SYNOPSIS.
The story opens !h a Confederate tent
at a critical stage of the Civil War. Gen
l.ee Imparts to Capt. Wayne an Important
message to Lonfatreet. Accompanied by
Sergt. Craig, an old army scout, Wayne
starts on his mission. The two, after a
, wild ride, get within the lines of the
enemy In the darkness. Wayne Is taken
for a Federal officer who came to keep an
appointment, and a young lady on horse
back is given in his charge. She is a
northern girl and attempts to escape but
falls. One of the horses succumbs and
Craig iroes through with the dispatches,
while Wayna and My Lady of the North
nre left alone. They seek shelter in a
hut and entering: It In the dark a huge
mastiff attacks Wayne. The girl shoots
the brute ,1ust In time. The owner of the
nut, one Jed Bungay, and his wife appear
and soon a party of horsemen approach.
CHAPTER VIII. Continued.
"Do not permit the darkness to
alarm you," I whispered softly, bend
ing down as I spoke until I could
feel her quick breathing against my
cheek. "Our visitors are not likely to
"remain longer than will be necessary
to get something to eat. They need
never suspect our presence, and all
we have to do is to wait patiently
until they move on. I only wish I
could discover something upon which
you might sit down."
"Pray do not think me a coward,"
she answered, "but I have heard of
this man Lowrie in the Federal camps,
and I would rather die than fall Into
his hands."
1 had heard of him also, and of his
outrageous treatment of women. The
memory caused me to clasp my hand
warmly over hers, and set my teeth
hard.
"It may not prove to be Lowrie at
all," I said soberly; "but all these
gentry are pretty mu-n-alike, I fear.
However, I promise that you shall
never fall alive into the hands of any
of their breed." ": .
Before she could answer me other
than by a slight nestling cl06erln the
darkness, Bungay whispered: "This
yere hole, Cap, leads down ter the
right, an' comes out in a sort o' gully
'bout a hundred feet back. Thar's
light 'nough ter see ter wslk by a'ter
ye turn the corner, 'bout twenty
feet er so. You uns kin go on down
thar if ye'd rather, follerin' ther dorgs,
but I reckon as how T'll stay right
, yere an' sorter see how ther ol' woman
comes out.
"'Where, where was Roderick then?
One blast upon his bugle horn
Were worth a thousan '. men.'
Ii you uns like ter see a durned good
fight maybe ye better stay tew ther
ol' woman is pisen if she once gits her
dander up."
His voice was expressive of great
expectations, and I had reason to be
lieve his faith in Maria would be
justified. Before any of us, however,
had time to change our positions we
heard the fellows come stamping
roughly into the cabin. The thin slabs
which divided us scarcely muffled
their loud voices.
"Well, old woman," exclaimed one in
voice so gruff as to seem almost as
sumed, "pretending to be alone, are
you, with all those dishes sitting out
on the table; just beea eaten off, too.
Have n't seen no strange party along
the road this morning, have ye?" ,
"Nary a one," said Maria, and I
kr.ew from her voice she was standing
close beside the fireplace.
"Are you Mrs. Bungay?"
"I reckon I am, If it's any o yer
business."
"Don't git nifty, old woman, or we're
liable to give you a lesaon in polite
ness before we leave." The leader
dropped the butt of his gun with a
crash on the floor. "WLere is the lit
tle sneak, anyhow?"
"What do you want of him?"
"Want him to go 'long with us;
we're hunting some parties, and need
a guide. They tol' us up tho road a
bit be knew every inch o' these yere
mountings."
There was a pause, as if Maria was
endeavoring to decide as to the hon
esty 'of the speaker. Her final answer
proved the mental survey had not
proven satisfactory.
"Wal, I reckon." shj said calmly,
"as you uns '11 be more likely ter
find him down 'bout Connersville."
"Then whut's all these yere dirty
dishes doing on the table?"
"Hed sum Yankee officers yere ; . they
just rode on down ther trail as you
uns cum up."
"Like hell!" ejaculated the fellow
with complete loss of temper. "See
here, old woman, we're too old birds
to be caught with any such chaff.
We'll take a look aroun- the old she
bang anyhow, and whilo we're at it
you put something on the table for me
and my mates to eat.".
