VOL. XX XXI.
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PHON'ES: People's 125: Hell .">!).
Rear of Bickol Building. S. Main St.
liutler. Pa.
ifx •" - *•• • ' -t : ' •'* ~X~** ■' *' <• " ♦ <•" <* -*1 '«- •' ... /;• V
II ALICE o f OLD 1
||| VINCENNES |
By MAURICE THOMPSON *
r4
♦f 4*l v CopjriiVt. irr-). ty t:-.c i. r '■ ' ::e: • '. c ny
. I
CHAPTER XII.
A RAPIER THRUST.
BEVERLEY'S absence was not
noticed by Hamilton until late
on the following day, and even
then lie scouted Helm's sug
gestion that the young man was possi
bly carrying out his threat to disre
gard bis parole.
"He would be quite jus itied in do
ing it. You know that very well," said
Helm, with a laugh. "And he's just the
man to undertake what is iui; <-iblc.
Of course he'll get scalped for Ills
trouble, and that will cost you some
thing. I'm happy to say."
"It is a matter of small importance,"
Hamilton replied, "but I'll wager you
the next toddy that he's not at tho
present moment a half mile from this
spot. He may be a f; ol—l re.:Uily
grant that he is—but even a fool is not
going to set out alone In this kind of
weather to go to where your rebel
friends are probably toasting th'.-ir
shins by the fire of green logs and half
starving over yonder on the Missis
sippi." " •
"Joking Aside, you are doubtless
right. Beverley is hot headed, and if
he could he'd get even with you quick
enough, but he hasn't left Vincennes,
I think. Miss Roussillon would keep
liim here if the place were on fire."
Hamilton laughed dryly. He had
thought Just what Helm was saying.
Beverley's attention to Alice had not
escaped his notice.
"Speaking of that girl," lie remarked
lifter a moment's silence, "what am I
to do with her? There's no place to
keep her, and Farnsworth insists that
she wasn't to blame." He chuckled
again and added:
"It's true as gospel. He's in love
with her too. Seems to be glad she
shot him. Says he's ashamed of him
self for ever suspecting her of any
thing but being a genuine angel. Why,
he's got as flabby as a rabbit and mum
bles like a fool."
"Same as you or 1 at his age." said
Helm, taking a chew of tobacco. "She
is a pretty tiling. Beverley doesn't
know his foot from his shoulder blade
when she's anywhere near him. Boys
are boys. I'm a sort of boy myself."
"If she'd give up that (lag I'd let her
go," said Hamilton. "I hate to confine
her. It looks brutal and makes me feel
like a tyrant."
"Have you ever happened to notice
the obvious fact, Governor Hamilton,
that Alice ltoussillon and Father Beret
are not all the French in Vincennes?"
"What do you mean?"
"I mean that I don't for a moment
believe that either the girl or the priest
kuuYLd a tiling-about where that flag is.
They arc both as truthful and honor
able as people ever get to be. I know
them. Somebody else got that flag
from under the priest's floor. You may
depend upon that. If Miss Roussillon
knew where it is she'd say so and then
dare you to make her tell where It's
hidden."
"Oh, the whole town is rotten with
treason! That's very clear. There's
not a loyal soul in It outside of my
forces."
"Thank you for not including me
among the loyalists."
"Humph! I spoke of those French
people. They pretend to be true, but I
believe they are nil traitors."
"You can manage tlieni if you try. A
little Jolly kindness goes a ions way
with 'cm. I had no trouble while I
held the town."
Hamilton bit his lip and was silent.
Helm was exaspefatingly good tem
pered, and his jocularity was irresist
ible. While lie was yet speaking a
guard came up, followed by Jean, the
hunchback, and, saluting, said to Ham
ilton:
"The lad wants to see the young lady,
Hamilton gazed quizzically at Jean,
who planted himself in his habitual
attitude before him and stared up into
his face with the grotesque expression
which seems to be characteristic of
hunchbacks and unfledged birds—the
look of an embodied and hideous joke.
"Well, sir, what will you have?" the
governor demanded.
"I want to see Alice, if you please."
"What for?"
"I want to give her a book to read."
"Ah, Indeed. Where is it? Let me
see it."
Jean took from the breast of his looso
Jerkin a small volume, dog eared and
mildewed, and handed it to Hamilton.
Meantime he stood first on one foot,
then on the other, gnawing his thumb
nail and blinking rapidly.
"Weil, Helm, just look here!"
"What?"
"Haven't you ever read it?"
"Head what?"
"This novel."
