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About The Red Cloud chief. (Red Cloud, Webster Co., Neb.) 1873-1923 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 23, 1915)
RED CLOUD, NEBRASKA, CHIEF K fh ? I A GheHD rH5T A TALE Of CML -PANDMl iUSlMTIONS SC.D. RHODES COPYifctir CHAPTER XXIII Continued. 17 "Permit mo to answer for myself, Lieutenant Hnrwood." "Noreen Harwooai Why. It takes me off my feet How comes It you are here?" "My father Is dead," Bhe nnswered simply, tho brightness vanishing from her face. "Ho was killed only a few days ago." "I regret to learn that, cousin," and ho held out his hand. "Who Is this man, and why are you here with lilni?" "Ho has told you the truth," Bhu an swered quietly, her hand still within his. "1 have known him from child hood. 11 am his wife." Thero was a moment of silence, of hesitation. I heard the soldiers mov ing about tho room, and the murmur of volees sneaking cautiously. Then Hnrwood released her hand, and ex tended his own to me, his eyes frank nnd cordial. "I accept you on faith, comrade," he said pleasantly, "but there Is a spare gray Jnckct Htrappcd to my saddle yonder more becoming than thnt blue coat. Saint Christopher! but 'tis a most hnppy family reunion wo'ro hav lug; I'll want tho story presently, but now I must look to my men. TIs no easy gamu we are playing." "Let mo understand that, llcuten ant," 1 exclaimed, as he turned away "How docB It happen you are here, and for what purpose?" "A wild plan of my own, aided an abetted by tho commander at Covins ton. We nro of tho garrison thero,' he explained briefly, his glnnco search ing out tho dim Interior. "Tho Ynn kees have n forage train out as far as Hot Springs. I got permission for a dash to cut them off. We took the cut-off, and landed hero about daylight Tho train should havo been along be fore now, but thero Is no sign of It " "You havo been In hiding hero all day, and seen nothing?" "Oh! we've seen enough," ami he laughed. "Hut nothing wo careil to mcasuro swords with The road yon der appcara popular, but. by good luck, no Yankee shows an eagerness to at tend church. There was a gaug of mountain men ulong by hero maybu two hours ago who rode up to the door, and took a look at the shebang Whether they wero Yank or Rob I didn't know. Anyhow, we were willing enough to see. thorn pass on out o' eight. They looked and talked as though they wore spoiling for a fight." "How many?" "Thirty or forty a right smnrt crowd. There wero only two came up. nnd rode round tho church a big fel low with n red beard, and a little wea-zcl-facod fox ho called Kelly." "Yes, I know them; they wero hunt ing nftcr ua. Did they go on east?" "They did. o has everyono else wo'vo seen today. That's what puz zled us, aa to just what might bo up I reckon you must bo some popular to create such a furore. Why, an hour after sunup a wholo blame com . pany of bluecoatB went by, riding llko mad, their horses dripping, and a young follow spurring them on. Ho'd lost his hat, and they never so much as took n eldo look at this shebang. Thoy were In some hurry, my friend." "And neither parly has returned?" "Not a sign or them." "What force have you hero?" "Twenty-eight enlisted men." "You havo pickets out?" "Ono man each way, a mllo down tho road, concealod. The tower up there commands the country In both directions." "And your horses?" "Hidden In tho grovo yonder." 1 grasped tho situation clearly enough, and also comprehended tho reckless nonchalance of tho olllccr What was his purpose his present plan? It appeared to mo that the conditions warranted n retreat, back along tho unfrenuonted tnountnln trail by which this daring party of adven turers had come. The troops, as well us tho guerrillas, must have discov ered by this time that wo wero not In advanco of them. 'I hey would return searching every nook and comer In hopo of discovering our hiding place. They might even unlto their forces. impelled aa they wero by the same de sire and thus become truly formidable. Personal hatred of mo and the wish to regain possession of Noreen, would animate and control both Arise Cowan nnd tho angry, humiliated lieutenant. While neither would likely confess his purposo to tho other, yet their mutual Interests would naturally suggest an alliance. And there was no war feud between the two which would neces sarlly prevent their co-operation In deed, tho troopers would gladly wel come any excuse which would bring Cowan's gang of outlaws Into closer connection. And the outfit would novor pass by this church again with out searching Its interior, Only ea gerness, a haste to overtake) us In our attempted (light, had led to their blind riding by beroro. 