The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1922-08-25
"Yassuh."

the rose bushes to the kitchen door.
Barbara. standing In the hall door
way, heard his step.
"Erskine !" she cried softly. and she
came to meet him, with both hands
outstretched. and raised her lovely
face to be kissed. "What are you do
ing here?"
81 am on my way to join General
Lafayette"
But you win be captured. 1t is dan
gerous. The country is full of British
soldiers"
$50 ! know" Erskine said dryly.
"Nhen did you get here?'
"Twenty minutes ago. would not
have been welcome just then. / wait
ssf in the hedge. l saw you had COM
pany.'
"Did you see them?" she faltered.
81 even recognized one of them"
Barbara sank into chair. her elbow
on one arm, her chin in her hand, her
face turned her eyes looking outdoors.
she said nothing, brit the toe OF her
slipper began TO tap the floor gently.
There was no further use for indirec-
ton or concealment.
Barbara" Erskine said with some
sternness. and his tone quickened the
tapping of the slipper and made her
little mouth tighten, what does all
this mean?"
did you see," she answered, with
out looking at him. that the crops
were all destroyed and the cattle and
horses were all gomez"
"Why did they spare the house?"
The girls bosom rose with one quick.
defiant intake OF breath, and for a
moment she held 1t.
"Dane Grey saved our home"
'Tiow?"
"He had known Colonel Tarleton in
London and had done something for
him over there"
How did he get In communication
with Colonel Tarleton when he was
an officer in the American arny?'
The girl would not answer.
"Was he taken prisonerT Still she
was silent, for the sarcasm in Frs
kine's voice was angering her.
"He fought once under Benedict
Arnold-perhaps he is fighting with
him now"
mol" she cried holly.
"Then he must be "a"
She did not allow him to utter the
word
"Why Mr.. Grey is in British uni
form Is his secret-not NINE"
"And why he is here is-yours."
Exactly! ~ she famed. you are a
soldier. Learn what you want to
know from him. You are my cousin,
but you are going beyond the rights
of blood. l won't stand it, won't
stand it-from anybody"
II don't understand you, Barbara.
1 don't know you. That last time it
was Grey. you-and now" He
paused and. in spite of herself, her
eyes flashed toward the door. Frs
kline saw 1t, drew himself erect,
bowed and strobe straight out. Nor
did the irony of the situation so much
as cross bis mind-that he should be
turned from his own home by the
woman he loved and to whom he had
given that home. Nor did he look
back-else he might have seen her
sink, sobbing, to the floor.
When he turned the corner of the
house Barbaras old nanny and
Ephraim were waiting for him at the
kitchen door.
''Ephraim," he said as he swung
upon Firefly, "you and nanny keep
a close watch, and If I'm needed here
come for me yourself and come fast"
TO some devilmint no which side he
fghtin' fer. / got a gal oveh on the
aige o. de Grey plantation an she tel
me dat Marse Dane Grey don't wear
dat white uniform all de time"
whats that-what's that?" asked
mo, sub. She say he got an udder
uniform, same as yose, an he keeps |
it at her uncle Sans cabin an she's
seed him go dar in white an come out
in our uniform, an aPays at night, /
Marse Erskine-al'ays at night"
The negro cooked his ear suddenly: |
Take to de woods quick, Marse |
Erskine. Horses comm down the |
road"
But the sound of coming hoofbeats |
had reached the woodsman's ears |
some seconds before the black man |
heard them, and already Ersklne had
away. And Ephraim saw
Firefy skim along the edge of
blackened meadow behind It's hedge
Of low trees.
"Gawd," said the black boy, and
he stood watching the road. A band
If white-coated troopers was aiming
in cloud of dust, and at the head
Of them rode Dane Grey.
HAS Capt. ErslSine Dale Teen
lereT" he demanded.
Ephraim had his own reason for
being on the good side of the ques-
TONER. and did not even hesitate.
"Yassuh-he jes' lef'l Oar he goes
lowl !" With a curse Grey wheeled
lis troopers. At that moment F'irehy,
With something like the waving flight
If bluebird, was leaping the meadow
ence into the woods. The black boy
ooked after the troopers dust.
"Gawd!" he said again. with a grin