Show MIST TALE OF or CIVIL STRIfE r I j RANDALL PARRISH If r tf r rf I IONS e f i sv SYNOPSIS 6 6 J t Confederate Sergeant Wyatt of the the Staunton artillery is sent as a a. aspy spy to his native county on the Green Briar by Genera General General Gen Gen- era eral Jackson Wyatt meets a mountaineer named a house Jem beyond Taylor n Hot l Springs They ride t In together the t house u to toa Wyatt and Taylor meet Major Harwood t I father of Noreen and an old neighbor of Wyatt who Is sent to bed while the two other men talk Wyatt becomes r tr clous ious and finds that Taylor has murdered y Harwood arwood and and- escaped Wyatt changes to the U U. U S. S cavalry uniform he has with r Win and ride away In the night running nto a detachment tl a of Federal cavalry to Bm g whom om he a himself as Lieutenant y r ff ymond Third U. U U S S. S. S cavalry cavalry by py y means K of papers With which he h has s been prO Captain Fox finds Harwoods Harwood's s body L and follows Taylors Taylor's trail Fox and Wyatt r believe Taylor to be ba old Ned N Cowan The Tie detachment 1 Is ambushed Wyatt escapes to the Green Briar country and goes to Harwood Hatwood's s apparently deserted home She where rS he finds s Noreen Harwood alone alope is a h a rS S1 does not ot recognize recognize him and and he lie in- in G 3 traduces tr rS' rS r hl himself as Lieutenant tenant Raymond t W CHAPTER VII VII Continued VIl Continued J My lips were dr dry but I nodded h half lt fearful I might be slipping Into some tra tray trap although her words and manner manner we were wera surely innocent enough c We were acquaintances not f friends I replied hoping the retort might cau cause e he her hel to change the subject t. t i M Mst st of the boys seemed to like him He was very pleasant to me and andI I had a splendid time I met one met one cadet named R Raymond he had dark hair and aad d eyes 7 I Oh yes I managed to answer r now Desperately alert There was another r in Jg the class James lass James R R. I beI be be- leeve L 5 I l l. v I d did 1 not learn his first name but IJ C x heard eard that a Lieutenant R Raymond Raymond Ray Ray- ymond y- y mond Vas was coming here I hoped it might be e he That was why I was so 69 deeply deep Y interested It t is 18 not t such a n II name m l 1 you J know jrr t u I merle m made de' de sonic l' l and nd she the sat satt t th there r I y her face turned now toward toward toward to to- ward ward the fire in the grate The profile t held m me mein me-In in fascination as I wondered what these seemingly s innocent qu ques questions ques- ques s- s R could signify Anyhow let the truth be what it may there was po no other course left for me but to keep on with the deception I was in the 4 heart of the enemy's country in disguise disguise dis dis- gu guise se my life forfeit in case of f discovery discovery ery and the me had not come when I I could entrust her with so danger dangerous a secret The wind rattled the blinds and the 1 5 rain beat heavily ag against the the side of the ho house se The The thought of venturing out into the storm not knowing where I could seek shelter was not an allurIng alluring ing lug one Nor r had I any excuse to urge for immediate Immediate departure Indeed Indeed as a gentleman and nd soldier my duty called me to remain for or her protection She could not be left alone in this desolate desolate desolate deso deso- late house It was my steady gaze that roused the lady from whatever dream the flames of the grate had given her She turned her head to meet my eyes then eyes then sat suddenly I erect the expression of her face ace instantly in in- instantly ch changing as she stared bey beyond be be- y yond yon me at at the open door I I wheeled I wh about to look startled at th the move- move went ment A man stood in the doorway water water streaming streaming from his clothes on to the floor I was on my feet Instantly a hand gripping my revolver r. r but Ut before before be- be fore fore I could whip it from the leather sheave the girl had taken the single step forward and rid grasped my sleeve f l Do lo Do not firs firl she exclaimed He Hela la is 1 not a fighting g man y I The fellow lifted one arm and andt t t. st stepped l forward iward full l into the light Hew He w was s a ma man o of years years unarmed a a atall tall f ungainly fig r a scraggly beard at athis athis t his chin and a face tace like ke parchment A His eyes were two deep wells s solemn lemn and j f Peace to you both he said gravely graven grave grave- ly I 1 Ask naught save save fire and shel shel- n I ter ten i l. l To these you are are welcome the girl et answered still clinging to my arm You travel alone Even as my master in rags and poverty poverty pov pov- s erty having no place wherein t to lay a my head The foxes have holes the 4 birds of the air have nests you nests you know 75 me me young woman Yes you are Parson Nichols An unworthy soldier of the cross I Ij j address the daughter of Major HarS Harwood Har Har- S wood wood and and this young man 2 Lieutenant Raymond of the Federal army she explained simply He Her r sought refuge here from the st storm rm The mans man's eyes eye sear searched hed my face face z but without cordiality without t sIo shun Bion of any kind Saying nothing he heI I crossed to the fireplace and held out i his