The voice and manner were rough,
but I was impressed with a certain ac
cent creeping into the man's speech
bespeaking education. More, in spite
of an apparent effort to make it so, hjs
dialect was not that of those moun
tains. Even as be uttered these last words,
' throwing into them a threat more in
the tone than the language, I became
aware of a thin ray of light pene
trating the seemingly solid wall Just
in front of me, and bending silently
forward could dimly distinguish the
elliptical head of Bungay as he applied
one eye to a small opening he had
ladnetriouslv made bttween the legs.
lteXowSiosiofAGir
vluiliorcfWra WlEDSENE&y
ii i iicrmfirNMc rrv fYTHnrsT im 1 1
Grasping Mrs. Brennan firmly by the
hand so that we -hould cot become
separated, I crept across the interven
ing blackness, and reached his side.
"Holy smoke. Cap," the little man
muttered in suppressed excitement, as
he realized my presence, "It's a goin'
ter, be b'ilin' hot In thar mighty soon.
Mariar's steam is a risin'."
He silently made room for me, and
bending down so as to bring my eye
upon a level with his, I managed to
gain some slight glimpse of the scene
within the cabin.
Mrs. Bungay stood with her back
to the fireplace, an iron skillet firmly
gripped in one hand. Her face was
red with indignation, and there was
a look in her eyes, together with a
defiant set to her chin, which prom
ised trouble. In front of her, care
lessly resting on the table, his feet
dangling in the air, was a sturdy
looking fellow of forty or so, with
red, straggling beard covering all the
lower half of his face, and a weather
worn black hat pulled so low as al
most to conceal his eyes. His attire
was nondescript, as though he had
patronized the . junkshop of both
armies. In his belt were thrust a re
volver and a knife, while within easy
reach of his hand a musket leaned
against a chair. Two others of the
party, younger men, but even more
roughly dressed than their leader,
were .lounging between him and the
door. '
Bungay chuckled expectantly.
"O Lord! if they-only git the ol'
gal Just a little more riled," he whis
pered hoarsely, jumping up and down
on one foot In his excitement, "they'll
hev ther fight of their life."
"Do you know the fellows?" I asked.
"Is that Red Lowrie?"
He shook his head.
"Never laid eyes on any of 'em
afore, but ye bet they're no good.
Reckon they're a part o his crowd."
The man who posed as the leader of
the party picked up the empty coffee-pot
beside him and shook it.
"Come, now, Mrs. Bungay," he com
r.anded, "I tell you we're hungry, ,so
trot out some hoecake and fill up this
pot, unless you want t reckon with
Red Lowrie."
The woman stood facing him, yet
never moved. I could see a red spot
begin to glow in either cheek. If I
had ever doubted it, I knew now that
Maria possessed a temper of her own.
"You ain't no ReC Lowrie," she re
torted. The fellow laughed easily.
"No more I ain't, old woman, but
I reckon we ain't so durn far apart
when it comes to getting what we go
after. Come, honest now, where is
the little white-livered cur that runs
this shebang?"
Whatever Maria miht venture to
call her lord and master In the
privacy of home, it evidently did not
soothe her spirit to hear him thus
spoken of by another.
"If Jed Bungay wus hum," she an
swered fiercely, her eyes fairly blaz
ing, "I reckon you would n't be sprawl
in' on thet thar table fer long."
"Wouldn't I, now Well, old hen,
we've fooled here with you about as
long as I care to. Bill, go over there
and put some of that bacon on to fry
If she doesn't get out of the way I'll
give her something to Jump for." And
he patted the stock of his gun.
Instinctively I drew my revolver,
and pushed its black muzzle into the
light under Jed's nose.
"Shall I give him a dose?" I asked
eagerly.
"Not yit; O Lord, not yit!" he ex
claimed, dancing from one foot to the
other in excitement "Let ther ol'
gal hev a show. I reckon she's good
ter ther whole three of 'em, iesa they
shoot."
' Bill came up grinning. He evident
ly anticipated some fun, and as he
reached out a grimy hand for the slab
of bacon, took occasion to make some
remark. What it was I could not hear,
but I noted the quick responsive flash
in the woman's eyes, and the next
instant with a crash Bhe brought the
iron skillet down with all her strength
on top of the fellow's head. Without
even a groan he went plunging down,
face foremost, in front of the fire. In
another moment she was battling like
a wild fury with the other two.
It was a quick, intense struggle. The
man near the door chanced to be the
first in, and he received a blow from
the skillet that most assuredly would
have crushed his skull had he not
dodged; ns it was it landed upon his
shoulder and he reeled back sick and
helpless. By this time the fellow with
the red beard had closed upon her,
and wrested the skillet from her hand.
