uiWcf when Wiederness wa King g'U
ILLUd I
SYNOPSIS.
The. story opens In a Confederate tent
at a critical stage of the Civil War. Gen.
Le imparts to Capt. Wayne an Important
message to Longstreet. Accompanied by
SersC Craig, an old army scout. Wayne
starts on his mission. They get within
the lines of the enemy and in the dark
ness Wayne is taken for a Federal of
ficer and a younsr lady on horseback Is
riven In his charge. She is a northern
girl and attempts to escape. One of the
horses succumbs anil Craig goes through
with the dispatches, while Wayne and My
Lady of the North are left alone., They
seek fthelter In a hut and entering It in
the dark a huge mastiff attacks Wayne
The girl shoots the brute just In time.
The owner of the hut. Jed Bungay, and
his wife appear and soon a party of
horsemen approach. They are led by a
man claiming to be Red Lowrle. but who
proves te be MaJ. Brennan, a Federal
officer whom the Union girl recog-nlzes.
He orders the arrest of Wayne as a spy
and he is brought before Sheridan, who
threatens him with death unless he re
veals the secret message. Wayne believes
Edith Brennan to be the wife of MaJ.
Brennan. He Is rescued by Jed Bungay,
who starts to reach ' Gen. Lee. while
Wayne In diseulse penetrates to the ball
room, beneath which he had been Im
prisoned. He Is Introduced to a Miss
Minor and Barely escapes being unmask
ed. Edith Brennan recognising - Wayne,
jays she will save him. Securing a pass
through the lines." they are confronted by
Brennan, who is knocked senseless. Then,
bidding Edith adieu. Wayne makes a
dash for liberty. He encounters Bungay;
they reach the Lee camp and are sent
with reinforcements to join Karly. In the
battle of Shenandoah the regiment Is
overwhelmed, and Wayne, while In the
hospital, Is visited by Edith Brennan.
Wayne and Bungay are sent on a scout
ing detail, and arriving at ' the Minor
place, Wayno meets Miss Minor and Mrs.
Bungay, and later Edith appears.
Wayne's detachment Is besieged by guer
rillaa. CHAPTER XXVIII. -Continued.
All that occurred next was buthe
Impulse of a second. I stood with,
band resting lightly upon the mule's
neck, his long head drooping sleepily
beside my shoulder. I saw Red Low
rie throw up his gun, all his evil na
ture written in his face, his cruel eyes
Instantly aflame , with anger, and, in
spired by the desperation of our case,
I stooped suddenly, and blew with all
my force into that long, pendant ear.
Beelzebub gave vent to one snort of
mingled rage and terror, and. then let
drive, backing Into that cluster of
choice rascals like a very thunderbolt
of wrath, cleaving his way by every
lightning blow of those nimble legs,
and tumbling men to right and left.
There was a yell of fright, a wild
scramble for safety, a perfect volley
of cursing I saw Red Lowrie go
tumbling backward, a heel planted
fairly In the pit of his stomach, and
the next instant Craig, swearing like
a pirate, wa3 jammed down on top of
him, a red gash across hl3 forehead.
It was all accomplished so speedily,
that It seemed but a medley of heels,
of wildly cavorting mule, of scram
bling, .falling men.
"Fire!" I cried excitedly. "Sock it
Into them, lads, and follow me!"
There was a quick outburst of
flame, a thunderous report, and, with
out waiting to see or hear more, 1
sprang forward thrpugh the dense
smoke, and raced madly toward the
front door. Caton panted at my side,
and I could hear the heavy feet of
a score c men pounding the turf be
hind us. The rush was so rapid, the
noise so great and confusing, I could
Dot distinguish whether we were even
fired upon from, the rear, but I marked
a red flash at one of the windows in
oar front, and heard behind me a
sharp wall of agony.
"If any man drops, pick him up!'
1 called, and at that moment we
sprang up the steps, aDd began pound
ing loudly against the door.
"Open up!" shouted the Lieutenant,
anxiously. "Brennan, open up, quick!
It's Caton with help."
I though it never would open. A
Tolley crashed into us, and Sands
pitched down upon his face, clutching
at the man next him as he fell. I
glanced back anxlously-a dark, con
fused mass of men, without military
formation, were running across the
open space toward us.