"Never read n novel in my life; never
expect to."
Hamilton laughed freely at Helm's
expense, tlicit turned to Jean nnd gave
him back the book.
It would have been quite military
had he taken the precaution to examine
between the pages for something hid
den there, but he did not.
"Go give it to her," he said, "and tell
her I send by components, with great
admiration of Iter taste iti literature."
lie motioned the soldier to show Jean
to Alice. "It's a French story," he
added, addressing Helm, "enough to
make a pirate blush. That's the sort of
girl Mile. Itoussillon Is!"
"I don't care what kind of a book
she reads," blurted I-Iclm. "She's a
fine, pure, good girl. Everybody likes
her. Site's the good angel of this mis
erable frog hole of a town. You'd like
her yourself If you'd straighten up
and quit burning tow In your brain all
the time. You're always so furious
about something tlmt you never have
a chance to be just to yourself or
pleasant to anybody else."
"If I bad got furious at you every
time there was overwhelming provoca
tion for it," Hamilton said, "you'd ltavo
been long since hanged or shot. I
fancy that I have shown angelic for
bearance. I've given you somewhat
more than a prisoner's freedom."
"So you linve, so you have," assented
Helm. "I've often been surprised at
your generous partiality In my case.
Let's have some hot water with some
thing else In it. What do you say? I
won't give you any more advice for
five minutes by your watch."
"But I want some advice at once."
"What about?"
"That girl."
"Turn her loose. That's easy and
reputable."
"I'll have to, I presume, but Fhe
ought to be punched."
BUTLER, PA., THURSDAY, JUNE 23, 1904.
"If you'll think less about punish
ment. revenge and getting even with
everybody and everything you'll soon
begin to prosper."
Hamilton winced, but smiled as one
quite sure of himself.
Jean followed the soldier to a rickety
log pen on the farther side of the
stockade, where he found the prisoner
restlessly moving nlwiut like a bird in
a rustic cage, it had no comforts, that
gloomy little room. There was no fire
place, the roof leaked, and tbe only
furniture consisted of a bench to sit
on and a pile of skins fur a bed. Alice
looked charmingly forlorn peeping out
of the wraps in which she w.\s bundled
against the cold, her hair Huffed and
rinipled in shining disorder armid her
face.
Tho guard let Jean in and closed the
■joor. himself staying outside.
Alice was as glad to see the poor lad
as if they had been parted for a year.
She hugged him and kissed liis drawn
ittie face.
"You dear, goad Jean!" she mur
mured. "You did not forget me."
"I brought you something." be whls
pored. producing the book.
Alice snatched it, looked at it and
:hen at Jean.
"Why. what did you brin-4 this for.
you silly Jean? I didn't want this. 1
Jon't like thl; book at all. It's hateful.
I despise it. Take it back."
'There's something in it for you, a
paper with writing oil it. Lieutenant
Beverley wrote it oil there, it's shut
tip between the leaves aliout the mid
dle."
"Sli-s-sh! Not so loud. The guard 'll
hear you." Al.c'b.eath ess.y wl.isptved.
lior whole manner changing instantly.
She was trembling, ""<1 'he color hid
been whisked from her face as (he
Hume from a candle in a sudden draft.
She found the note and read it a
dozen times without a pause, her eyes
leaping along the lines back and forth
With pathetic eagerness and concentra
tion. Presently she sat down 011 the
bench and covered her face with her
hands. A tremor first, then a convul
sive sobbing shook her collapsed form.
Jean regarded Ler with a drolly sym
pathetic grimace, elevating his long
chin and letting his head settle back
between his shoulders.
"Oh, Jean, Jean!" she cried at last,
looking lip and reaching out her arms.
"Oh, Jean, he is gone, gone, gone!"
Jean stepped closer to her while she
cobbed again like a little child.
She pulled him to her and held him
tightly against her breast while she
once more read the note through blind
ing tears. The words were few, but
to her they bore the message of desola
tion and despair. A great haunting,
hollow voice in her heart repeated
them until they echoed from vague dis
tance to distance.
It was written with a bit of lead 011
the half of a mildewed tly leaf torn
from the book:
Dear Alice—l am going away. When
you read this think of me as hurrying
through the wilderness to !■ aeh our army
and bring if here. lie brave, as you al
ways have been; be good, as you cannot
help being; wait and watch for rae; love
me, as I love you. I will come. Do not
doubt It. 1 will come, and I will crush
Hamilton and his command. Courage,
Alice dear; comugts find v/alt for me.