hands to th the warmth of the blaze I rte The girls girl's eyes met mine almost ques- ques Then she stepped forward We were just completing our meal she said softly There is not m much ch 1 1 but we will gladly share what we have r 5 The flesh nothing he an an- k ti not even looking around and am andt the spirit liveth on the bread of life I IIi The he with only converse you Ii seek t 2 young man is an officer t Yes Yes on on recruiting service You trust You know him well wail him aim I 1 j j have not known him long ng she z r replied hesitatingly and glancing back f Yet I have confidence In in n him at me j The man an did not answer e of silence she and after a moment 3 asked 0 iry L o a Have you ridden far From Lewisburg In surprise Then you knew I was here You came seekIng seeking seek seek seek- ing lag me He turned on his stool his eyes searching her ner l lace face g gravely a elY On a mission of ministry he replied replied re re- re- re plied solemnly although whether it prove of Joy or sorrow I am am unable to say I am but an instrument The mans man's reluctance to speak freely freely free free- ly was apparent and I stepped for ward If It you prefer conversing with Miss Harwood alone I said quietly I I will retire The iThe words I I would would speak re indeed indeed in in- de deed of a confidential PI nature nature u atur No no she broke In in ln impulsively ly her eyes of appeal turned toward me me Donot l leave ave us lieutenant This man has bas nothing to say I am afraid to toh have ve you hear He has not come here as a friend friends there Is some evil purpose In all this which I cannot fathom She She- faced him now h her r slender r b body dy poised her eyes on his Tell me me what what It is Is' this this- mysterious mission Ay Ayl and who sent you ou to find me I will no not believe it was my father father The minister rose to his i feet et a tall ungainly figure his solemn face as expressionless expressionless ex ex- ex as before but a smolderIng smolder smolder- Ing resentment was In his set deep-set eyes He possessed the look of a fanatic one who would hesitate it at n nothing to gain his end T To me he was wag glen jen n repulsive In his narrow big bigotry try No it was not your father he said almost coarsely but It is a part of my Diy mission to bring to you young woman woman t the 1 news ne s 's of oo r i fathers father's t death ea peal Death M My rathe f dead aearl she h step stepped ea back from him lie her hoe hands pre pressed se-ct se ag against St E r-ey r reyes eyes Obeying the first Instinct of at protection I stepped to support her as she seemed seemed about io to fall That cannot be bel You lie I know you He lie You were never his friend You come here bere to tell me thatto that thatto thatto to frighten me to compel me to do something wrong The man exhibited no trace of enio emo- emo emotion tion no evidence nc of regret his voice th the same hard hard metallic sound I 1 expected this outburst he continued continued con con- unmoved Indeed it is no nomore nomore nomore more more than natural natural But I harbor no rese resentment and In this hour freely freely forgive for give all He that that the sword shall perish by the sword and my words are true But I saw him hilI- f four d days ys ago ago On his way east to Hot Springs with an au escort escort of soldiers It was there he was killed together with his servant A messenger brought the news A soldier One of Captain Foxs Fox's men men I A sardonic smile flickered an instant instant in in- stant on the preachers preacher's thin lips No but equally reliable one of Ned Nei d Cowans Cowan's mountaineers Captain Fox is a prisoner wounded and his men mostly dead A moment she she rested u unknowingly knowingly against my arm her face covered with her het hands bands There was that In the theman's theman's theman's mans man's words words and manner manner manner- which con convinced convinced con con- vinced her that he e spoke the truth The face tace she fin finally lifted was white and drawn The girl had changed to toa toa toa a woman She stood erect alone one one hand grasping th the back of a chair You say my father is dead killed dead killed she said In steady clear voice But be be that one or the other you nev never never i came here tonight through this storm to bring me such a message aI alone me Who sent you Parson Nichols What deviltry Is on foot My dear young lady Jady he began sm smoothly spreading his hands deprecatingly deprecatingly depre- depre Be charitable and Just I 1 realize that in the first shock of thus suddenly learning of your fathers father's demise demise de de- de- de mise you naturally speak harshly With me the past is forgotten blotted out covered with the mantle of Christian Chris Chris- tian charity I felt It my duty to break to you this sad news in all possible tenderness And you had no other object abject Certainly not what other could I possibly have aye had The man lied and 1 knew it the he suave soft tones of his voice irritated me The girl stood motionless silent her breath coming in sobs Then she turned her head slightly and her eyes met mine mine The The piteous appeal in their depths depth was all I 1 needed With a grim feeling of delight I took a a step forward for for- wa ward dand and the muzzle of my revolver r