Newspaper Page Text
felt 1$ Is 'Mi PI E JAN API jr MY CAPTIVE. By JOSEPH A. ALTSHELEE, Author of "A Soldier of Manhattan," "The Sun of Saratoga," Etc. tCopyright,. 1900, by Joseph A. AltaielecJ LCONTINTJED.J The glrl_rose and walfeed oyer to me. Reaching down, she seized the end of my silk handkerchief, which was pro jecting from my pocket, and jerked it forth. She threw it into the fire and watched it burn, the red heat gripping the delicate silk and converting it in a moment to ashes. Then she turned upon me a face of flame. "You dajed to bind me, she said— "you a rebel and I an English woman, the daughter of a loyal English officer 1 You dared to insult me so!" "And I presume that is the reason you burn the handkerchief with which I bound, you," I said. "Yes. "Now that you have begun the job of burning I suppose you would like to burn me, too, as I am the man who tied the handkerchief, and I did so because you deserved it. She was silent, but her cheeks were as red as ever. I congratulate you upon your rescue, your rescuers, your company," I said. "They are loyal British soldiers." "They wear the British uniform. Any ruffian and robber may do that." I have seen Captain Orowder him self in the army of Gornwallis. My fa ther knows him, and I do too. "You know his face, and that is all. He may be a good enough British sol dier when he is with Cornwallis, but elsewhere he is anything that suits his purpose. Look at him and his comrades now." Every man had produced a bottle and was drinking deeply from it. The odor rose and was too strong to be swept away by the wind. "Look at them," I repeated. I con gratulate you on your company." They drank deeply and replaced their bottles in their pockets, where I was sure they were not destined to remain long. The red fled from the girl's face, but she said nothing, and giving me the same curious look of mingled triumph and defiance went back to her old place on the log. There she sat, staring straight into the fire, as if she were wholly oblivious of me and the other men around her. The partisans were in great glee. They laughed and cracked rough jokes, "and presently, as I had expected, pulled 'Out the bottles again and took a long, deep draft, once, twice, thrice. Their feces flushed from the effect of the strong spirits, and the loudness and roughness of their talk increased. Crowder, the leader, was the loudest and roughest of them alL j..-"That was a fine song you sang to that fellow there when you set him a-napping for- us to catch, Miss How ard," he said presently, "an we like music, too, don't we boys?" W frJ"Yes, yes!" they roared, all together. "An won't you kindly sing that song or another as good for us, Miss Howard?" he continued. _„-She made no answer, staring straight S at the red embers, her cheeks pale. 1 say, Miss Howard, don't you hear?" exclaimed Orowder roughly.,, "Yes, I hear," she replied, "bu I'm sorry I can't oblige you. I can't sing anyjnore." 1 '.ft*''-/ .A. :^r 'If you can sing for that A- —d rebel there," continued Crowder, I should think you could sing for us, who are good and loyal English like yourself." She was silent again. "Didn't we rescue you?" he con tinued. "Aren't we your saviors? Don't you owe us gratitude?" Still unanswered, he swore an oath and said to his comrades: Here's gratitude for you, lads. Well, if she won't sing for us, we can sing for her. How do you like this, my lady? It's called 'I'll Owre the Muir to Mag gy,' and it goes very well with the'song that you sang." Then he sang the old song, which, like the girl's, was Scotch: "And I'll owre the muir to Maggy— Her wit and sweetness call me— There to my fair I'll show my mind. Whatever may befall me. If she loves mirth, I'll learn to sing. Or, likes the Nine to follow, I'll lay my lugs in Pindus" spring And invocate Apollo. "If she admire a martial mind, I'll sheath my limbs in armor If to the softer dance inclined. With gayest airs I'll charm her If she love grandeur day and night, I'll plot my nation's glory, Find favor in my prince's sight And shine in future story. "Beauty can work wonders with ease Where wit is corresponding, And bravest men know best to please With complaisance abounding. My bonnie Maggy love can turn Me to what shape she pleases If in her breast that flame shall burn Which in my bosom blazes." His voice was not unmusical, and he bad some idea of rhythm and measura His comrades joined him, and they roared out a chorus which must have penetrated to the farthest edge of the wood. "I'l not only sing for you, Miss Howard," said Crowder, "bu I'll dance for you too.'' It was plain enough that the man was drunk and was relapsing into his natural condition of savagery. I hoped that he would fall into the fire, but he did not. His drunken head swayed from side to side, but he kept step to the beat of the song. One of the men drew his empty bot tle and beat upon its side with his knife blade. It made a lively tinkle that sounded like music, and the others, seeing his success, imitated him. Crow der had not only a vocal but an instru mental chorus as well. His zeal in creased, and he danced like an Indian at a scalp dance, while the men roared out the seng and beat their