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The Diamond Drill. THOS. CONLIN, Editor. CRYSTAL FALLS. i MICHIGAN j The Red Mill Road. 5 By C. B. LEWIS. " ... (From th National Magatlne. Reprinted by special permission.) ir-nOIttVAItD, march! RJght face! JL Left facet Order arms! Te-Jie he! I'll scare Bessie Balnea most to death, I guess. Attention! Forward, march ha-ha-ha!" Down the road frotn Mi direction of Bennington cam a strange figure. It was that of a young man of 22 or S3, and his dress was a mixture of continental and British uniform. On his shoulder retted a stick, instead of a musket, and his face bore that vacuous expression always necn with en idiot. It was nhout noon of an August idny. Below him, as he halted to make ready for ft charge, was the red mill wherein Elijah Baines had ground corn and wheat and buckwheat for the public for a decade. In the rear of the mill was the miller's house, and while he ground the grists and took only the toll of an honest man,his daughter Bessie, who was motherless, minded the house and sometimes worked be tide him. On this summer day the big wheel vrnn at rest, and the waters fretted and splashed and gurgled as they found a way over the moss-grown buckets. The miller had been one of the minulcmen called out to harass and annoy Gen. Burgoyne as he ought to get Into Fort Kdward. and In one of the many skirmishes had been shot through the leg and brought back homo for nursing. All along the. New York and Vermont line the patriots were tip in arms and .waiting. "Hip-hurrah!" cried the Idiot, as he came dashing down on the mill and turned a corner. "Firo , at will! Charge the enemy with the bayonet! He-he-he! How scared you look, Bes sie!" His shouts had brought the girl to the door. She smiled as she saw the young man's queer dress. "I knew it was you, Win!m," she quietly said. "What are they doing In Bennington?" "What are they doing? Why, they are doing . Sight fscct Vft faeel Halt! Load your muskets! Charge your bayonets and drive the British!' I'm a general now, Bessie. Don't you ;want to matry a general?" She watched him with pitying smile ns he marched up and down before her. and thmv out his chest and held 'tip his chin In on effort to look Impor tant. She had known him for years, and had always spoken kindly; and in return his atttachmcnt for her was like that of n dog to its master. "No, you won't marry me," he said ns he came to a halt and tried to bring his heels together. "I know who you are going to marry tc-he-he! I've een him kiss you and you kissed back. It's Capt. Luke Greenwood tc-he-he." "S'ou mustn't" talk that wnyl" said the blushing girl In tones of reproof. Trc got a sweet-cake In tho oven, nnd when It's done I'll give you a big piece. Bun nwaj-, now, and fight the British. Hark! What's that!" From over 'the hills and meadows end tree-tops to the north came the notes of fifes and the beat of drums, and the red cheeks of the girl grew pale ns she listened. She realized in a moment what the sounds meant. Burgoyne had Pent out his 1,000 men ,on' the march to Bennington. At Balem the entire command should have gone on by the left-hand road. Instead of that, and to deceive Col. fitarky waiting on that road behind defenses, all but 200 men had swung Into the Bed mill road, and would find !lt clear of patriots from Salem to Ben nington. "Arc the British coming?" asked "William In a whisper, as he crowded doner to the girl. "It must bo them!" she answered, os nhc caught her breath. "Climb up the ladder, William, and tell me what you can see." Them was a rough ladder leaning ogaJnst the north wall of the mill, and the Idiot was soon at the top and look ing northwards. "I nee red-coats and flags red coats and flags!" he called to the girl. "Father, Burgoyne's men are com ing! " exclaimed the daughter, as she ran Into the house. "We can hear the drums and fifes, and William says there are many soldiers." "It Is so! It is sol" replied the miller, as he raised himself up on his elbow to listen. "God defend