Faithfully ever. BEVERLEY.
She kissed the paper with passionate
fervor, pouring her tears upon it in
April showers between which the light
of her eyes played almost fiercely, so
poignant was her sense of a despair
which bordered upon desperation.
"Gone, gone!" It was all she could
think or say. "Cone, none!"
Jean took the offending novel hack
home with him, hidden under his jer
kin, but Beverley's note lay upon
Alice's heart, a sweet comfort and a
crushing weight, when an hour later
Hamilton sent for her and she was
taken before liiin. Her face was stained
with tears and she looked pitifully dis
tressed and disheveled, yet despite all
this lift- beauty asserted itself with
subtle force.
Hamilton felt ashamed looking at
her. but put on sternness and spoke
without apparent sympathy:
".Miss Roussillon, you came near com
mitting a great crime. As It is, you
have done badly enough, but I wish
not to be unreasonably severe. I hope
you are sorry for your uct and feel like
doing better hereafter."
Slie was trembling, but her eyes
looked steadily straight into his. They
were eyes of baby innocence, yet they
irradiated a strong womanly spirit just
touched with the old perverse, mis
She found the notr ami rend It n dozen
tillics.
chievous light which she could neither
bnnish nor control. When she did not
make reply Hamilton continued:
"You may go home now, and I shall
expect to have no more trouble on your
account." He made a gesture indica
tive of dismissal; then, as she turned
from hint, he added, somewhat raising
his voice:
"And, further, Miss Itoussillon, that
f!n« you took from here must positively
be returned. See that It is done."
She lifted her head high and walked
away, not deigning to give libit a word.
"Humph! What do you think now of
your fine young lady?" lie demanded,
turning to Helm with a sneering curl
of his mouth. "She gives thanks co
piously for a kindness, don't you
'.hin!; ?"
"Poor Kirl! She was scared nearly
1 tit of her life," said Helm. "She cot
away from you like a wounded bird
from a snare, I never saw a face more
"Mudi ; .ty <!: c needs. ami gTMtly
like n w<.uiul« <i bird s'..e ;.> ts. I must
say. I ui good riddanct if she'll keep
h.-r place here: "tc*r. I Ji'< - iso myself
when 1 have to he hard .vith a woman,
especially a pretty one. That girl's a
saucy and fascinating minx and as
dangerous as twenty men. I'll keep a
watch 011 her movements from this on.
and if she pels into mischief again I'll
transport fcfr to Detroit or give her
away to the Indians. She must stop
her high handed foolishness."
Helm saw that Hamilton was talking
mere wind, vox et prpeterea nihil, and
he furthermore felt that his babbling
signified no harm to Alice, but Hamil
ton surprised him presently by saying:
"I have just learned that Lieutenant
B 'veiiey Is actually gone. Did you
know of his departure'."
"What are you saying, sir?"
Ilclm jumped to his feet, not angry,
but excited.
"Keep cool. You need not answer if
you prefer silence or evasion. You may
want to go yourself soon."
Helm burst out laughing, but quick
ly growing serious :;ald:
"Has Beverley been such a driveling
fool as that? Are you in earnest?"
"He killed two of my scouts, wound
cd another and crossed the Wabash in
lb it- canoe. He is going straight
toward Kaskaskia."
• The idiot! Hurrah for him! If you
latch your hare you may roast him.
but catch him lirst. governor!"
"You'll Joke out of the other corner
of your mouth. Captain Helm, If I find
out that you gave him aid or counte
nance in breaking his parole."
"Aid or countenance! I never saw
him after he walked out of this room.
You gave him a mighty sight more
aid and countenance than I did. What
are you talking about! Broke his pa
role! He did no such thing. He re
turn :M1 it to you fairly, a- you well
know. He told you he was going."
"Well, I've sent twenty of my swift
est Indians after him to bring him
back. I'll let you see him shot. That
ought to please you."
"They'll never get liiiu, governor. I'll
bet high on him against your twenty
scalp lifters any day. Fltzhugh Bever
ley is the best Indian fighter, Daniel
Boone and Simon Kenton excepted, in
the American colonies."
On her way home Alice met Father
Beret, who turned and walked beside
her. He was so overjoyed at her re
lease that he could scarcely speak, but
held her hand and stroked It gently
while she told him her story. It was
beginning to rain, a steady, cold show
er, when they reached the house, and
for many days and nights thereafter
the downfall continued almost inces
santly.
