The Adair County news., 1922-09-12
Copyright b. Charles sOribner's Sons

Copyright By Charles sOribnsr's Sons
pumpkins, turnips, melons. Game was
plentiful, and cattle, horses, and hogs
clover. Indeed, 1t was a comparative
4y peaceful fall, and though Clark
pleaded with him, Erskine stubbornly
SCI his face for Virginia.
At Williamsburg Erskine learned
zxzny things. Colonel Dale, now a
zgsneral, was still with Washington and
Harry was with him. Hugh was with
-Nbe Virginia militia and Dave with
lafayette.
Tarleton's legion of rangers in their
Waite uniforms were scourging Vir-
x1nia as they had scOurged the Car
1zinas. Through the James River
country they had gone with fire and
zW1Ord. burning houses. carrying off
faOrses, destroying crops, burning grain
zR the mills, laying plantations to
waste. Barbaras mother was dead.
Her neighbors had moved to safety,
But Barbara, he heard, still lived with
odd Nanny and Ephraim at Red Oaks
unless that, too, had been recently
syut to the torch. Where, then, would
Ae find her?
Down the river Erskine rode with a
>Sad heart At the place where he
z1ad fought with Grey he pulled Fire
ay TO a sudden halt. There was the
SOundary of Red Oaks and there
started a desOlatiOn that ran as far
as his eye could reach. Red Oaks
had not been spared, and he put Fire
dY to fast gallop, with eyes strained
Tar ahead and his heart beating with
SA9snized forebOding and savage rage.
$Son over distant clump Of trees
he could see the chimneys of Bar
bara's hOme-his home, he thought
helplessly-and perhaps those Chin
neys were all that was left. And
then he saw the roof and the upper
windows and the cap of the big col
Ezzzhs unharmed, untouched, and he
RS1iled Firefiy in again, with over
wbelming relief, and wondered at the
miracle. Again he started and again
l.. pulled In when he caught sight of
Ehree horses hitched near the stiles
Turning quickly from the road, he
z1Se TArefy In the underbrush. Very
'-F91etly he slipped along the path by
EAe river, and, pushing aside through
Stse rose bushes, lay down where un-
seen he could peer through the closely
1atted hedge. He had not long to
TNait- A white uniform issued from
che great hall door and another and
@znether-and after them Barbara
ssHSsltng. The boys blood ran hot
smiling at her enemies. Two officers
Gheeled on their heels and descended
The steps. The third stayed behind a
moment, bowed over her hand and
q Kissed it. The watchers blood turned
ehea TO liquid fire. Great God, at
what price was that noble old house
tet standing? Grimly, swiftly En-
xk7ne turned, sliding through the
{ aEshes like a snake to the edge of
z dhe road along which they must pass.
He would fight the three, for his life
WAS worth nothing now. He heard
them laughing, talking at the stiles.
He heard them speak Barbara's
name, and two seemed to be banter
ing the third, whose answering laugh
seemed acquiescent and triumphant.
They were coming now. The boy had
his pistols out, primed and cooked.
He was rising on his knees, just about
e0 leap to his feet and out into the
road, when he fell back into a
: startled, paralyzed, inactive heap.
&kimpsed through an opening in the
Hzzsahes, the leading trooper in the uni
form of Tarleton's legion was none
. sther than Dane Grey, and Erskine's
bEain 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. If Tarleton's
nmen were around he would better
leave Ffrefly where he was in the
woods for a while. A startled gasp
Noehind him made him wheel, pistol
once more in hand, to find a negro,
mouth wide open and staring at him
from the road.
- eMarse ErskineI" he gasped. 1t
was Ephraim, the boy who had led
Barbaras white ponies out long. long
E age, now a tall, muscular lad with
an ebony face and dazzling teeth.
%Whut you doin' hyeh, sub? Whar'
yO' hoss9 Gawd, Use sutn'ly glad to
see yuh." Erskine pointed to an oak.
Fright by that tree. Put him in
S1e sstable and feed him."
The negro Shook his head.
- mo, sub. I'll take de feed down
10 MIN. Too many redcoats messin'
round heah. You bettah go in de back
= aday-dey might see .yuh."
"Wasn't one of those soldiers who
inst rode away Mr.. Dane GreyT'
The negro hesitated.
ssYassuh."
whats, he doing in British uni
fOrmr
The boy shifted his great shoulders
uneaslly and looked aside.
Il don't know, suh-I don't know
nuttin'."
Efskine knew he was lying, but re
spected bis loyalty.