Ben nington If the British nro coming by this road! Bun away, girl-hlde your self In the woods before they reach us. If tho. troops are Hessians they will "kill me and burn the mill!" "Bun away never!" shouted Bcs f.ie. "Be quiet, father don't try to get up. We have two muskets and powder and ball, and they shall kill me before they lay hands on you! Be (quiet be quiet!" At the door, she hurried out, the girl found the idiot. He was parad ing up and down with the stick on his shoulder. The notes of life and drum sounded nearer, "Oh! William!" she said, as she grafped his arm and halted him, "try 1o understand what I oni going to fay to you! Look at me look Into my eyes! The British arc coining!" "YeJ, the British are coming, but tfon't you be afraid, Bessie Baines. I sin n general, you know." "Listen, William. It is noon, Jnd the soldiers will halt here for on hour. )o you know where ("apt. Greenwood jf You cau find Wilnut bill. It It OTer there over there. You must know tho place you have been there?" . "Ves, I know," he replied, evidently trying his best to follow her. "Luke Is there at Walnut hill with his scouts. Look at me, William you must go at once, and run as fast as you can!" "Yes yes; I can run like a deer. I'll find Luke, I will. Here, you take my gun and shoot the British and I'll go." Tell Luke there are 1,000 soldiers." "Yes yes; there are 1,000 1,000,000 but we can lick 'em all!" "Boor boy poor boyl Oh, I pray to God to give him his wits for an hour, If no longer! Beraember, Wil liam Walnut hill a thousand men run! run!" "Yes Walnut hill thousand men Boom! Bangl Bun!" "They are almost here, father," said the girl, as she stepped within the door; "they will stop here for the noonday halt. I have sent William to tell Capt. Luke, and the captain will send word to Col. Stark. Oh, if Wil liam can only remember if our sol diers will only get word in time!" "You should have gone," said the father in hopeless tones. "I am wounded, but the Hessians have bayo netted wounded men on every field. The mill is undefended, but tho men who burn farmhouses and churches will not spare a mill. Kiss me, Bes sie, and God keep us!" The girl went back to the door and looked out upon the red-coated sol diers as the head of the column forded the creek and came to a halt on the great open field opposite the mill. It was hardly five minutes before fires were being lighted and coffee made, but it was half an hour before the last of the column arrived. A few sol diers, accompanied by an officer, looked through the mill. They found not even a half-ration of flour or meal for a hungry soldier. Tho search was followed by muttcrings and curses, ancL a voice cried out that the mill should be burned. Then a score of the first arrivals, whose hunger had been satisfied, crowded up to the door of the miller's house, and a sergeant leered at tho girl and said: "Out of the way, my pretty; there may be a score of your gallant coon hunters hiding under the beds, and we would make acquaintance." "Only my father is here," she re plied, as she barred his way with her arm; "only my old father, and he Is badly wounded." "Wounded, eh? One of the rebel bushwhackers who fought us at Fort Kdward and got a king's bullet into him. That's better yet. We must have him out and put him on his knees to take the oath to good King George. Stand aside, girl!" "No one shall enter here!" she resolutely replied. "Ah! little rebel!" chuckled the sol dier, ns he looked around upon his comrades with smiles and winks, "but you're fishing for n kiss, I sec. You shall have one, and it shall bo such a smack that all may hear. I take you thus" One of the muskets leaned against the wall within reach of the girl's hand. As the soldier reached out to grasp her she stepped back and next instant the muzzle of the flrcarm was pointed at his breast and she was say ing to him in a low, stern voice and blazing eyes: "Lay a hand on me or try to force this door, and I will kill you!" "Oh-hol Oh-hol" he sneered, ns he started back in