"Dear child," said Father lleret,
stopping at the gate and looking be
seechingly Into Alice's face, "you must
stay at home now—stay In the house. It
will be horribly dangerous for you to
pass about in the village after your—
after what has happened."
"Do not fear, father; I will be careful.
Aren't you coming in? I'll find you a
cake and a glass of wine."
"No, child not now."
"Then goodby, goodby," she said
turning from him to run into the house
"Come soon; 1 shall be so lonesome."
On the veranda she suddenly stopped,
running her fingers about her neck and
into her bosom.
"Oh, father, Father Beret, I've lost
my locket!" she cried. "See If I
dropped it there."
She went back to the gate, searching
the ground with her eyes. Of course
she did not find her locket. It was
miles and miles away, close to the heart
of her lover. If she could but have
known this It would have comforted
her. Beverley had Intended to leave it
with Jean, but in his haste and excite
ment he forgot. Writing the note dis
tracted his attention, and so he bore
Alice's picture on his breast and in his
heart while pursuing his long anil
perilous Journey.
Four of Hamilton's scouts came up
011 Beverley twenty miles south of Vin
cennes, hut having the advantage of
them he killed two almost immediately
and, after a running light, the other
two attempted escape in a canoe on
the Wabash. Here, tiring from a bluff,
he wounded n third. Both then plunged
headforemost into the water, and by
keeping below the surface got away.
The adventure gave Beverley uew
spirit and self reliance. He felt that
he could accomplish anything neces
sary to his undertaking. In the cap
tured pirogue lie crossed the river, and,
to make ids trail hard to find, sent the
little cruft adrift down the current.
Then alone, in the dead of winter, he
took his bearings and struck across the
dreary, houseless plain toward St.
Louis.
As soon as Hamilton's discomfited
scouts reported to him he sent I.ong
Hair, with twenty picked savages
armed and supplied for continuous and
rapid marching, in pursuit of Beverley.
There was a large reward for bringing
him in alive, a smaller one for his
scalp.
When Alice heard of all this her
buoyant and happy nature seemed en
tirely to desert her for a time. She
was proud to find out that Beverley
bad shown himself brave and capable-
It touched her love of heroism—but she
knew too much about Indian warfare
to hope that lie could hold his own
against Look Hair, the wiliest and
boldest of scalp hunters, and twenty
of the most experienced braves In
Hamilton's forces. He would almost
certainly lie killed and sculped or cap
tured and brought hack to be shot or
hanged In Vlticennes. The thought
chilled and curdled her blood.
Both Hehn and Father Beret tried to
encourage and comfort her by repre
senting the probabilities in the fairest
light.
"It's like hunting for a needle In a
haystack, going out to find a man In
that wilderness," said Holm, with opti
mistic cheerfulness, "nnd, besides, Bev
erley is no easy dose for twenty red
niggers to take. I've seen hint tried at
worse odds than that, and he j;ot out
with a whole skin too. Iton't you fret
about him. Miss Itoussillon."
Little help came to her from attempts
a' this sort. She might brighten up
J>r awhile, but the dark dread and the
terrible gnawing at her heart, the sink
fug and despairing in her soul, could
/lot lie cured.
What added Immeasurenbly to her
distress was the attention of Farns
wortli, whose wound troubled him but
a fihort time. He seemed to have had
» revelation and a change of spirit
*inee the unfortunate rencounter and
the subsequent nun-ins at Alice's
hands. lie was (crave, earnest, kindly,
evidently striving to piny a gentle nnd
honorable part. She could feel that he
carried a load of regret, lliat he wanted
to p.iy a full price in v-od for tin' evil
tluil he had done. His sturdy Ktigllsh
hen it was righting its.'lf nobly, yet she
hut half uii'l'T ;:i ■ d hint until bis ac
tions ai:d words hi 1 :i to betray ids
'<ove, and then she ha' -1 him vare w in
ilbl.v. lieuilKitiK IbN. i rn.-m-orth bore
liini-elf l.iorok. a ! i:fill dog than
In lb.' iiK.nner b therto habitual to liim.
lie simply shadowed Aiiee and would
not be rebuffed. .Never was a good ;k>l-
ii» r—for he was that from head to foot
—more lovelorn and love docile. The
maiden had completely subdued the
About this time, deep in a rainy and
pitch black night. Gaspard Roussillon
came home. He tapped on the door
ai?ain and again. Alice heard, but she
hesitated to speak or move. Was she
growing cowardly"? Iter heart beat
like a drum. There was but one i>er
sou in all the world that she could
think of; it was not >l. Roussillon.