Struggling fiercely back and forth
across the floor, Maria tripped over
the body of the dead dog and fell,
but as she did so her fingers grasped
the red beard of her antagonist. It
yielded to her hand, and bare of face,
save for a dark moustache, the man
stood there, panting for breath, above
her. Then suddenly, almost at my
very ear, a voice cried,
"Frank! Frank! I am here!"
CHAPTER IX.
In the Hands of the Enemy.
In the first surprise of that unex
pected joyful ery ringing at my very
ears all my senses, seemed confused,
and I stood motionless. Then I heard
Bungay utter a smothered oath, and
knew he had wheeled about in the
darkness. Unable to distinguish the
slightest outline of his figure, I was
yet Impressed with the thought that
he was endeavoring to muffle the girl,
to prevent her uttering a second cry.
Impelled by this Intuition I flung out
my arm hastily, and by rare good luck
it came in contact with his hand.
"None of that, you little cur!" I mut
tered sternly, unmindful of his efforts
to break away. "No hand on her,
mind you! Mrs. Brennan, what does
this mean?"
She made no attempt to answer, but
I could hear her now groping her way
through the darkness toward the place
of our entrance. Bungay detected the
movement also, and made a violent
effort to break loose from my grip,
that he might hurry after her.
"You lit go o' me," he cried ex
citedly, "er, by goll', I'll use a knife.
She'll give this - whole thing away if
she ever gits out."
For answer I hurled him backward
with all my strength and sprang after
the fleeing woman. But I was already
too . late to stop her, even had that
been my intention. With strength
yielded her by desperation, she thrust
aside the heavy cupboard, and as the
light swept in, sprang forward into ihe
rude shed. With another bound, gath
ering her skirts as she ran, she was
up the steps and had burst into the
outer room. A moment later I also
With a Crash She Brought the Iron
stood in the doorway, gazing upon a
scene that made my blood like fire.
The fighting had evidently ceased
suddenly with her first cry. Maria
stood panting in one corner, the dead
ly skillet again in her hand, her hair
hanging in wisps down her back. Still
unconscious from the blow he had re
ceived, one fellow lay outstretched on
the floor, his head barely missing the
hot ashes of the fireplace; while his
companion nursed his bruises and
scowled from a safe refuge behind the
table. The unshaven faces of several
others of the gang were peering curi
ously in through the open door. I
know now I saw all this, for the
picture of it is upon the retina of
memory, but at the moment every
thing I appeared to perceive or hear
occurred in the centre of the room.
The man who had posed as the lead
er stood there alone facing us, his
expression a strange mixture of
amazement and delight He was a
powerfully built man, with keen gray
eyes deeply set In their sockets. His
right hand rested heavily upon the
hilt of a cavalry sabre, the scabbard
of which was concealed beneath the
folds of the long brown coat he wore.
As Mrs. Brennan burst through the
doorway he stepped eagerly forward,
his eyes brightening, and they met
with clasped hands.
"Is It possible Edith?" he cried, as
t. the recognition could scarcely be
credited.
"Oh, Frank!'' she exclaimed, eager
ly, "it seems all too good to be true.
How came you here?"
"Hunting after you, my fair lady.
Did you suppose you could disappear
as mysteriously as you did last night
without my being oarly on the trail?
Have these people injured you in any
way?" And he glanced about him
with a threat is bis gesture.
Jacket
WA KMGVK
Am f
"Oh, no, Frank," hastily; "every one
has been most kind. It wa3 a mere
mistake. But how strangely you are
dressed! how very rough you look!"
He laughed, but etlll retained his
warm clasp of her hands.
"Not the pomp and circumstance of
glorious war which you expected,
girl?" he asked lightly. "But we have
all sorts of conditions to meet down
here, and soon learn in Rome to do as
the Romans do."
As he finished speaking he per
ceived me for the first time, and his
face changed instantly into cold stern
ness. I saw him sweep one hasty
glance around, as though he suspected
that I might not be alone, and his
hand fell once more upon hi3 sword
hilt, in posture suggestive of readi
ness for action.
"Who have we here?" he asked,
staring at me in amazement. "A John
ny Reb?"