bottles with enthusiasm. "Again I congratulate you on your company, your glorious band of res cuers, Miss Howard," I called out to her. I know she heard me, but she did not reply. Her lips were set firmly, but her cheeks were growing paler and paler, and she seemed to be white to the hair. I tugged at my bonds, but I could not move them. The song stopped for a moment, and Crowder, looking around for further amusement, spied a A good song, boys, and good fun," he cried, "bu here's better fun. Let's hang the prisoner and see him squirm." The others, as drunk as their leader, shouted their approval, but the girl sprang up. "You shall not do that!" she cried. "And why not, miss?" asked Crow der. is our prisoner." *s\? "Because I will not permit' it! she cried. They roared with laughter. "If you do, she said, I will report your act to Colonel Tarletqn. This man DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS SILAS B. FOOT, RED WING. PRESIDENT Of Foot, Schulze & Co., Manufacturers and Jobbers of Boots and Shoes and President of Duluth, Red Wing & Southern R. R. Co. ELBERT A. YOUNG, ST. FAUL. VICE-PRESIDENT fJL Of Finch, Van Slyck, Young & Co., £&»«l Wholesale Dry Goods DICKERMAN, ST. PAUL /ice-President of Security Trust Co., and -Ji -5$ id ot Dickerman Investment Co. CHARLES L. LEWIS, DULUTH. &*$&¥'& Judj He took a large flask from his haver sack and shared it with his men. Then they began to sing and dance again, all of them wild with drink. It was an orgy of savagea The fire had died down and ceased to blaze only the red embers glowed in the dark ness. I could feel the blackness of. the night which rolled up and encircled us more closely. The girl was as immova ble as a statue. Her tawny hair shone in the dim light, and I could see that her face was still white, but that was all. One of the men fell down presently from sheer exhaustion. "Let him lie," said Crowder. "He'll sleep as well there as anywhere." The man never moved, but began to snore, and a second one yielded to exer tion and whisky and, stretching himself out on the ground, went to instant sleep. Crowder himself was the third and was followed speedily by the others, including the sentinel, who had joined without objection in the orgy. The six aaen were sound asleep in a slumber heavy with weariness and liquor. 3 Mi */mm *3« REASURER VKM. ELY BRAMHALL* ST. PAUL.'"" VpKi 'SECRETARY, Counselor at La -/I" *%-?&f«s :. .. .,,- "We a 19 tracts a re a over J000 acres, scattered he beat portions of the oil districts of ,'l? so a a in Texas, of which are, near he great g^shets which a a a & a in determined to obtain a gusher if possible, we are boring a well on land just purchased on S in Hill, only 600 feet southeast of he famous a which sold for $ J,250,000, and 600 feet east: of he ii S a gusher which as just come in practically between the is land cost a large a is considered sure gusher land. N gusher as yet been obtamed in as except,on this hill a no well driven on it as failed to be a gusher, producing in he neighborhood of 70,000 barrels a a is purchase"' zedixzes he speculative element in this venture to he in practically eliminates it. ,,-•»- Fo development purposes we are offering a limited a of treasury stock at 25 cents a a re a a $J.OO* he price will soon be advanced* W feel safe in recommending he purchase of this stock, believing we will obtain at least oil to a good dividends on its cost, a expect to a believe we will obtain a gusher it in 9 0 days which will at once a it a times at it cost you* tf-^t^sK-j? is an important prisoner. He can guide Tarleton to Morgan, and he will do it to save his life. He must be taken safely to the British camp. Tarleton will re ward you well." "All right, if you say so, Miss How ard," he said. "Anything to oblige, especially one as handsome as you are. And we won't hang him tonight. Maybe we will do it in the morning anyhow, but that's no reason why we should1 stop the fun now. A soldier's life is hard, and he ought to make merry while he can." & I do hot, know what they are, she replied/with alarmed insistence, "but let's go. Pray take me at once." She pulled at my shoulders as if she vrould have me rise and go on the in stant. "S CAPITAL STOCK $1,000,000 FULLY PAID NOW-ASSESSABLE NO PERSONAL LIABILITY SEND FOR PROSPECTUS TO& &%$? SEND YOUR REMITTANCE TO A —•—«-^w 4 #L- ,SECURITY TRUST COMPANY f'SSAL AGENTAND DEPOSITORY. V^JcjjTvV* ST. PAUL, MINN.,~ &« fc itf% iX^&H A last brand fell over in the coals and blazed up. The girl rose from the log, and by its light I could see that her face had turned from white to red. Slie walked quickly over to me and said in a voice shaking with excitement and alarm: "Take me away from here, Mr. Mar eel 1 Take me away at once! I would rather be with you than these men, these savages, these brutes 1 Nor is your life safe here!" "They wear the British uniform. They must be loyal British soldiers," I could not keep from saying. -i6 ^'&?• -..v ..- .• .»-.