"Bout face!" I shouted. "Load at
will fire!"
We poured one scattering volley
Into them. It halted their movement
for a moment,: and then the door
opened a scant crack.
-la this you, Caton?"
"Yes; for God's sake, open up!"
The heavy door swung slowly in
ward, and with a wild rush to be first,
we surged headlong Into the hall. .
CHAPTER XXX.
A Union cf Yank and Keo.
As the heavy door clanged behind
us some one upon the outside began
pounding upon it, while with deadly
chug a bullet crashed into the oaken
panel.
"Donnerwetter!" shouted a deep
rolce, wildly. "Captain, I am yet out
mit der bullets." .
With a crash I flung aside the thick
Iron bar which answered as a lock,
and drew in the Sergeant, yet panting
heavily from his hard run.
"By Chiminy,- dot 'vas a narrow
squeak,' he exclaimed, as I released
my grasp upon him and hurled the
door back into its place.
A dim light swinging suspended
from the ceiling of the great wide hall
revealed clearly the scene within. As
I turned I beheld Brennan for the first
time, and his face remains a memory.
Standing with his back to the stair
Tailing, a revolver grasped tightly In
either Izr.i. his eyes burning, hia
KAI DilliiIljtC. I. VVILL1 Am.lJnL w
countenance flushed with anger, and
clouded by doubt, he appeared almost
like one distracted. At sight of me
he gave up all attempt to control his
raging temper.
"What does all this mean?" he de
manded hoarsely. "Who are these
men? Caton, if you have betrayed
us, by God, I will shoot you dead."
"There Is no betrayal," returned the
Lieutenant, coolly. "These men are
friends."
"Friends?" he laughed cynically.
"Friends? in that uniform, and you
attired in a Rebel cavalry , Jacket?
Friends? that fellow over there?" and
he pointed derisively at me with his
pistol barrel. "Damn you, but 1 be
lieve you are all a pack of lying
thieves!"
Caton's face burned. He took one
step toward him, his hands clinched,
and when he spoke his clear voice
shook with intense Indignation.
"Major Brennan," he said coldly de
liberate, "you are my superior officer,
but you go beyond all privileges of
rank in those words. I say these men
are friends; they have sunk the issues
of war in order that they may answer
the call of humanity. If you dare im
peach my motives any further, I shall
hurl back the cowardly Insult in your
face. I will take no such words, sir,
from any living man."
Brennan looked at him, his lips
struggling with the utterance that
would not come. Knowing well the
danger of such delay, I hastily pushed
aside the ring of men, and fronted
him, determined to end this foolish
ness then and there.
"Major. Erennan," I said firmly, IgJ
noring his efforts to silence me, "you
must listen to reason whether you
wish to do so or not. My troopers
are all around you; I have two men to
your one in this house, and can en
force my will if necessary. Now mark
what I say we are not here in anger
or in war, but to help you in the pro
tection of endangered women. We
captured your courier, have dispatched
one of our own number into the Fed
eral camp for aid, and have fought
our way ' in here to stand beside , you
and your men in defence of this
house against those ruffians without.
You can use us or not. just as you
please; it rests with you to say wheth
er we shall be comrades In arms on
this occasion, or whether I shall as
sume command by the power of force
which I chance to control."
He seemed utterly unable to grasp
my full meaning, to comprehend the
situation.
"You mean, you would fight with
us? under my command?" he asked in
credulously. "I offer my services under your or
ders," I replied clearly, "and these
men in gray will obey mine."
I actually thought he would extend
his hand, but some remembrance sud
denly restrained him.
"I of course, Captain Wayne," he
stammered, at length, "I I must ac
cept your offer. I I am grateful for
it, but I shall Insist upon one thing;
there must be a final settlement of the
personal matter existing between us.
I am not willing to waive my rights
in this.'
"There is no occasion for your doing
so, sir," I answered coldly, for I con
sidered the reference at that moment
in extremely ill taste. "When our
work here has been accomplished, you
will find me very much at your serv
ice.'; He bowed gravely.
"I am exceedingly glad we under
stand each other," he said. "May 1
ask the size of your command?"