fear and anger. "So tho hare has claws! I would have kissed you and not been too hard on tho wotfnded man, but you go too far. No she rebel shall menace me thus." "Burn tho mill! Burn 'cm out!" cried a score of voices in chorus, as the owners pressed forward. The sergeant seemed about to give the order when a British captain forced his way through the crowd to the door. For a moment he looked at the girl and. her leveled musket at the sergeant up at tho walls of the mill. Then he asked: "What is this? What are you men about to do?" "Wo wanted to search the house, captain," humbly replied the sergeant, "but she threatened to shoot. Give the word, and we'll burn 'em out." "Away with you out of this!" shouted the officer. "Did we march here to menace a girl? Would you light a beacon fire to tell the rebels at Bennington that wo are coming? Back to your companies!" "Only my father is here," Bald Bes sie, as she lowered her musket, "and he Is wounded." "A rebel, of course," said the cap tain, half to himself, as he entered the house, "but he shall have protection, for nil that. The dogs of Hessians would even kill A blind babe. Tell me, girl, is there a rebel force at Ben nington?" "There are patriots there," she re plied. "Ah yes. That is another name for them. And in what force?" "I cannot say." "And no one Is hiding about here?" "Not a soul." "You aro a brave girl and shall not be annoyed again. I will place senti nels at the door." The mill wis saved. Certain of the soldiers cursed loud and deep because they were compelled to stay their hands, but no fire was lighted. With that contempt for time and the pa triots which was evinced almost dally for years, the British force lingered when they should have been morchlng, rested when they should have been pushing ahead. It was nearly two o'clock when the fifes and drums gave warning and the head of the column started up the road, and it was 20 minutes later when the last soldier disappeared. "God has prenerved us!" said the miller, a his daughter went in to. him. Tut ihey may capture the stores at Bennington and destroy the town. Oh! if the mountain boys I! brave John Stark only gets tht news!" "They will, father," she replied, "and now I must help them still fur ther." "You you what can yoti do?" "William has surely found Luke. God will help him to make it plain. Luke will send word to Col. Stark, and then fell trees to obstruct the road. I will use the ax, father. I will go up the hill and cut down trees. We mustn't leave the way open for the enemy to return." "And I am wounded and can't help you!" he wailed after her as she ran from tho house with nn ax in her hand. A quarter of a mile up t3ie Benning ton road the highway passed through the virgin forest, and theno was a deep cut through the hills. Tho girl glanced up at the trees to see how they leaned, and then selected one and applied 'the ax. In a quarter of an hour it came crashing down and the roadway Was blocked. Then nnother end another, and her work was done. The last treo was down and the girl stood panting, when the sounds of musketry reached her ears. Dropping the ax, sho ran with all haste to tho house. "Aye! I hear them the fight has begun!" shouted the father as she en tered. "I am going up to the barricade, father, and I will take both muskets along. If tho enemy seeks to return I must firo upon him I must hold him!" "And I I cannot go with you!" he moaned, as he held out his hands and sobbed in his helplessness. With a musket in either hand the girl ran back up the road, her foot steps hastened by the volleys of musketry. Kneeling at the barricade, sho loaded a weapon with trembling hands, and was about to creep for ward among the felled trees, when the idiot leaped down beside her and glee fully shouted: "I did it, Bessie I told 'Capt. Luke! He cut down trees, and sent word to tho big general, and they aro fighting fighting fighting! Don't you hear I it? They can't get out, and we shall kill 'cm all!" "God bless you, William!" she half sobbed as she rose