The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1941-12-12

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"Well, these Texas warriors the
paper was telling about. They was
chasing two guys. Lit out hckety-
split"
"Who were they chasing?"
IT dunno. They're likely wiped
out by now. They hadn't but one
horse between them. When ! took
my last look they were making for
my house to hole up"
"What do you want with father?"
swell, we got to spread the news
to everybody. I'm headin' for Round
Top. Someone has got to ride up
the Afford road and let the settlers
there know. Tell 'em to meet here.
Send the cook if you haven't got
anybody else"
''No," Ellen said promptly. I'm
not going to get Jim mixed up in It,"
'Mixed up in it? You tellin' me
yore black man is too good to work
with us?" Hart snarled.
"I'm telling you it is none of his
business"
Hart fastened his gaze on two
horsemen coming down the road at
a slow trot. In his eagerness to tell
the news to jeff Brand he forgot
his indignation. He bowlegged
through the dust to meet the riders
as they drew up at the hitching-
post.
''Have you heard, JEFF? The big
outfits have done brought bunch of
Texans here to run us outa the
country. Paul Vallery told me this
mo'ning. He got it from Lane Car
ey who read it in the Denver Re-
publican. Well, sir, I seen them
comm down the hill hellfor-leather
and lit out just in time. They was
chasin' two birds"
Brand swung from the saddle to
60 forward to meet Ellen. "Chas-
ing who?" he asked over his Shout
der.
IT dunno. Couldn't wait to find
out. burned the wind getting away
from there"
"You don't know what became Of
the two mem"
'They got into my house and fort
ed up, but / reckon they couldn't
hold out long. Must of been hun
dred in that army"
"Fifty-eight," Brand corrected.
Elbow do you known"
"We hid on a ridge and counted
them," Morgan said.
"a bunch of warriors brought in
to shoot down innocent men!" Hart
cried angrily. well see about that.
I'm on my way to tell our friends
at Round Top"
mo need" jeff said. We've al
ready sent . messenger. Better
stay and gather relief party to
ride over to your place. Wen need
every man we can get"
"When do you aim to go?"
"We've got to get off right quick
if we're going to save the boys they
have trapped. Say inside of an
hour"
"We can't get together seventy or
eighty men that quick" Hart pro-
tested.
Don't need more than ten or a
dozen. Wen lie in the rocks above
and shoot down at them"
mot me-" Hart answered prompt
ly. II just got out with my skin,
and / don't aim to try it again"
jeff looked at the man contemptu-
ously.
go hide under a bed, you louise"
The pale blue eyes of Brand burned
into the man. "But not till you've
done your job. Ride up the Afford
road and send down all the men you
can find. After that you can go
jump in lake."
jeff turned away and Joined Ellen
on the porch. He grinned at her.
"Well, sometimes a newspaper
piece turns out to be true" he said.
Morgan joined those on the porch.
"I'd better ride Deep Creek and
warn the folks up that way. From
what Lee says looks like these fell
lows are headed there
"Yes. Better rope one of the
horses in the corral" jeff added
casual information. 'I'm going to
Lees place to see what has hap
pened to the two trapped in his
house. Maybe / can make di-
version from the rocks that will
help Them"
Unjust you, jeff" asked Ellen in
low voice. Fs'~- S@'ts
He nodded. Cant desert two Of
our men without trying to help
them" His manner was cheerful
and nonchalant. Dave has picked
the tough job. He's liable to meet
bunch of these Texans any turn
Of the road. But someone has to
warn our friends"
81 suppose so. But you don't have
to 60 and attack fifty men, do your"
Brands gaze followed Morgan as
that young man swung on his horse
to ride to the corral. Hell do it,
too, if they don't get him first. That
guy will do to ride the river with"
His attention came back to what
Il I'll