"Whatever I am," I retored, my
gorge rising suddenly at his contempt
uous term, and stepping out into the
room before him, "I at least wear the
uniform of my service and rank, and
not the nondescript uniform of a
guerilla." .
The scornful words stung him; I
noticed the quick flush of anger in his
eyes, and was not sorry.
"You are insolent, sir. Moreover,
you go too far, for as it chances you
are well within our lines, and we will
see to what extent honor is consistent
with the work of a spy. The uniform
of your ; service, indeed!" he echoed
Skillet Down With All ner Strength.
hctly, pointing as he spoke across the
room; "that cavalrr cloak over yonder
tells its own story. Peters, Steele, ar
rest this fellow."
"Frank, don't do that," she urged
earnestly. "You mistake; that wa3
the cloak I wore."
If he heard her he gave no sign.
"Bind him," was the stern order, as
the two men advanced. "Use your
belts if you have nothing else handy."
Angry as I most assuredly was,
swept also by a new emotion which 1
did not in the least comprehend, I
yet fully realized the utter helpless
ness of my position in point of re
sistance. They were twenty to one.
However much I fonged to grapple
with him who mocked me, the very
thought was insanity; my only pos
sible chance of escape lay in flight.
To realize this was to act. I leaped
backward, trusting for a clear field in
my rear, and an opportunity to run for
it, but the door by whih I had Just
entered was now closed and barred
Bungay- had made sure his retreat
The man. watching my every move
ment, with sword half drawn in his
hand, saw instantly that I was secure
ly trapped, and laughed in scorn.
"You .je not making war on women
now," he said with a cutting sneer.
"You will not find me so easy a vic
tim." ,
The taunt stung me, but more the
tone and manner of the speaker, and
the hot blood of youth cast all caution
tc the winds. With a 6ingle spring,
fo'geiful of my own wound, I was at
hi3 throat, dashed aside his uplifted
hand, and by the sheer audacity of my
sudden, unexpected onset, bore him
back crashing to the floor. He strug
gled gamely, yet I possesred the ad
vantage of position, and would have
punished him geverojy, but for the
dozen elrcng hands which instantly
laid hom upon me, and dragged me
off, still righting madly, although as
helpless as -nild.
My opponent ustantly leaped to his
feet and starte forward, drawing a
revolver as he cat:-. His face was
deathly white from pesJ&n, and there
was a look in his eyes wLVh told me
he would be restrained nor toy no
rule of -.7ar.
"You cowardly spy!" he cried, ana
my ears caught the sharp click as he
drew back the hammer. "Do you
think I will let that blow go un
avenged?" "I assuredly trust not," I answered,
gazing up at him from behind the gun
muzzles with which 1 was yet securely
Finned to the floor. "But if you are,
as I am led to believe, a Federal offi
cer, with some pretensions to being
also a gentleman, and not the outlaw
your clothes proclaim, you will at
least permit me to stand upoii my feet
and face you as a man. If I am a spy,
as you seem inclined to claim, there
are army courts to try me; if not,
then I am your equal in standing and
rank, and have every right of a prison
er of war."
"This has become personal," hoarse
ly. "Your blow, as well as your con
nection with the forcible abduction of
this young lady, whose legal protector
I am, are not matters to be settled by
ar. army court."
"Then permit me to meet you in any
satisfactory way. The murder of
helpless man will scarcely clarify you
honor."
I knew from the unrelenting .. eh
pression upon his face that my pie
was likely to prove a perfectly useles
one, but before I had ended It Mrs.
Brennan stood between ns.
"Frank," she said calmly, "you shall
not This man is a Confederate offi
cer; he is no spy; and during all the
events of last night he has proven
himself . friend rather than an enemy
Only for 'my sake is he here now."
Ignoring the look upon his face she
turned toward me, Impetuously waved
aside the fellows who yet held me
prostrate, and extending her hand
lifted me to my feet. For an instant
as if by accident, our eyes m?t, and
a sudden flush swept across her
throat and cheeks.
"It is my turn sow," she whispered
softly, so softly the words did not car
ry beyond my own ears. Then she
stood erect between us, as though in
her own drawing room, and gravely
presented us to each other, as if she
dared either to quarrel longer in he'
presence.
"Major Brennan, Captain Wayne."
We bowed to each other as men
salute on the duelling field. In his
eyes I read an unforgiveness, a bitter
personal enmity, which I returned
vith interest, and secretly rejoiced
over.
