White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1928-11-23
CHAPTER X-Continued

hanna road and passed by the ruins
OF many cabin. 1t was not the most
direct route, but 1t pleased me to
fool myself with the thought ! would
never continue as far as Alexandria
However, did persevere, and an
astounding thing happened to me and
expelled my apathy and left me quiv-
ering with new purpose. The On.
ondaga would have said II was my
brenda working for me. A white man
would have said 1t was luck. II all
happened at hamlet on the Mary.
land line where dozen men were
listening to rugged fellows plea
for volunteers to serve as riflemen
in the expedition soon to be made
against Canada. Weary of war,
weary of myself, and finding solace
only in my strange dreams, would
have passed oy with deaf ears had
not his rude eloquence compelled my
attention while he cried out:
"Sick of It? Who amt sick OF III
But how will 1t be stopped unless
your rifles help stop 1t? tell you
we've got 'em running now. You've
had bellyful of fighting? Who amt?
thought l had a bellyful at Brad
docks battle I've thought ! had
more'n enough during the last three
years. But I've been farming all
these years; farming that If we want
a job well done we must do It our.
selves. Men, it's the long rifle, and
not the Brown Bess what's going to
put a stop to the Injun deviltries
And If you'll go. along with me I'll
lead only as long as can keep ahead
When any other Teller can lead faster
he takes my place and ! take his
Y l refined in and stared at the fellow
closely. There was something reminis.
cent in the strong young face He
was quick to see me and my travel
stained forest garb, and he called out
over the heads of his audience:
"Welcome. friend You look like
as you was used to woods fighting"
"Tve had my share of it: from Brad.
dock down to Forbes and much In be
tween"
"But you're not through yeti Your
long rifle still shoots?"
ut still shoots. am not through
until the job is finished"
He pointed me out as q. wholesome
example, and embarrassed me by ex.
tolling my high spirit. Whereas was
sick of Indians, sick of hardships.
had but one desire; to spread my
blanket back OF the Carlisle house
and close to the sleepy lap-lap of the
Potomac and rest there one night and
perchance dream of Busby and other
playmates. backed my horse away
and waited until the young man had
finished his talk and had secured half
a dozen flames or marks on his mus
ter-roll Then l dismOunteG and
Joined him and drew him aside. and
said:
"You'l be Daniel Morgan at one
time wagner in Braddock's army"
Dead center. But don't know you
little meat oD your bones"
II threw you on to horse at the
lower ford of the Monongahela Oh
July ninth, three years ago"
"H-ll remember The man fight
ing beside the tall Injunl'
"There was o young person with
you"
"a gal in breeches. Elsie Dinwold
she gave her name. She had the grit
of any man ever see"
"Had?" | repeated. a deathIy faint
ness stealing through my gaunt frame
"And still has, ri guarantee. II
she's kept out of danger and didn't
git sculped Lordl But she did try
desperate hard to git off tina, boss
and git back to the fghtingp'
MAN, where is she2 Where did
you leave herr Why don't you say
something when you talk?' ! cried
And ! placed my hands on his
shoulders and shook him.
He grinned broadly and showed no
resentment at my manners.
"Where she Is | cannot say Hui
she went to Alexandria, gathered
from her falkland she talked mighty
little-that some one she used to
know. and liked heap, lived there
once. But you'll be 1igning up as o
riheman for northern work."
1 mounted before botherfng to
answer him. Then called back:
"That must come later. must fin
ish q journey first"
And though II was dark and my
horse was weary | rode on.
a skeleton of man on worn
out horse. No leisurely riding now
would moi haze eaten nor slept. II
not for my mount. ! had but one de
sire-to strike into the old pOstroad
and finish the distance al smash
ing galfop The poor brute was bad
ly used up when did leave Shooters
hill behind me refined In.
Now that | mad arrived and would
soon know all. experienced strange
timidity. Three years had passed No
soldiers now enlivened Alexandria !;
and knew the drowsy calm of the
town would never suit her. She had
gone away long before this: or-and
this was q most disturbing thought
she had found some one who sp
preciated her, and had married he
yond all doubt she had come to the
belief that was dead.
= Now that ] had talked with young
Morgan could not forgive my stu
pendons folly In ueglectine to seek
her on the banks of the Potomac.
Yet had reasoned logically enough
she was never one to seek refuge
in Alexandria. She was born of the
froflffpr and t,trdpl t1lOOd WAS in no,