- '4lX2JLar***£U~J *l "Urtfie my wrists," I said. She tugged at the cords, but could do nothing. They were tied too tight. "Take a knife from that drunken fool's belt," I said, indicating one of the men. "Don't be afraid. He won't wake." '^.K She took the knife from the man's belt and cut my bonds. I rubbed my wrists together for a few minutes to take out the stiffness and to restore the circulation. Again she urged me to itart without delay. "Wait a minute," I said. W must provide ourselves." They had taken my arms from me when they bound me, and I recovered them, adding to my supply Crowder's pistol and some ammunition. Then I turned to the horses. "ITIFTIE MY WHISTS" I SAID. ^£EW^i£Yi 01d Put's great dark eyes flamed with approval arid gladness. He had stood at his halter's length, watching the orgy and my rescue with attention and understanding. j^f^'"%' "We'l bid farewell to these beasts now, old comrade," I said in a whisper, 'f $ patting his nose. ^V He was too cautious to whinny a re- jjj|'',"%^ ply. The brown hack was near him, but I saw another among those belonging to the guerrillas which I fancied much more than he. I hastily changed Miss Howard's saddle to his back, assisted her to mount and sprang upon Old Put. I turned the heads of our horses to ward the northwest, but as .the woods before us were dense and interlaced with wiry bushes and creeping vines we dared not attempt more than a walk. The horses stamped and neighed as we" left them. The girl's mount stepped on a large, dry branch, which broke with. a crack like a pistol shot. Nor did ill luck stop at that. The abandoned-, horses, frightened by the report, neighed. V,/ and stamped again, creating a great up roar. The sentinel, who was the least drunk of the party, sprang to his feet. He was yet half dazed with sleep and liquor, but he saw the dim figures of a. man a woman riding away from the little encampment, and he knew that, according to the plans'of Captain Crow der, it was not what should be. He fired a hasty pistol shot in our direction, the bullet clipping the dry twigs above our heads, and then shouted to his comrades-. to awake, giving emphasis to his cries with many sturdy kicks. "Look out for your head!" I shouted to Miss Howard. "A untoward bough, might prove fatal. And be sure you stay with me. "I'll not leave you," she said. "Now, Old Put, I said, "lead us^ out of this." ). He curved his long neck in the dark ness and looked ahead with sharp brown-, eyes. I let the reins fall loose, and he wound about among the trees with a, judgment that was never at fault. The other horse kept close at his side. Be hind us we could hear the cries of the awakened men as they leaped upon their horses and rode after us, shoutingr to us to stop. Two or three more pistoL shots were fired, but the air received them. If the men could see at all, it was but dimly, though they could follow us by the hoof beats of our horses and the tearing of the vines and slapping of the bushes as we passed. They made such a. prodigious cursing and swearing that we were never in any doubt as to where they were. I had a mind for a moment, to send toward them a pistol ball which, would stop their fuss, but I concluded', that the more noise they made the bet ter it would be for us, as it gave us ex act warning of their approach. They: did not seem to be gaining upon us, which was a satisfaction for the present Out on the plain they would see us more distinctly, but I believed that our horses could leave them there. &?'£% 3 I saw a beam of light shining through. the latticework of the boughs and then, another and another and knew that we would soon be in the open. The girl'si horse stumbled, and she uttered a littler cry of dismay, but in a moment the horse was steady an his feet again, and. we went on. The beams grew more» i" numerous ami fused into a broad shield. *.' of moonlight. Two minutes more and: we would be out 6f the wood and into the cleared ground, with the fields rac ing behind us. faralfrzed. Judge—Pat, to save time I suppose* you will admit that you were drunk? Pat—Dhrunk, sor? Oi wor so sober, sor, that me naybors tort Oi wor dead 'f ond wor 'bout to hould awake over me, sor.—Up to Date Very Low Rate Excursion Tickets to the Pau-A nierican Exposition, Kuffalo, N. Y.. Via the North-Western Line are sold daily with favorable return limits. Di rect .connection at Chicago, with fast trains of all linos to Buffalo. For furth er particulars, apply to agents. An il lustrated booklet will be mailed on re ceipt of two cents postage by W. B. Kniskern, G. P. & T. A., Chicago. 27 29 '"I V" ?*8. [TO BE CONTINUED.] 'l I *. Don't tie the top of your Jelly and preserve jars in the old fashioned way. Seal them by the new, quick, absolutely sure way—by a thin coating of pure, refined Paraffine Wax. Has no taste or odor. Is air tight ana acid proof. Easily applied. Useful iu a dozen other ways about the house. Full directions w£th each pound cake. Sold everywhere Made by STANDARD OIL CO- CHICHESTER'S ENGLISH* IINMYROYAL PILLS it Safe. Always reliable. I^xuliea, CHICHESTER'S EBiULIKH in Red an* Gold metallic boxes, sealed with blue ribbon. a no other. Refuse daogeroiu «abat£ tutlons and imitations. Buyof your Drug or send 4e. in stamps for Particular*, T« a and Relief for Ladies," in by return Hall.. 10,00© Testimonials. 8old I all Druggista. -?. CHICHESTER CHEMICAL. CO. 2100 ntadiHOD .Square, PHttA. Mention ifcla paper. il