"The lady seems to be in control at
present," he said shortly, shoving back
the revolver into his belt "Neverthe
less I shall do my military duty, and
hold you as a prisoner. May I inquire
your full ame and rank?"
"Philip Wayne, Captain th Vir
ginia Cavalry, Shirtley's Brigade."
"Why' are you within our lines?"
"I attempted to pass through them
last night with despatches, but wae
prevented by my desiro to be of as
sistance to this lady."
"Indeed?" He smiled incredulously.
"Your tale is quite interesting and
rather romantic. I presume you yet
carry tl papers with you as evidence
of its truth?"
"If you refer to the despatches, I dc
not. I sincerely trust they are already
safely deposited in the hands of the
one for whom they were intended."
A malignant lcok crept into Breo
nan's face, and his jaws set ominously.
"You will have to concoct a far
better story thanthat, my friend, be
fore you face Sheridan," he said in
solently, "or you will be very apt to
learn how a rope feels. He is net
inclined to parley long with such fel
lows as you. Bin his hands, men,
and take him out with you into the
road."
The two soldiers grasped me in
stantly at the word of command. For
a single moment i. braced myself to
resist, but even as I did so my eyes
fell upon a slight opening in the wall
and I caught a quick glimpse of Bun
gay's face, his finger to his lips. Ever,
as I gazed in astonishment at thi&
sudden apparition, a lighter toucfc
rested pleadingly on my arm.
'""o not struggle any longer, Captala
Wayne," spoke Mrs. Brennan's voice,
gently. "I will go to General Sheridan
myself, and tell h'-i taj entire story."
I bowed to her. and held out my
hands to be bound.
"I yield mysielf your prisoner,
madam," I said r oaningly, aud not
unconscious that her glance sank be
fore mine. "I even imagine the bondi
may prove not altogether unpleasant."
Brennan strode between us hastily,
and with quick gesture o his men.
"Bind the fellow," he said sternly.
"And mind you, sir, one word more,
and they shall buck you as well. It
may be valuable for you to remember
that I am in command here, however
I may seem to yield to the wish ol
Mrs. Brennan."
(TO BE CONTINUED.)
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HAPPY OLD AGE
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California Fig Syrup Co. plainly
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You'll generally always find that
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others, himself needs watching.
For IIEADACH IS IHek s' CAPUIUNB
Whether from Colds, Heat, Stomach or
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It's liquid pleasant to take acts immedi
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In Chicago.
"Did her husband die or resign?"
"I believe he merely failed of re
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Is what we understand when Dr.
Spalding, an eminent Baptist divine,
of Galveston, Texas, writes: "Send me
two bottles of Taylor's Cherokee Rem
edy of Sweet Gum and Mullein. It I
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Whooping Cough, etc.
At druggists, 25c, 50c. and $1.00 a
bottle.
Gentle Correction , Needed.
Mr. Littlerest Doctor, what did you
tell me was your special treatment for
sleeplessness? J,
Medico We strike at the cause or
the origin of the trouble.
Mr. LiUlerest You don't say so!
Well, you will find the baby in the oth
er room. Only, don't strike at him
too hard.
THE WEAK POINT.
Squilbob Don't know bow to court
the girl? Well, my boy, you just tell
her that you know she despise '"Jol
lying" and is the one woman In the
world who can't be flattered.
Squllllgan W'ell?
"That sort of guff will flatter her!"
TIED DOWN.
20 Years' Slavery How She Got Free
dom. A dyspepsia veteran who write!
from one of England's charming rural
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her 20 years' fight, naturally exults In
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"I had suffered for 20 years from
dyspepsia, and the giddiness that usu
ally accompanies that painful ailment,
and which frequently prostrated me.
I never drank much coffee, and cocoa
and even milk did not agree with my
impaired digestion, so I used tea, ex
clusively, till about a year ago, when
I found in a package of Grape-Nuts the
little book, 'The Road to WellvlIIe.
"After a careful reading of the book
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sent for a package. I enjoyed it from
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"I began to feel better very soon.
My giddiness left me after the first
few days use of Postum, and my stom
ach became stronger so rapidly that It
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ticles of food of which I was formerly
compelled to deny myself. I have
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that Postum 'makes good, red Blood.
"I have become very enthusiastic over
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and during the past few months, have
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my friends of the 'better way la which
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Co., Battle Creek, Mich.
Read the little book, "The Road to
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Ever read nbove letter A new
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latereit. .