up. "Oh, if wo only had a hundred men here fifty a scon; a dozen!" "But ain't I here, Bessie? I can shoot a musket, even if the noise docs make me jump. See how tall I am! See what long steps I can take! Bight face! Left face! Shoulder arms! Order arms! Barade rest! Don't you be afraid when I am here." "William, she said, as she laid a hand on either shoulder, "listen to me ond help me, nnd may God give yon a mind as bright ns day for your re ward! We have got to fight. We have got to kill men. We have got to hold this road. Keep your eyes on mine nnd try to understand every word I say. You do understand, don't you?" "Yes yes I understand. We havo got to fight and kill men. Yes, I know." "Heaven is sending him light." whispered the girl ns she followed him. "He understands nnd will help me!" It had been quick work with tho patriots. They had looked for tho enemy by the other road, nnd had easily held at bay the small force sent to deceive. The idiot had hastened as never before. He had told his story almost word for word ns he had been commanded to, nnd within a quarter of on hour trees were falling across the highway and a courier was riding to Col. Stark. Then the patriot force gathered with tho swiftness of death. They swarmed out of Bennington down from the hHls out of the green forests. They gathered behind the felled trees nnd the great bowlders and opened fire. Tho haughty and headstrong foe scarcely halted at first, but as fresh forces came up they were made to realize they had entered a trap and must fight for their lives. "We aro hemmed In wo are lost!" was the cry, and it was answered from the barrier with: "We aro fighting Bessie wo are fighting nnd killing nnd whipping the enemy! Load! Aim! Fire! Isn't It grand?" "Down, William, down I" cautioned the girl. "We are holding them wo are confusing them! Oh! if we had a dozen more a dozen more!" "Hurrah! hurrah! hurrah!" cheered a score of men who burst through a thicket on the hillside and came tumbling nnd rolling to tho roadway. "Into the barricade, men, nnd hold it to the last." It was Capt. Greenwood nnd n few of his scouts, and they had scarcely fired three volleys before the fato of the battle was decided. There was no advance no retreat no breaking out of the blood-sodden highway to right or left. There was nothing left but surrender, and of the thousand men who had marched out of Fort Edward less than 200 fugitives returned. "You you hero Bessicl" cried Cspt. Luke in amazement as he found tha girl among tho branches with musket In hand. "Oh! Luke!" ,hc sobbed ns she put down her weapon and covered her faco with her hands, "I have had to kill men three five seven of them!" And I have killed, too!" added the idiot ns he rose tip and swung his hat. "Te-he-he! Bessie nnd n-p have fit and fit nnd killed and killed, nnd and I" A panic-stricken Hessian, on Ida knees and robbing with fright, fired his musket nt random, and the whist ling bullet struck the poor idiot nnd laid him low. "Cod reward him!" vobbed Bessie, as she kissed a fiire which had never been kis;ed by maid bcfoiw. "Of all men who have died for liberty to-day, his name ebould longest be re lacta te red!" l'oker mm& l-olltloa. "Charley, dear," mid yming Mrs. Torkins, "I hope you are not departing from the pre cepts of our forfath'cra and allowing your elf to be dazzled by the pomp and glitter of empire?" "What book did you get that out of!" aaked her husband. "No book," the answered, stoutly. "I re membered some of it after reading a newa nper article. But I hope you have not abandoned your old principles. Lawt night you were talking in your bleep, and you said several time that all you wanted waa another king to make you all right. And after the trouble we had with George ill. it doe aecm perfectly foolish." Washing ton Star. The Way of th World. Towne Every man mut hustle for him self, or get left. You'll get very little in this world if you don't auk rr it. 15rovne Well, there' one thing you're likely to get niobt of if you don't bk for