"Sergeant," I questioned, "whom
have we lost?"
"Nelson vos kilt, I dinks; der Kid
Is not here yet, und Sands vos vound
ed bad."
"Very well; then, Major Brennan, I
tender you sixteen men fit for duty,
besides myself. You are doubtless
acquainted with the house, and can
assign us to positions where our serv
ices will prove of greatest value."
He had completely recovered his
self-control by this time, and spoke
now with the terse sentences, of a
tried Boldler.
"I thank you. Captain Wayne, and
will ask you to choose four men and
assume command of the east side of
the house. Caton, you take the same
number for defense of the rear. Cap
tain, what is your sergeant's name?"
"Ebers, an experienced German sol
dier." "I should have suspected his na
tionality. Let him have command of
four more, and cover the west win
dows. I shall defend the front myself,
as I have been doing."
"Very well," I answered shortly, for
his eyes had remained fixed upon me
all the time he was talking. "Take
the positions assigned you, lads, and
do not permit a man from without to
put foot on the veranda. If they once
succeed In getting under cover. of the
porch roof, they will give us plenty of
trouble."
The position for defence assigned
to my care took me into the dining
room of the mansion a spacious, al
most square apartment, containing
threo large windows reaching nearly
to the floor. The outside bilndn had
been closed, but the g'.ass in the panes
was mostly broken, and there were
other evidences that the firing had
been both heavy and continuous. I
found two soldiers of Brennan's party
within, both lying upon the floor, and
peering cautiously through the aper
tures of the blinds. They glanced up
at us with undisguised amazement.
"It's all right, lads," I said "heartily.
"Never mind our colors tonight; we
are all fighting the same way."
I had taken with me Bungay, to
gether with three of my troopers, and
after placing them as advantageously
as possible, I stretched myself out on
the floor, and applying an eye to a
convenient opening took careful sur
vey of the situation without This
present cessation of activity was, 1
felt convinced, only temporary. I did
not expect, from all I could now see,
that the final assault would take place
upon, my side of tho building. The
massing of the main body of the be
siegers before the front entrance, to
gether with the presence there of
their leaders, was sufficient to con
vince me that this was to prove the
principal point of attack, and from my
knowledge of such affairs I decided
that probably the first signs of return
ing daylight would be the signal for a
determined assault The dark interior
of such a house as this offered too
many defensive advantages which the
daylight would largely overcome.
"Have you had some hard fighting?"
i asked of the man lying next me, a
manly-looking fellow, wearing the yel
low chevrons of a corporal of cavalry.
"They pitched in mighty strong at
first, sir," he answered civilly. "An'
we had so few men they pretty nearly
rushed us, fer sure. It was our re
peatin' rifles thet drove 'em back."
We relapsed into silence, each In
tent upon the uncertainty without. As
I 'lay there, gazing anxiously into the
"Damn You, but I Believe You Are
darkness, I could not forbear wonder
ing where Brennan had concealed the
women to keep them from harm.
Would he inform them of our arrival?
He could scarcely hope to keep the
fact long hidden, for they would cer
tainly see some of my gray-jackets,
and ask questions.
"They seem to be peckln" away pret
ty lively out In" front," said the cor
poral. Interrupting my reverie.
"Yes," I admitted. "In my Judg
ment tharwill prove the main point of
attack. How many men did the Ma
jor have there before we came?"
"Same as here, sir."
"And four of mine; that makes sev
en altogether, counting himself, and
two of these ought to be posted in the
upper story. He's bound to need more;
that firlne is very steady."
"He's got the women loadin' for
him. and that helps some."
"The women?" I asked, staring at
him in amazement. "Do you mean to
say Mrs. Brennan and Celia Minor are
there in that front room?"
"Don't know who they are, sir
two mlghtly fine lookin' young ladies,
an old lady with white hair, an a big,
rough-lookin' female, sir. The last one
wus handlin' a gun to beat the band
just afore you came."
"And he keeps them there, exposed
to all this heavy fire? What can the
man mean? Why, Corporal, that con
stant shooting must have completely
shattered the windows. There could
be no safety for any one except lying
fiat upon the flocr."
