The War Library: Phil, the Scout — page 5: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

THE WAR LIBRARY. | ¥, 7 ing? Leave me with the doctor, captain. I want him to tellme how badly I am hurt. Let the villain who fired upon me go for the present. By and by I will meet him again face to face.”’ __Led by the captain, the soldiers vacated theroom, leaving the wounded man with the surgeon. - Although the colonel had expressed the wish that no pursuit should be given, there _ were reasons why Cuptain Drury determined him and drawn ' to go in search of the intruder, _ Hehalf believed Phil Lamonte was con- nected with the firing of that shot. At any rate the young man had deceived rom his lips information which might prove fatal to the Confederate plats. _Smarting under this unconsciousness, Drury summoned a band of trusty men and hurried out upon the road. For some time he hardly knew which way toturn. Then falling in with the men who had just had the encounter with our hero, he learned that he had ridden away with Laura Doane, in the direction of the home of the latter. ‘Ha! So she is concerned in this matter, is ahe? It looks likea conspiracy. If itis, V’ll ferret it out, if it costs me the entire night. This way, lads,’’ he shouted. ‘t To the Doane mansion. [ think we’ll find the young devil there who cheated us so to-night, and I am almost certain he had something to do with - the shot at Colonel Fontneroy.’’ y Dashing up the road through the rain, which still came down in torrents, the band rapidly made their way toward the house of _ the Doanes. The night was intensely dark. Not a foot in advance could they see. The mud splashed heavily under the feet of the horses. — Upon reaching the mansion, Captain Dru- ry commanded his companions to surround itand permit no one to pass. Thoughit was believed that the Doanes were friendly to the Confederacy, it was known that Molly Grame’s heart was true to the stars and stripes, and thestory told by the guard of the flight of Laura with the daring young scout lent a shadow of suspicion to even her fidelity to the Southern cause. ; Mounting the steps to the porch, Captain Drury pounded loudly upon the heavy oaken panel with his pistol, at the same time ex- _elaiming: “We want Phil Lamonte!”’ Hearing this peremptory demand, Laura sprung from the couch upon which she had , thrown herself and hastened to the door. The light from the brilliant chandelier withiu, resting upon her features,showed that they were tear-stained and full of anguish. * You bring me news from him—from Col- onel Fontneroy. Whatisit? So he——”’ _ “tHeis badly hurt, that we can tell you; and we are here after that young dare-devil, Phil Lamonte, who came here with you just now. It’s no use to say he is not here. We’ve found your horse, and he is wet and foaming outside, and we know heis here.”’ . ** Tf heis, Ido not know it,’’ said the girl, brushing away her tears and growing the beautiful and haughty Laura again. ‘A stranger rescued me from the hands of = a number of your ill-bred men as short time ago; but it was not the man you name. Phil Lamonte has not been in these parts in years. You are mistaken.” “Ttell you we are not. I have seen him this night with my own eyes. You cannot make me think your story 1s true. You may as well know, firstas last, that you and he are under suspicion as having been connect- ed with the wound received by Colonel Fontueroy to-night.”’ ‘“‘Tt’s a lie!"’ cried the girl, fiercely. “I ~ won't listen to such a base accusation. Itis afoul plot against me. It shall fail! I scorn : you all.”’ She stood proudly erect, facing the hard- featured Confederates as she spoke, and her keen eyes flashed at the insult placed upon her. What! she accused of intrigue iu bringing about this blow upon Colonel Fontneroy? Why, she loved him! She would have given her life to save his. ‘The idea was too preposterous, and stepping back into the room she was about to close _ the door, when the Confederate officer put up his hand and hissed through his clinched teeth : “You give me the lie and your scorn in the same breath. I am not the man to take either, even from the lips of a woman. Now we willsearch the house.”’ The captain took a step forward That instant a pistol touched his forehead 84 ” and an ominous click woke the echoes of the room. The hand of Laura Doane held the weapon. She was now pale as the driven snow, but there was a look in her face which boded no good to the rebel before her. ‘‘Lam but @ woman, sir, but I tell you this,’’ she said, ina voice which thrilled the hearts of her listeners. ‘‘No man enters here save over my lifeless body. Iama Doane. All my life long I have lived among the people of Tennessee. My heart’s best wish bas been for the success of the Con- federate cause. Butif this is the manner in which you conduct your warfare; if you, sir, are a specimen of the Southern soldier, [ am done forever with you. I am innocent, God knows it, of the charge you bring against me. As for the young man you seek to implicate in conspiracy with me, I know nothing. He may ormay not beguilty as you allege. I do not believe heis. If he is under this roof, he shall be protected to the last. I dare you to enter further !”’ Recoiling a little, the Confederate stood for a moment irresolute. He rebelled against being thwarted in his intentions by the slender girl. By nature a poltroon, he was, neverthe- less, aman of great brute strength, before which few would care to stand. There was a villainous look in his evil eyes, as he heard the words of the fair maiden. Was he indeed to be foiled by her? Foiled, never! Watching her closely, he leaped forward, and striking up Laura’s arm, bore her with terrible force to the floor. Scarcely had she touched the floor when a figuresprung out of the shadow, and Phil Lamonte appeared on the scene. He had divested himself of the Confederate uniform, and stood clad in the Union blue. At oue blow he hurled the rebel captain to the floor. Then turning to the band of soldiers crowding to the threshold, he ex- claimed: ‘Will you try to imitate the example of your captain? Tamready to meet any one who dares to risk his life. Iam Phil La- monte. You know me of old. Come onif you will!” Staggering to his feet, the captain yelled, fiercely : ‘“Yes, we know you, and you shall know us better before we are through with this matter; you traitor! You’re the man we came here after, and, by Heaven, will take you dead oralive! If you want to carry the battle into this house, so be it. Up, boys, and avenge the blood of our colonel! The Confederate drew his pistols and rush- ed almost blindly forward. He was met by a blow from the fist of Phil Lamonte, which sent him again reeling backward. But the fight was no longer with this man alone, Incitei by words of their leader, half a score plunged through the doorway to sup- port him. It was a moment of peril. One man and two women against a host of armed soldiers. As the rebels one by one crossed the threshold the powerful arm of the young man laid them low. As yet not a shot had been fired. But each moment Phil expected to hear the dreadful sound of a pistol. And it came. Some one in the mass of struggling, raging human beings upon the floor discharged a shot which went hurtling through the air close to the head of the daring Phil. In the space of a second there came an an- swering report from the weapon of Laura Doane. It could hardly have missed some oue in that living wall, and a erv of distress showed that it had taken effect Another shot! This time the finger of Molly Grame sped the bullet. Like heroines of old these two were de- feuding their paternal castle. With Laura the controlling thought was no longer that of love for the seceding South. She had resolved that her patriotism would be wasted on men so devoid of true man- hood as these. Fierce though this contest was, and loud as were the outcrys that went up, above the din, the ears of the gallant Phil suddenly heard the sound of horse’s feet clattering up the sandy walk, and peering through the doorway he saw coming out of the shadow a single horseman. Listening, he expected to hear sounds in- dicating a bitter struggle outside, for he felt o ———$—— that this must mean help for him, and he was right. Hesaw the horseman flitting hither and thither among the rebels blocking up the space before the house; heard dull yet crushing blows and watched the band of as- sailants dwindle away till not one was left; ‘all had fled howling into the storm and dark- ness. Then a man bounded up the steps and halted before the surprised persons he had so nobly saved. CHAPTER Y. A WOMAN'S RUSE. It wasa singular face which looked out from under the low cavalry hat on the head of the man who stood at the door of the Doane mansion. There was no doubt inthe mind of Pbil that the stranger was in disguise. The hair and beard were those of a man far advanced in years, while the eyes peeping from their bushy covering were those of one much younger. . This might have escaped the notice of an ordinary observer, but not our hero. And he saw more; the hungry expression which every feature bore. We have seen that face before to-night. It was the same which glared into the window of Colonel Fontneroy. Leaning against the doorway, this strange man said,in a tone half inquiry, half sur- prise : ‘* Well!’ ‘““You have done us a good turn, my friend,’’ Phil responded, reaching out his hand. ‘‘Indeed, you speak the truth, Mr. La- monte,’’ exclaimed Molly, also coming for- ward. ‘‘ We were in a terrible position. Do you think we have seen the last of those men ?’’ This to the stranger, ‘“You don’t know ’em as well as I do, if you think that, miss,’ was the reply. “That Captain Drury is a fiend, I can assure you. They'll be back here in a few minutes, an’ they’1l come for business.”’ Laura now pressed forward, beautiful, though pale as ashes. ‘‘Oh, tellus what todo! All this trouble has come through a mistaken idea that I have some knowledge of the shooting of Colonel Fontneroy. They willbe satisfied at nothing less than my arrest, I suppose. By giving myself up I can put a stop to this persecution. If they come again I will do go. I know the colonel will direct my discharge as soon as heisable to attend to the matter, if that time ever comes,’’ ‘* Don't worry about his being hard hurt, miss,’’ said the stranger, directing his words to Laura. ‘‘I know he is not seriously in- jured.”’ ‘*You know it, strange man,” she said, eagerly, placing her hand upon his arm and looking up into his stern face. ‘‘ Are you sure that you know what you say is true? It means a world to me.” A smile lighted up the features of their preserver. ‘Miss, Old Janquin would not deceive you if he could. I’m sorry if you’re anything to that man, or he to you; for I know him— ah! how welll know him—but the wound he received to-night was not fatal. Rest your breast on that. But I tell you again they willreturn. If you have any way of escape, now is the time.”’ ‘*T think our friend is right,’’ Phil said. ‘Not alone you, Laura, are sought, They wantme, I havearoused their ire by fer- reting outadesperate plan they have on foot, and they will hunt me down to the last. I think if I were not here all would be well with the ladies. It is l who have brought all this misfortune.,”’ ‘“Say not so,’ cried Molly, putting her hand tothe lips of the brave young man. ‘* You have saved us from death, perhaps. You shall not reproach yourself.”’ Laura put her hand in that of Phil. ‘‘Mr. Lamonte,’’ she said, “you must let me thank you for the noble part you have borne this evening. I do not agree with you in your ideas about the merits of the North- ern cause; but 1 think I know a true man wherever I find him.’’ There was a tender light in her eyes aa she spoke. It was evident that she felt what she said deeply. Before Phil could reply the stranger said quickly: ‘““Thisis no time for words like these. Time is too precious. Even now I hear the tread of horses on the road. Which will you do, make a useless fitht or fre! - GOmicbooksscom i G her face