it. "What's that?" "Credit." Philadelphia Press. a Loyalty to II U Kmployer, That young man who consented to have a por.ion of hia blood let out to save hia em ployer, set a remarkable example of hero ism. The incident shows what power there is in good blood. There is only one natural way to get good bloodand that it from tha stomach. If the stomach needa aitance, try llostetter's Stomach Bitters. Thiawoti derful medicine cures dyspepsia, indigention, constipation, and makes rich red blood. "Where aro you rushing so fast?" "Up to the health oliice to pet vaccinated' "JKh! liccn exposed!" "Yep. Telephone girl this morning gave the penthouse num ber by mistake! Cleveland Plain Dealer. There la a CUm of People Who are injured by the use of cofTee. Re cently there haa been placed in all the gro cery stores s new preparation called (IIIAIN-O, made of pure grain, that takes the place of coffee. The most delicate atom ach receives it without d istrcss, and but few can tell it from coffee. It does not cost over as much. Children may drink it with great benefit. 15 ct. and 25 ets. per pack ige. Try it. Ask for GRAIN O. To be thrown upon one's own resources is to be cat into the very lap of fortune. Benjamin Franklin. Spelts, 80 tin, per Acre Adam Herwelx" of Iowa writes to the John A. fcalzer Feed Co., La Cro, Wis., the introducers: "Spelts beats anything and everything I ever saw for stooling. for food and for yield. T could hardly believe my own eve that I grew from one kernel of seed 72 big heads." While K. L. Bogers. Cnstlcmore, Canada, says Spelts yielded him at the rate of 100 bus. per acre.- It will pay every farmer on earth to try Rpeltz. Write to Rilzer to-day about it. K.I Theodore "He went no far as to call me a puppy!" Harriet "And at your age! The idea!" Boston TranBcript. 11 eg; In vrlth the Unby and give Hoxsie'a Croup Cure for Coughs, Coldn.llronchitia and Pneumonia, go through the family ending with the grandmother. "Yes," said Charles, "I have had some very trying experiences in my time. I was struck aensclcM once." Chicago Journal. The Mexicans allay their thirst by chew, ing Chicle, which is the main ingredient of White's "Yucatan" Gum. "Pay, ma!" "What is it, my daughter?" "When shall I be big enough to have s chaperon ?" Town Topics. Coughing Lends to Consumption. Kemp's llaham will stop the Cough at once. Go to your druggist to-day and get a lample bottle free. Large bottles 25 and 5C cents. Go at once: delavs are dangerous. The best education fn the world i that Jot bv struggling to obtain a living. Wen ell Phillips. Piso's Cure is the best medicine we ever uaed for all affections of the throat and lungs. Wm. O. Kndiley, Vanburen. Ind., IVb. 10. 1900. The astronomer is a space reporter. Chicago Daily News. Lsnr'i Fn mlly Medicine. Moves the bowels each day. In order to be healthy this is necessary. Acts gently on the liver and kidneys. Cures sick head ache. Price 25 and oOc. Sl II Alnffi II EI BTY WM. Thers aro no harmless sins. Barn's Horn. To Cure n Cold In One Hay Take Laxative Bromo Ouinine Tablets. All druggists refund money if It falls to cure. 2oc. 1 Wise ia the man who can pick out a good melon or a good wife. Chicago Daily News. A lomarliablo Experience of n Prominoni Statesman, ' CONGRESSMAN MEEKISON GIVES PE-RU-NA A HIGH ENDORSEMENT. ' ' ''''5' ' CONGRESSMAN MEEKISON, OF OHIO. lion. David Mceklson is well known, not only in his own State, but through out America. He began his political career by serving four consecutive terms ns Mayor of the town in which he lives, during which time he became widely known ns the founder of the Mceklson Bank of Napoleon, Ohio. He was elected to the Fifty-fifth Congress by a very large majority, and is the ac knowledged leader of his party in his section of the State. Only one flaw marred the otherwise complete success of this rising states man. Catarrh with its insidious ap proach nnd tenacious gr,asp,.was his only unconquered foe. vi thirty years ho waged unsuccessful warfare against this personal enemy. At last