1 turned to liar--wood, who was whispering uouseuse to Noreen. "What do you mean to do, lleutnn ant?" I asked quietly, but with my own mind made up. "Itemaln hero?" . He stroked his small muBtache. h PAPPISn 'T "1 thought wo might hang on until midnight. Wyatt, nnd then, if nothing happened, tnko the back trail. I don t want to pass another day In this cussed hole. What do you think?" "Thnt tho sooner wo get away tho better," 1 answered promptly. "Your position hero Is far more dangerous than you uppenr to realize. lioth those parties traveling east wero In search after us; they were led by men who would go to any extrcmo to effect our rapture. 1 haven't time to tell you tho whole story now, but It Involves your cousin as well as myself. Thoy rodo straight on becauso they were convinced wo wero still ahead of them. 'TIs likely they know bettor now, nnd will search every ravine nnd covert on their return. If the forngo train In moving this way thoso cavalrymen nre with It In addition to tho regulnr gunrd, and you will never dare attack with jour small force. Tho only ehanco you havo of bringing your command 6nfely back to Covington, lieutenant, is to get away before your presence hero is suspected." "I suppose that's right," ho admit ted reluctantly. "Hut I don't llko to turn tnll without hitting a blow It's not tho stylo of the Third Kentucky. Wo could give a good uecount of our selves ngalnst thoso Ynnkeo troopers." "Possibly; but not against a comhl- blnatlon of troopers, wagon guard, and Cowan's gang of guerrillas. Thoy would outnumber you four to one; and they aro fighting men." "You think they will combine?" "If they meet, nnd thero Is an ex planation yes. Cowan doesn't enro which sido ho fights on, so ho gains Ills end, and tho cavalry commander will welcome nny re-enforcements. They might qunrrel later over results, hut now they possess a common ob ject, nnd will bo llko two peas in a pod. Do as you please. Harwood, but I am not under your commnnd, and, If you choose to remain here, wo will rldo on alone. Will you go with me, Noreen 7" She had not spoken, nnd In tho fast Increasing gloom I could Bcnrcely dis tinguish her presence. Hut at my di rect question silo took h step townrd me, and 1 felt tho presence of her hand on my sleeve. "Yes," she said simply, "whenever you think best. Cousin." bIio added, glancing ncrosB her Bliouldcr at the perplexed olllccr, "1 would llko you to como too." He laughed, wheeling about In sud den decision. "I reckon I might an well," ho ad mitted good-humorcdly. "Wharton, havo tho pickets drawn In. nnd the men mustered. "We'll start Great Cod! What Is that?" It wua tho sou ml of a scattered vol ley, tho pieces not nil of tho same caliber, tho reports ringing clear In tho instant of silence which followed n voice cnlled down excitedly from the tower: "Thero Is firing to tho enst, sir." Harwood swore as ho strode across to tho nearest window on that side. Except for a faint tinge of light in tho west, and n half moon In the southern sky, wo wero enveloped In dni-kness, but wo all of us heard the Bounds of hoofs and tho approaching rumblo of wagon wheels. Harwood turned and faced Inward. "It's tho forago train, boys," he said sharply, "with a bunch of cavalry rid ing ahead. Oct to tho windows, but bo quiet nbout it you know the or ders. Wharton, havo tho men load; como with me, Wyatt. whero wo can see out in front." Noreen clung to me ns I groped my way through tho narrow door into tho vestibule. CHAPTER XXIV. The Trap Closes. The lieutenant's lingers gripped my shoulder. "Hy tho Lord Hnrry, tho fellows make nolso enough for an army." he whispered. "I reckon they nro al! there," "No doubt of It how Is your am munition?" "Sixty rounds to a man," ho chuckled. "It will cost them some thing to get through theso log walls Still, wo