"Well, 'tain't quite so bad as that. (
sir," be protested, seemingly anxious
to shield his officer from adverse
criticism. "You see It's a double par
lor, with a wall an' foldln' doora
atween, an' the women are all In the
rear room. Of course, it's almighty
dark back there, an' they has to lie
pretty close, but blamed if I know of
any better place for them This
house hain't got no cellar." ,
A man groped his way in from the
lighted hall, but halted close beside
the door, unable to perceive us In the
darkness.
. "Is Captain Wayne here?" he asked.
"Yes; what, is it?" -
"Major Brennan has had two of his
men hit, sir, and wishes you to spare
him three of yours, unless you are hot
ly pressed."
"All right; there's nothing doing
here," I answered, instantly determin
ing upon my course. "Corporal. I
shall leave you In command of this
side for a few minutes. I believe 1
can be of more immediate value else
where. Bungay, you and Elliott come
with me."
The lower hall, having no windows
in it, was the only safe place in the
building, and here a light had been
kept burning. The door which, as 1
Judged, must lead into the back par
lor, was closed, and fastened upon
the Inside. At least it refused to yield
to my hand when tried. Another In
front stood very slightly ajar.
"Report to Brennan," I whispered
into Jed's ear, "and forget to mention
I am with you. I desire to investigate
matters for myself a few moments."
He nodded to intimate that he un
derstood, and then we crept, one. at a
time, into the front apartment, hug
ging the floor closely to keep beneath
the range of the bullets which swept
every now. and then through the
broken windows, and chugged into the
wall behind us. I was the last to
wriggle In through the narrow open
ing, and rolling Instantly out of the
tiny bar of light, I lay silent for a
moment, endeavoring to get my bear
ings. I was determined upon, just one
thing to obtain speech with the wom
en, learn, if possible, their exact sit
uation, and, if I found it necessary,
insist upon their better protection. An
insane jealousy of me should not con
tinue to expose them to unnecessary
peril.
Brennan was directly across the
room from where I lay. I could hear
his voice issuing low. stern orders.
"If you'll only keep down you're
AH a Pack of Lying Thieves!"
safe enough," he said gruffly. "There
hasn't a shot come within a foot of
the sill. The ground slopes out yon
der, and those fellows can't fire low.
Put the new men at the central win
dow, and let them shoot at every flash
they see. Bradley will pas3 back their
empty guns."
I wondered how long our supply of
ammunition would hold out with such
a fusillade kept up, but ventured upon
no protest, for I was already groping
my way through the, darkness along
the inner wall. Furniture lay over
turned in every direction, and I ex
perienced considerable difficulty in
making progress through the debrl3
without attracting attention. ,A great
square piano stood directly across the
entrance to the back, parlor, left by
the drawing nearly together of the
sliding doors. I waited until Bradley
had crawled through with an arm
ful of loaded guns, and then entered
also, creeping silently between the
piano legs. As I did so a bullet struck
the case above, and the whole instru
ment trembled to the impact, giving
forth a strange mean, as if in pain.
Some one was groaning In the" cor
ner at my left, and supposing the
wounded to be lying there, I turned
more toward the right, keeping as
close as possible to the wall, hopeful
I might come In contact with one of
the women. I do not honestly know
why I did this really I had no excuse,
except my natural distrust of Brennan,
coupled with an eager desire to be of
service to the woman of my heart.
There was little to guide me in ihe
search, as the flame of the discharging
rifles did not penetrate here. Once I
heard the rustle of a skirt, while a
faint sound of whispering reached me
from the rear of the room. Then my
hand, groping blindly along the walL
touched the lower fold of a dress. It
felt like coarse calico to my fingers.
"Mrs. Bungay," I whispered cau
tiously, "Is this you?" .
The woman started at sound of my
voice, but replied in the same low
tone: "Thet's my name; who mought
ye be?"
"A friend of yours, and of your hus
band," I answered, for I doubted if
she would recall my name. "Did you
know Jed was here?"
"My man? Hiven be praised! But
I'll knock ther head off ther little devil
if ever I git my hand on him, I will
thet Whars ther Utile imp bin all
ther time?"