All. no: she had well nigh forgotten
her gigantic foster father.
"It is I. ma eherie; it is Gaspard. my
love. Open the door." came In a boom
ing half whisper from without. "Alice,
Jean. It is jour Papa Roussillon, my
dears. Let me in."
Alice was at the door h» a minute,
unbarring it. M. Roussillon entered.
armed to the teeth, tbe water dribbling
from his buckskin clothes.
"Pouf!" he exclaimed. "My throat is
like dust." His thoughts were diving
into the stores under the floor. "I am
famished. Dear children, dear little
ones! They are glad lo see papa! Where
is your mamma?"
He had Alice In his arias and Jean
clung to his legs. Mme. Rou.-slllon. to
be sure of no mistake, lighted a lamp
with a Iftwnd that smoldered on the
hearth and held it up: then, satisfied as
to her husband's Identity, set it on a
sheif and tiling herself into the affec
tionate group with clumsy abandon,
making a great noise.
"Oh, my dear Gaspard!" she cried as
she lunged forward. "Gaspard, Gas
pard!" Her voice fairly lifted the roof,
her great weight, hurled with stieh
force, overturned everybody, and all of
them tumbled in a heap, the rotund
and solid dame sitting on top.
"Ouf! Not so impetuous, my dear,"
puffed M. Roussillon, freeing himself
from her unpleasant pressure and
scrambling to his feet. "Really you
must have fared well in my absence,
uiadame; you are much heavier." He
laughed and lifted her up as if she had
been a child, kissing her resonantly.
His gun had fallen with a great clat
ter. He took it from the floor and ex
amined It to see if it had been injured,
then set it in a corner.
"I am afraid we have been making
too much noise," said Alice, speaking
very low. "There Is a patrol guard ev
ery night now. If they should hear
you"—
"Sh!" whispered M. Roussillon. "We
will lie very still. Alice, is there some
thing to eat nml a drop of wine handy?
I have come many miles. I am tired,
hungry, thirsty—ziff!"
Alice brought some cold roast veni
son, a loaf and a bottle of claret. These
she set before hiin on a little table.
"Ah, this Is comfort," he said after
he had gulped a full cup. "Have you
all been well?"
i'hen he began to tell where he had
been, what he had seen and the many
things he had done. A Frenchman must
babble while he eats and drinks. A lit
tle wine makes him eloquent. He talks
■with his hands, shoulders, eyes. Mme.
Rousslllon, Alice and Jean, wrapped In
furs, huddled around him to hear. He
was very entertaining, and they forgot
the patrol until a noise startled them.
It was the low of a cow. They laughed
and the master of the house softened
his voice.
M. lCoussillon had been the guest of a
great Indian entertain wtiu was catted
the Gate of the Wabash because he
controlled the river. The chief was an
old acquaintance and treated him well.
"But I wanted to see you all," Gas
paril said. "I was afraid something
might have happened to you, so I camo
back just to peep in. I can't stay, of
course. Hamilton would kill me as if I
were a wolf. I can remain but an hour
and then slip out of town again before
daylight comes. The rain and darkness
are my friends."
110 had seen Simon Kenton, who said
he had been In the neighborhood of
Vincennos uctiug as a scout and spy
for Clark. Presently and quite casual
ly ho added:
"And I saw Lieutenant Beverley too.
I suppose you know that he has es
caped from Hamilton, and"— Here a
big mouthful of venison Interfered.
Alice leaned toward him white and
breathless, her heart standing still.
Then the door, which had been left
unbarred, was flung open, and along
with a great rush of wind and rain the
patrol guard, five in number, sprang in.
M. Itoussillon reached his gun with
one hand, with the other swung a tre-
Incndous blow as he leaped against the
Intruders. Mute. Itoussillon blew 4ut
the light. No cave In the depth of
earth was ever darker than that room.
The patrolmen could not see one an
other or know what to do, but M. Itous
sillon laid about him with the strength
of a giant. His blows sounded as if
they smashed bones. Men f*ll heavily
thumping on the floor where he rushed
along. Some one fired a pistol, and by
Its flash they nil saw him, but Instantly
the darkness closed again, and before
they could get their bearings lie was
out and gone, his great hulking form
making its way easily over familiar
ground where his would t>e captors
eoukl have proceeded but slowly even
with a light to guide them.
There was furious cursing among
the patrolmen as they tumbled about
In the room, the unhurt ones trampling
their prostrate companions and strik
ing wildly al each other In their blind
ness and eonfusion. At lust one of them
Rethought him to open a dnrl; lantern
with which the ni>*ht guards, were fur
nished. Its flante was fluttering and
gave forth a pale red light that danced
weirdly on the floors and walls.