haven't much ehanco In the end," ho added thoughtfully, "for they're bound to get ua. Generally I pray for a fight, but now I hopo thoso Yanks will bo kind enough to ride by." "And so do I," I nnswered soberly, feeling the quick pressure of Noreen' lingers, "Thero they come. Harwood see! two horsemen ahead " They wero merely black shadows outlined against the white road, but as they drew somewhat closer the moonlight gave them substance. Onn was slender, sitting straight In the saddle, hut the other slouched awk wardly over his pommel, a larger more shapeless figure. In the distance down the sharp slopo or the hill, ap peared tho deeper shadow of an ad vanclng column of mounted men The onlv sound was tho Impatient pnwlng of a horse's hoof and Noreeu'B whis per In my ear: "The tho bigger ono li Anse Cowan." STOUT "And tho other Raymond," t re turned In tho same low tone. "Tho two havo apparently got together." "It looks mighty odd to me," said n volco suddenly, clearly audible through tho night, "that fellow bolnic In Itch uniform. What could ho bo doing hore?" "A scout. 1 reckon," grumbled a reply, barely distinguishable. "Just n stray wo run Into, but It nuiut ho best ter take a look along tills yero ridge nfore wo rldo on." "All right." asserted the other. "I'll wait hero until Fox and Moran come up. Let some of your men rldo back ns fnr as thoso woods over yonder; and say, It wouldn't do nny harm to take a look tnstdo tho church. You didn't stop coming out?" "Nnw; wo didn't stop fer nuthln'. Wo thought the way you fellers was n-rldln' yer hcil a hot trail, mi' so wo rodo llko hell ter git In nt tho denth. Tuln't likely thnr's enyono In sldo the mectln' house, but 1 reckon we may as well hu suro as long as wo'ro hero. No damn fool would hldo this close tor tho plko. That you, Kelly?" Thero was a meaningless growl from an advancing group of horsemen, nnd Anso swore, spurring his horso forward to meet them. "Hy God, Kelly f I've hnd enough of your dnmned grouch. Hither you'll do us I say, or I'll cuvo the sldo of your head in, and have done with It. I've hnd enough, do you hcnr7 I reckon I'm Just ns Interested In overhaulln' thnt cuss ns you aro. Now you obey my orders, an' ho quick nbout It; give mo another line of hack talk, you Irish bnslard. an' I'll blow the wholo top of your head off! You're what 7 Joking! Well, let up on that kind. will you? I'm In no humor for It. Tnko three or four men, nnd rldo ovor tho ridge, back ns fnr us tho rock. Tho Bojers nro goln' ter halt yero a mlnuto." Kelly nnd his littlo squad trotted pnst us, circling tho end of the building, tho remnlnder of tho group of horsemen, evidently composed of Cowan's gang of cutthroats, scattering along tho roadside, with no semblance of military discipline. Raymond touched spur to his horse's llnuks, nnd wont trotting hnck down tho road, ns though Intending to Intercept tho ad vancing column, which wns not yet visible. Cowan looked after him with a sneer. "Tho d d dandy," ho growled to a man just behind, gesturing with ono ) hand. "1 don't take orders from nothln' llko that. Would you, Jem?" "I should say not," responded tho other, spilling into the road. "What ever got us tied up yero with these Yankees, Anso. enyhow? I done thought ns how wo wua flghtln' ngalnst tho blue-bellies a bit ago; an' now wo'rn as thick as two Ileas, Did yer git yer price?" Cowan laughed grimly. "Thar ain't no occasion fer yer ter worry, Jem." ho coulldcd. evidently willing tho others close about should hear. "We ain't tied up with no Yanks, 'cept fer maybe n few hours Hell! thnr wasn't nothln' else ter do, but bo friendly. Thur wus thirty o us runnln' kerbump inter thet bunch o' cavnlrymen, with thor wagon train a-comln' a hundred yards uway. "Wo weren't In no shnpo for tor fight about a hundred an' llfty sojers I reckon, tho', we'd a had to If that young popinjay hod been In com mand. Ho ain't got tho senso of n "Ho Has Told You the Truth," She An swered Quietly. dried louso. But Cap Fox, ho rode out, an' wo sorter talked It ovor. Ho don't feel very blame kind toward mo since our fracaB tother night, but he's a sojer, an' ho knows what liatnsay wants. Thct's what I banked on, for I knew tho glneral had give Ills orders ter uso every means