Pe-ru-na came to the rescue, and ho dictated the following letter to Dr. Hartman as the result: "I have used several bottles of Te-ru-na and feel greatly benefited thereby from my catarrh of the head. I feel encouraged to believe that if I use it n short time longer I will be nblo to fully eradicate the disease of thirty years' standing. Y'ours truly, "David Mceklson." Many people can tolerate slight ca tarrhal affect ions. A little hoarseness, a slight cough, a cold in the head, or a trifling derangement of the digestive organs, do not much disturb tho aver age person in his business. But this Is not true of the public speaker or stago nrtlst. His voice must always be clear, h V W' j e Miss Carrie Thomas. lungs perfect, digestion undisturbed. Hence the popularity of Po-ru-n among the leading actors and nctresses of this country. They' ha've come to regard Pe-ru-na as indispensable to their Ruecess. Thoir profession isso exacting that ' it requires perfect ealth in ever particular. The cgard Pe-ru-na nsl their friend an4 safeguard. Man letters ore re ceived from this class of people. Miss. Carrie Thomas, in speaking of Pe-ru-na, says: "I have isod Pe-ru-na with splendid results. .Would jnot be without it. No money would iire me to have a rettled cold or chronlo cough, or honrseness. Catarrh ia the most dreadful thing that could happen to one of my profession. ' 'lkTtf-na Is my shield nnd protector, against this most undesirable disease." Carrie Thomas. If you do not derive prompt nnd sat isfactory results from-thc jiso of Pc-ru-nn, write at once to Dr.'lrartman, giving a full statement of your case nnd he will bo pleased to give you his valuable advice gratis. ' Address Dr. Hartman, President of Tli e Ha r t m a n Sun 1 1 a r 1 u m, Col u mbus.O. Cures Hacking Conghs, Soro Lungs, Grlppo. Bne'nmonU and Bronchitis in a fow days. Why then risk Consumption? Oct Dr. Bull's Cough Syrup. Don't bo imposed unon. Ro fuso tho dealer's substitute. It is not as rood aa Dr. Bull's; Salvation Oil cures Rheumatism mod ail Palo. I'rtca, If and 25 uatt. 1 AVfcgctaulc Pr cparaiioafof As similating flic Food andncula ling the 5 toaacts ondl3ovrcb of Fr omolcs DiscsltoaChccrfur ness and Rest-Contains ncillicr Opitun.forphirio norMineraL WOT TiAJXC OTIC . - jlbf. Smut jiim Atmd e 74ZTm!ssAZs t r ApcrTccI Remedy forConsli(vv Tio n , So ur S lonuch, D iarrhoca Worms .Cormilsbns .Fcveri shr nr 33 nnd LosSOFSLKEP. rax Simile Signature of JEW YOT1K. t""-h Hi)" ,;, EXACT COPY OF WPAPPCR. no n o u uuu For Infants and Children. The Kind You Have Always Bought Bears the Signature ...... of AW wily 111 Use For Over Thirty Years Mm n lii) u w ymc stw mtw rrt I 2 Slllll 1 S ro iii:::iC70 For 14 Cento STt Mil tbt fcllowlnl rr tw4 MTI. I phf . Rla TmU ft4, $ , 1 I rrtl Oalaa . .! I lriinrml.(k.rlM4l .1 M ll;ktr4M tWtlltwl, I M-Dif k4lk M4, .1 I it Ul, ItriKlUHMtlNl .IS PrtUUaltUwarkM, .! Worth $1.00 lk 19 f '! rr ..IU vlll ll yo fr. iofihr vlih Mr trt lllnalrtl.4 ! rl.l..IU (II b.ttt fUlatr'a ntllUn Dollar traaa Ala t'halr ala ftaaa, . alt. Tfeh i ikMwtli t rife t.bl.a (nil dm arad.. pB ranatpt af 14.. a1 tbla !. Wh.a aa. ta alaa fcalut - j.-a will itatar aavliaaat, JOHN A.SAIIII SEID CO.. UCraaa,Wta , a fiwTti "FvralaUr Ttrantt" M aod Hlkikar ara tha Wrai rirrra)f amr tJtrnla la tha world. Mad a fruru h baai ma larial ai wmr ranted waif rpraaf. Maxta to aland tha rnof baat work and waalbar. ( Ik far t trd aanrk. IfrotifdaaUt doaapot havathfin. rlta (' rUlona. 11. M. "AWyVk X MiX.ftaU krra Kaat raaaftrtdc, Maaa. IB n R flllUn.cn La UlLSoIdioro Who haa TIomtv1iv1 aa than 1A0 arraa bofor t4, 1-7. mrm eatitl-i la .Hull laaa Im It t AO vra. Wa will bar tha balanra of roer ricM WHoai an1 h-frt ara anUdad. UK WIL.I. I A Y O COMUUIIO.V to anr ona tnrti a flair tKal wa ran bur. I.. V. AI.I.KV A '.. A1W ftawltldfa llNlMinc, KaafaaCltf Ua GREGORY 1 T 1 T 1 tTli Tha aid r- ariatiaa. Naw eatalafaa Fit KK. J. I. H. SRSUOil SOS, BUkm, iMk J A. IJf-- ,i...rimuniif IJoat iAtnab tfymp, 1mm lid. V In lima. H....1 b itmirt. 3