"Hunting for you, and crying his
eyes out." I answered, smiling to my
self in the darkness. "Whefe is Mrs.
Brennan?"
"Jist beyond me, thar in ther cor
ner." As she spoke a bullet whizzed past
us, having missed the obstruction of
the piano. I could feel the wind
stirred by its passage, while its pe
culiar hum told me it was a Minie
ball.
"You are too far out from the wall,
I protested. "You are in range."
"Can't help it if I be. I'm yere ter
take ther guns from ther sojer, an'
pass 'em back."
I crept slowly along beyond her,
keeping close to the wall, but had
progressed hardly more than a couple
of yards, when I felt a hand lightly
touch me.
"I recognize your voice," said a soft
whisper, "and am so glad you are
here.'"
Who can guess the motives that in
spire a woman? Thi3 was my wel
come, where I had anticipated cold
ness and repellant pride.
CHAPTER XXXI.
A Conversation In the Dark.
In my extreme surprise at the In
timate cordiality expressed by her
words and manner I failed in utter
ance. Anticipating coldness, indiffer
ence, possibly even resentment at my
presuming to approach her, I was in
stead greeted by an unstudied warmth
of welcome that made ry heart beat
fiercely.
"Surely I am not mistaken," she
questioned, rendered doubtful by my
silence. "Is not this Captain Wayne?"
"There is no mistake," I hastened to
assure her, "but I ha-3 anticipated
from our last meeting a far less cor
dial greeting."
"Oh," she exclaimed, with a light
iaugh, "and is that all? Yet surely, If
I was to believe my own eyes I, was
perfectly justified In my actions then.
However, Captain, I have been forced
to realize the truth of that situation,
and am now disposed tci make up to
you In kindness for a'l my unjust
suspicions."
"I am more than delighted to learn
that cloud is no longer to overshadow
us. Miss Minor has made a full ex
planation, then?"
"You have been completely exon
erated, and restored to my good
graces."
As she spoke, I became aware that
she was busily engaged upon some
task, and when she ended I felt the
steel of a gun-barrel touch my hand.
"Please pass this to Maria," she
cald calmly, "and hand me back the
one she has."
"You are loading, then?" I asked, as
I complied wlth'her request.
"We have all been busy. Isn't it
terrible? I was so frightened at first
but now they tell me that you and
your men have come, there Is no lon
ger danger of those horrible creatures
getting In here."
"You knew, then, that I was in the
bouse?"
"I was told some noble Confederates
had accompanied Lieutenant Caton
back to aid us, but you' name was
not mentioned."
"Then my appearance must have
proven a complete surprise?"
"Yes, and no," she answered frank
ly. "I was not sure it was you. of
course, and I did not venture to ask,
but I knew you were in the neighbor
hood, and that such an act would be
in a way characteristic. I was cer
tain you would come if you knew, and
I I, well really. I hoped it was."
In spite of a slight effort at restraint
I groped In the darkness until I
touched her hand. For the moment
she permitted me to retain It, as if
unconsciously, within my grasp.
"Why?" I questioned, scarcely rely
ing upon my own voice.
"Oh, one always trusts friends more
readily than strangers, and I have
seen you in danger before, and pos
sess such 'confidence in your courage
and resource."
"But Miss Minor took particular
care to inform me you felt little or no
interest la me that you never even
spoke of me except as she compelled
you to do so."
For a moment she did not answer.
"How constant the firing continues,"
she said at last as I sat struggling
dumbly with temptation.
(TO BE CONTINUED.)
Death Preferred,
A. Stirling Calder. the Ph'.'adelphla
sculptor, was reminded at the Frank
lin Inn club, apropos of the Fourth of
July and Liberty, n. a story about the
great Bartholdi statue in New York
bay.
"An eminent English critic." be
said, "sailing into New York bay for
the first time, saw Bartfc-' li's colossal
work and said:
"is that Liberty?"
' " 'Yes,' a friend replied.
"'Then.' said the critic, 's'.v rot
death.' -
ORRY less work more,
Waste less give more.
Preach less practice more.
Some one has well said that the opti
mist is the man who makes lemonade ot
the lemons that are handed to him.