posalblo ter git ub ter help out tho Yanks. So I just up an' told ther cap thot wo wus out huntln' fer ther Bnmo feller ho wus; thet my fnther had been killed, an' I reckoned tho Reb spy did It, an' thet frum now on wo wus goln' fer ter light on tholr sldo. I don't reckon as how ho believed much o' what I sod. but all ther sanio. ho had ten pretend ho did, nn let us go 'long without no flghtln'. So ho dono sent us on ahead, an' sent thet young snip nlong fer ter watch mo. Thot's the how It happened." "t see, an' termcrrer wo leaves them holdln' tho bng Hullo, Ansel look thnr It's Kelly comln' back, an', by Jinks! he's leadln' two bosses." Anso swung down to thb ground, and ran his hands over tho animals. InRI BaaLLaY aaaaaElcaBf laaHaaaL: aV 'I II lilt I 1 fingering tho eauipment. "Didn't the lieutenant say Hift tne spy an' the gurl got oft on horser hitched by the hotel?" "1 didn't hear tell." "Well, I did; enyhow they wusn nrmy horses they took. Hy God I I In Hove they'ro hidln' now In that church. Here, you Kelly," a new, exultant ton.' In his volco, "scatter your men out around ther whol' bulldln'; wo'vo troul our gamo, 1 reckon." Tho guerrlllns came forward on foot, running, and scrambling up tho Incline, hut Inclined to keep well bnck from tho silent church. Jem was clat tering down tho pike, tho clang of his horse's hoofs dying away In tho distance. Hnrwood dropped his grip ping hand from o(T my shoulder, anil Btepped back from before tho window. "Sergeant." "Here, sir," and Whnrton moved slightly In the darkness, so bh to sig nify his whereabouts," "You attended to tho door?" "Yes, sir; wo found an old Iron bar to lit aeroas; they'll havo to crush In tho wood to get through." "Let Johnson and Mcllvalno Join me hum; what Is the nntiiu of that hid I wns going to recommend for cor poral?" "O'llare. sir; Jacob O'Haro." "Put him In command of tho south side, nnd you tnko tho noith; plnco benches to Btand on under the win dows, hut keep your men down until you get tho word. Thero Is to bo no llrlng until I glvo tho order. Tell them they havo got to light for their lives. You understand?" "Yes, sir; we'll do that, sir." "Then get to your stations. Now, Wyatt. you command nt tho other end; thero nro two windows nnd a door. Here, tnko HiIh gun nnd belt; I enn get anolliur." Ho stopped, and drew in a quick breath, glancing out out again through the window "Friend Cowan If that bo his name seems to bo wnltlng for tho military to come up," ho commented mock ingly. "Prefers to let tho Yanks pull his chestnuts out of tho lire. Peihnps ho has known you n long while hoy. Wyatt?" "The ucqunlntnnco has been rather brief, but warm." "No doubt; well. I'll help mnko It wanner presently. "Fair cousin, I do not know whom to hide you In safety, 'rills' Ib going to ho a real light, or 1 am greatly mis taken, and bullets lly wild through the dark." "If It Is loft to mo," sho said qui ctly. "I prefer to go with Tom Wyatt." "Hut you do not understand," I broke In hastily, my pulses throbbing at her unexpected decision. "They may attack" "Oh, yes, the lady does. Wyatt." chuckled the lieutenant, bis reckless good nature In no wise lost by the desperation of our position. "She Is a Hnrwood. that's all. Hullo! here comes tho cavalry! Now. men, to your posts and stand up to the mu sic." I cnught her hnnd In mlno. "You you mean that. Noreen?" "Yes; do not refuse. I am not afraid." sho Implored. "Take mo with you." (To m; continued.) DANGER IN FOOLISH CUSTOM Those Who Bite Penholders In Public Use Are Hereby Warned of Poss.ble Infection. That the penholder, such as most ot us frequently uso In hauls, pos. of llces, nanus ami otner public writing rooms may tio bb deadly a carrier ot dlseiiBo germs ns the roller towel and public drinking cup, is tho suspicion tor which tho boards ot Health be lluvo they havo found ample grounds, 1'tio noxt twuo you uso ono of these public penholders you will police, ll you cxainmo it caroiull, thut tho wooden Handle Ib covered witb little dents. Thoso dents aro tho imprint of tho teeth or persona who havo used tho peu beroro you; and as the mouth is tho ravorito port or entry for dis ease, each dent Is usually full of mi crobes. 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