The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1928-10-12
By Hugh Peladexter
Nlustrations BY
Irwin Myers
Copyright by Hugh Pendextee.
WNU Service

how thankful we. should be for our
deliverance from Pontiac's savages.
"That was the frying-pan," she
sighed. II tell you I feel bad luck,
mister. They'll jump on us when we
pass through the thick woods. Them
soldiers don't know any more about
gInjuns than as If they was so many
4. cows"
"You shouldn't say such things.
You'll take the heart out Of the men
II they hear you"
II amt fool even IL leone from 8
family Of Witches" she angrily re-
torted. ..'Im talking to you, not to
the soldiers" Then with instant re-
pentance: 81 didn't go for to speak
to you like this. mister. But these
women here are scared. And yet all
they talk about is the silks and fine
clothes they'll have when we march
into Duquesne. You'll come and talk
again with me tomorrer, mister?
You've done so much for me-"
"I'll talk with you. Eve done moth.
ing. You're hitching the cart ahead
of the horse. If not for you. l never
could have left the Duquesne stock
ade."
81 tell you it. was the lnjun who
done all that"
AFTER you had told him OF my dan
ger and had planned for us to scale
the water-gate and finl you waiting
with a canoe. I'll see you tomorrow,
and the next day; and on the third
day I'll see that you get some of the
fine cloth-if the French don't burn
everything before leaving the fort. :"
II feel bad luck, but I'll hope for
the best" she muttered. "And don't
go into danger, mister" !.
The last was so incengruOus after
what we had been through together,
and In view of the part must play
as scout, that laughed and even she
smiled, albeit bit wistfully. She gave
me her small hand and eyed me with
strange steadiness; then disconnected
nae by gravely saying:
4MCa z ulA LIZ StAOU0 aiO0uU yOU
yet I'm thinking you'll live through 1t"
Cromit came up In time to hear the
last and anxiously inquired: "What
about me. missy?" His mouth was
smiling. but his eyes were uneasy.
She hesitated. then told him:
Anyone you come to grips with will
die"
With this she abruptly left us and
busted herself at the fire.
We went to where the rangers were
camping and looked for Colonel Wash.
ington, but he had not yet reported
to Braddock. did meet Captain Bus
by. however. He had lost much of his
stoutness and was as lean and hard
as a hound
webster Brond, by all that's
quaint" he cried on recognizing me.
And this time he was eager to clasp
my hand. i've looked for you all
along this cursed march and through
all the cursed days we've crawled and
flddled away the time. Lord! but I'm
glad the Alexandria folks can't see
what rough-looking lot we are.
Where have you been and what do you
think wen do next?"
l explained. and he declared my Du.
quesne trip displayed damned" rare
craftsmanship. told him the worst
of the campaign was over and that we
would be free from Indian attacks
after we had crossed the creek and
taken to the ridge.
!. "a fight would be welcome" he
testify replied. "It's this id crawl
ing along. like worm on a leaf, that
takes the gimp out of the men. II
you'd stayed with us from the time we
quit Wills creek, you'd understand
how trifles can eat the heart out of
man. Wood-ticks annoy more people
than tigers do. Really. we officers of
the Virginians have given up our lug
gage animals until we scarcely have
anything left except what we have on.
hope there'll be some clean linen at
Duquesne. If there isn't, I'll never
forgive the French. suppose the
folks back home are thinking tonight
that we're already in Duquesne."
There was no black home" for me,
no folks to learn how had Jared;
and had nothing to say. He ran on:
Z "Fve sent word to Josephine by
every express. but probably she hasn't
received one out of FIVE of my let
tiers. told her hadn't seen you. So
you don't expect we'll be attacked by
the red devils on our way to the
fort?"