Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1922-07-27
with the Virginia militia and Dav.

ginia as they had scourged the Car
Tolinas. Through the James River
country they had gone with fire and
sword. burning. houses, carrying ofl
horses. destroying crops, burning
grain in the mills, laying plantations
TO waste. Barbara's mother was
lead. Her neighbors had moved to
safety, but Barbara. he heard. still
lived with old Nanny and Ephraim
at Red Ooks, unless that, too, had
been recently put to the torch. Where,
then, would he find here?
Down the river Erskine rode with
a sad heart. At the place where he
had fought with Grey he pulled Fire
fly to a sudden halt. There was the
boundary of Red Oaks, and thers
started a d%esolation that ran as far
as his. eye could reach. Red Oaks
had not beer spared. and he put FIRE.
fly to a fast gallop, with eyes strain
ed far ahead and his heart beating
rage. Soon over a distant clump of
trees he could see the chimneys of
Barbara's home-his : home, he
thought helplessly and perhaps
those ,chimpneys were all that wa
left. And then he saw the ROOF and
the upper windows and the cap of
the big columns unframed, I'M
touched, and he pulled Firfiy in again.
with overwhelming relief, n Won
dered at the miracle. Again he start
ed and again pulled in when he
caught sight Of three horses hitched
near the stiles. Turning quickly from
the road. he hid FREELY in the under-
brush. Very quietly he,slipped along
the path by the river, and pushing
aside through the rose bushes, lay
down where he could peer
He had not long to wait. A white
uniform issued from the great hall
door and another and another-and
after them Notwithstanding. The
boys blood ran hot-smiling at ner
enemies. The officers bowed. Bar
bara courtesied, and they wheeled on
sliding through the bushes like a
snake to the edge Of the roal along
which they must pass. He would fight
ing now. He heard them laughing,
talking at the stiles. He heard them
speak Barbara's name, and two
seemed to be bantering the third,
whose answering laugh seemed acqui-
escent and triumphant. They were
coming now. The boy had his pis-
tolls out, primed and cooked. He was
rising on his knees, just about to leap
to his feet and out into the road.
when he fell back into a startled,
paralyzed, inactive heap. Glimpsed
through an opening in the bushes,
the leading trooper in the uniform of
Tarieton's legion was none other than
Dane Grey, and Erskine's brain had
worked quicker than his angry heart.
This was a mystery that must be
solved before his pistols spoke. He
rose crouching as the troopers rode
away. II Tarleton's men were around
ne was in the woods for a while. A
startled gasp behind him made him
Wneel. pistol once more in hand, to
hnd a negro, mouth wide open and
staring at him from the road.
"Marse Erskine!" he gasped. It
vas Ephraim. the boy who had led
Baroara's white ponies u long, Ions
) ago, now a tall. muscular lad with
an ebony face and dazzling teeth.
"Whut YOU doin' hyeh. sub? Whar'
ye' boss? Gawd, Use sutn'ly glad to
see yuh." Erskine pointed to an oak.
Right by that tree. Put him in
the stable and feed him."
The negro shook his head.
NO, sub. I'll take de feed down
to him. Too many redcoats messin'
back way-dey might see yuh.,
Wasn't one of those soldiers who
Just rode away Mr.. Dane Grey?"
The negro hesitated. a..t
"Yassuh.'
form?" 1~A U"A
The boy shifted hts great shoulders
uneasily and looked aside.
nuttin':' A"o"
Erskine knew he was living. hut
respected his loyalty. -
Go tell Miss Barbara I'm here and
the feed my horse" .,~~
"Yassuh."
Epnra1m went quickly, and Erskine
liow along the hedge and through
the rose bushes to the kitchen door.
standing in the hall door
way. heard his step.
nrskine!" she cried softly, and she
came TO meet him, with both hands
o~utstretched, and raised her lovely
Lace TO be kissed. What are YOU
lafayette"
But you will be captured. It is
negro The country is fun of
British soldiers"
IN" : I k1 NOV Erskine a dryly.
Twenty minutes ago. + vo,,a not
nave been welcome just then. 7 wait
ed In n hedge. I saw you had com
pany." ""o cohn-
Did you see them?' she faltered.
! even recognized one of them :"
barbara sank into a chair, her elbow
one arm. her chin In her hand.
aer ace turned, her eyes looking out
o ~ She said nothing, but the toe
gently. There was no further use
1or lndirect1on Or concealment. "D
Barbara" Erskine said with .om.
eIetnnesS' n his tone quickened the
ppln of the slipper and made her
mt.le mouth tighten, what doea ali
Did you see,'' she answered, With
gu. LOOKING at him. that the crops
were all destroyed and he cattle and
horses were all gone ?" 49,
.Why did they spare the houae p.
me giris bosom rose with one QUICK.
denant intake. of breath. and 20 a
moment she held it. -
a Grey saved our home"
He had known Colonel rarleton n
him over there" ~ -
How did he get in communicates
with Colonel Tarleton when he -.
an omcer in the American army =;
Inc CARL would not answer.
vs. he taken prisoner" still =.
Ma: silent. for the sarcasm in Err.
~ voice was anserins her.
he fought once under Benedict
hh, I'm he is 1ghting With
Mo-" she cried holly.
Then he must be a.
81 sne nd not allow him to utter the
Why Mr. Greyi is in British uni
formA ~ mis- secret-not mine"
And why he IL here -vonr.