, so as not TO run blind
ly upon some sentry post in the dark
ness. There would be nervous sol
diers on duty, liable to fire at any
sound, or suspicious movement. and 1t
was a part of my plan TO penetrate the
lines unseen. and without inviting ar
rest was Stand{no uncarfain uban
the dim figure of a man, unquestiona-
bly, drunk, came weaving his uncertain
way along a footpath which ran with
In a yard Of my position. The sudden
blazing up Of a fire revealed the un-
mistakable features of the deputy.
"Hullo." I said. happily. stepping d.
rectly before him. "When did you
com ashore?"
Hello, yerself." he managed to
calculate thickly. who are yer?
frien' o. miner
"Why. don't yer remember me-, oil
man? We wus talkin' tergether comm
up. | wus goln' fer ter enlist"
H! yes; glad ter see yer. Sum
hot whisky ct this camp-tried eny?"
NO" l answered. grasping at the
opportunity TO Gus his generosity.
II amt got no coin TO buy. I'm Eat
broke; maybe yer cud stake me fer q
bite ter eat?"
'Eat!" he flung one arm lovingly
about my shoulders. and hurst into
laughter. "Yer bet yer life. we're a
goin' ter eat, an drink too. don't go
back on one o. tier boys. Yer never
heerd nuthin' like thet bout Tim Ken
nedy. ! reckon. Eat. sure-yer know
jack Rsie?"
Never h-.rd the narue.r
"What never heerd a lack Rale I