WHEN EVERYTHING GOES WRONQ
Just to leave your work and your
worries your dishes in the sink,
your beds unmade, your marketing un
done, and, if need be, your doors un
lockedand go forth Into. the great
outside world, Is to run with eager
feet toward peace. It Is good to go
and see a friend and talk It over; but
it is better to go out under the sky
and forget it Let the unhurried world
of nature preach to you of Bteadfast
peace and growth under unceasing
change. Let the big, empty sky re
place the cobwebbed ceiling of your
house-bound consciousness, flood the
dark places with wholesome sunshine.
When you go back to your dishes
they will almost wash themselves, for
all the good fairies out-of-doors will
come home with you and lend a will
ing hand to your work.
Try Some Changes In Potato Cook
ery. We should all be as ambitious
as the gentleman who was told that
there were over two hundred way
of cooking potatoes. He replied by
saying: "I am going to learn them
all. I already know two."
Buttered Potatoes Cut potatoes
Into eighths or quarters and parboil
drain and finish cooking In butter.'
turning often to give them an even
brown. Add salt and cayenne for sea
soning. They may be baked in a pa
per bag and are hard to equal for
flavor, cocked in that way.
Rellly Potatoes. Have ready one
quart of cold cooked potatoes cut in
pieces the size of small beans. Put
the potatoes into a hot skillet with
three tablespoonfuls of fat in which
a ' small onion and three green pep
pers have been cooked. Add a cup
of thick tomato, sifted. Season with
salt and pepper and cook until dry.
Serve with fish or cold meat.
Sugar Potatoes. Parboil and cut In
fourth-inch slices good sweet pota
toes. Simmer for an hour or more in
a sirup made with a cup of white
sugar, a fourth of a cup of water and
a teaspconful of butter. Baste the
slices and let the sirup cook away be
fore serving.
NX1ETY, worry and fretting
destroy nutrition by ruining
the digestion and preventing assimilation
of the nutriment in the food. Whatever
affects the brain cells, the nutritive cen
ters of the body, affects the health, tha
life.
Worry or anxiety injures , certain cells
of the brain, often beyond repair. Thm
supply of nerve nutriment is cut off, and
all the normal processes of the body ara
disarranged and disordered while one Is
troubled or anxious. That is why worry
kills.
A FEW FILLINGS FOR CAKES.
For a quick filling and icing, use the
white of an egg, a teaspoonful of
lemon juice and a cup of powdered
sugar. Stir well together 'and beat
five minutes. Add more sugar if not
stiff enough.
Pineapple Filling. Add to stiff;
boiled frosting a tablespoonful of gel
atine dissolved in a little pineapple
juice, a half cup of grated pineapple
and enough lemon juice to make it
pleasantly tart.
Fruit Filling. A cup of seeded rais
ins, half a pound of blanched almonds,
half a pound of chopped dates and a
fourth of a pound of finely minced
citron (all put through the meat chop
per is a saving of time), then add
enough boiled frosting to make a
smooth paste and sufficient quantity.
Caramel Filling. To a pound of light
brown sugar add a half cup of miUt
and a tablespoonful of butter. Boll
until It makes a soft ball in water.
Cool without stirring, then beat to a
cream, adding a teaspoonful of van
illa or other flavoring and chopped
fruit or nuts as desired.
Coffee Filling. To a cup of hot
milk add two tablespoonful3 of corn
starch and a half teaspoonful of but
ter, the yolks of two eggs beaten with
a half cup of strong coffee and a hall
cup of sugar. Return to the fire and
cook until thick; cool before using.
Fig Filling. Cook a pound of figs,
chopped, in three-fourths of a cup of
water and a half cup of sugar. Stir
and simmer until smooth; add a able
spoonful of lemon Juice, coc.' and
spread between the layers of cake.
Grated chocolate added to boiled
frosting flavored with vanilla is a
good and quick filling to prepare.
Where Towns Fall Into the Sea.
On some parts of the east coast of
England the restless waves have
wash away the earth on which cen
turies ago flourishing villages were
built.
Sure He Would
Magistrate If I let you off this
time, will you promise to take th
pledge?
Delighted Prisoner (excitedly) Ot
will, yur honor, an drink yer health
Tit-Bits.
VV