touched his breast Now Mister I said sale shortly well t h have ye d done le with this thi play acting play acting Not a move CHAPTER VIII i The The T Jaws of the Trap If eyes alone p possessed the p power wert to kill his would have done the deed bu buthe but the face with which I confronted him was s suf sufficiently grim t to make l him h real realIze realize real real- rea ize th the danger of a movement He H gave back a step but my revolver revolve pressed his side aide Dont try anything with me me Nichols Nich I 1 said sternly you are either going goIng going go go- ing to talk or die Ill I'll give you on one one chance chance andone and one only I 1 despise your you rInd and ana will kill you with pleasure sure J. J Now few answer me who me-who who told you of Major Harwoods Harwood's death I have said already the message was brought to Lewisburg by one of Ned Cowans Cowan's men Yes so you did but you never received re re- elved it at Lewisburg Oh Oh yes I know something myself The fact isyou Is isyou you rou never came here here tonight from Lewisburg Now are you ready to talk to o me Oh Ohl you are arel Very well who sent ent you you you-Cowan Cowan I ran my gun muzzle hard into his hid ribs ibs and he nodded sullenly his his' his lips drawn back in a snarl All the soft p palaver laver had vanished and he had be be- come ome a cowed brute I thought so you belong yourself to o the Cowan gang Not Not not in their deeds of blood and violence he protested The calls alls of my church compel me to minister minster min min- ister ster to my scattered flock flock flock- Never mind that kind of palaver Nichols Now what did he send you you for or r F I f waited wafted rPy my eyes on n his I co could ld not see the girl and dare not av avert rt my gaze f for r so much as an i instant stant The man wet his lips as as if if f they were parched arched and I could perceive the nerv- nerv us movement ment of his throat at I I 1 I c dont don't nt know Dont know what what this this is ismy my last call all ft 1 dont don't know whether he is comi coming g or r not ot h he blurted o out t r reluctantly lu He was hurt in the fight And if he cannot come come himself he means i to send others What What for or What does he want of the girl My ily h hammer clicked and th the man cringing ringing back read the stern meanIng mean mean- Ing ng of my face A A- terrible suspicion n surged urged surged over over ver me and nd I I. I w was s ready to kill He knew his life hung by a a hair To To-to To to marry rry h her r the words barey bare bate ly y audible dI bi biNot Not old Ned his N Ned his so son son n Anse inse I heard the he startled exclamation o othe of the he girl behind me Anse Ansa Cowan she cried her voice full ull of undisguised horror Marry mEto meto me to o that low brute Did he ever imagine I would consent ever even eyen look at it him I touched her with my my hand In restraint re re- t the revolver er still at the preachers preacher's preachers preacher's preach- preach ers er's r's rs heart The whole foul plot lay exposed In my my mind There was no Intention n of asking r your consent Miss Mis Harwood I f said a rs i she should id know all and face ace the truth There Is a reason a reason for this this his de desperate rate act which I do not wholly fathom fathom but it has to do with the he property here here and the feud between be be- tween Cowan and your father If Major Harwood be dead as as this man reports you are the sole heir and arid old Ned fed has conceived the Idea of marrying marry marry marry- ing ng you by force to his son He has I Iz z 1 The Muzzle of af My Revolver Touched H His Is Chest learned you are here alone and unprotected t tested and nd in In- In Inthis this creat creature re of his his his- this canting preacher preacher preacher-he he has found a fit tool ready at hand to o do Ills bis nis dirty work Is Is that it Nichols He muttered something inaudible Answer you black hearted black hearted cur you have confessed too much to hide ati anything any anything any any- thing now How many are coming g with Anse Cowan Maybe a half dozen of the boys I 1 dont don't know they w were re talking about It when I 1 left and thought it was goIng going going go go- ing to be a great lark Well it Is you are finding that out already When were they to be here I s shook k him to lo loosen sen his lagging lg t tongue ngue They were to ride out an hour after I did did didI I threw the wretch back back- into the chair before the fire but held him still cowering before the point of ot my r re revolver re volver The dog had told us all he knew and there was a snarl to his thin lips drawn back and exposing exposing his his yellow teeth showing that his only only- thought now was revenge Any mo moment roo- roo ment that gang of ruffians might appear ap ap- ap- ap pear and I vs us s helpless there alone to contend against them 1 I dared not move d dared red not av avert rt my gaze from loom the preacher there was hatred and alid treachery in the depths of his eyes Is Is there a lock on the parlor door leading ng Into ito the hall ball h ll I l asked A A Abolt bolt bolt bolt- bolt yes r Please sE close and bolt it it and then come back here I heard her her- turn and cross cross r ss the room room caught the sound as she shot the bolt and |