AI e had snatched down one of her
rapiers when the guards first entered.
They now saw her facing them with
her slender blade leveled, her back to
the wall, her eyes shining dangerously.
Mine. Itoussillon had tied Into the ad
joining room. Jean had also disap
peared. The officer, a subaltern In
charge of the guard, seeing Alice and
not quickly able to make out that It
was a woman thus defying him, cross
ed swords with her. There was small
space for action. Moreover, the officer,
being not in the least n swordsman,
played awkwardly, nnd quick as 11
flash his point was down. The rapier
entered Just below his throat with a
dull, cltucklutf stab. He leaned back
ward, feeling at the same time a pair
of arms clasp his legs. It was Jean,
nnd the lieutenant, thus unexpectedly
tangled, fell to the floor, breaking, but
not extinguishing, the guard's lantern
as he went down. The little remaining
oil spread and flamed up brilliantly, ns
if eager for conflagration, sputtering
along the uneven boards.
"Kill that Imp!" cried the lieutenant
in a strangling voice while trying to re
gain his feet. "Shoot! Bayonet!"
In his pain, rage and haste he Inad
vertently set his hand in the midst of
the blazing oil, which clung to the flesh
with a seething grip.
"Thunder!" he screamed. "Fire!
Fire!"
Two or three bayonets were leveled
upon Alice. Some one kicked Jean
clean across the room, and he lay there,
curled up in bis hairy night wrap, look
ing like an enormous porcupine.
At this point a new performer came
upon the stage, a dark robed thing so
*- —— —"■"*
.1 pair of arms clasped his leg*.
active that its outlines changed elu
slvely, giving It no recognizable fea
tures. It might have been Sats'n
himself or some terrible unknown wild
animal clad somewhat to resemble a
man. so far as the startled guards could
make out. It clawed right and left,
hurled one of them against the wall,
dashed another through the door Into
Mine. Housslllon's room, where the
good woman was wailing at the top of
her voice, and felled a third with a
stroke like that of a bear's paw.
Consternation was at high tide when
Farnsworth. who always slept with an
ear open, reached Itonssillou place and
quickly quieted things. He was trou
bled beyond expression when he found
out the true state of the affair, for
there was nothing that he could do but
arrest Alice and take her to Hamilton.
It made hls'hpart sink. He would have
thought little of ordering a file of sol
diers to shoot a man tinder the same
conditions, but to subject her again to
the governor's stern cruelty—how could
he do it? This time there would be no
hope for her.
Alice stood before him flushed, di
sheveled. defiant, sword In hand, l>eau
tiful and terrible as an angel. The
black figure, man or devil, had disap
peared as strangely as It had come.
The sublieutenant was having his
slight wound bandaged. Men wen; rag
ing and cursing under their breath,
rubbing their bruised heads and limbs.
"Alice—Mile. Koussillon, I am so sor
ry for this," said Captain Farnsworth.
"It is painful, terrible"—
He could not go on, but stood before
her unmauned. In the feeble light liis
face was wan, and his hurt shoulder,
still in bandages, drooped perceptibly.
"I surrender to you," she presently
said in Trench, extending the hilt of
her rapier to lilm. "I had to defend
myself when attacked by your lieuten
ant there. If an officer finds it neces
sary to set upon a girl with his sword,
may not the girl guard her life If she
can ?"
She was short of breath, so that her
voice palpitated with a touching plan
gency that shook the man's heart.
Farnsworth accepted the sword. He
could do nothing less. Ills duty admit
ted of no doubtful consideration, yet he
hesitated, feeling around in his mind
for 11 phrase with wliich to evade the
inevitable.
"It will be safer for you at the fort,
mademoiselle. Let me take you there."
[TO BE COTmKTTED.J
THE"GAMBLING MANIA.
H<m It Flnantcd nt One Time
In (hi* French Capital.
Some of the olil stories told of the
gaming tables can hardly be believed
nowadays, though they are related in
such a cool, matter of fact style by
writers of the time as to show that In
the eighteenth and early nineteenth
centuries the practice formed a part
of high class social existence. Captain
Gronow relates that,' having been ap
pointed to the staff of General Plcton,
who was then starting for Brussels
(1815), he obtained SI,OOO from the ar
my agents, "which," he continues, "I
took with me to a gambling house In
St. James' square, where I managed,
by some wonderful accident, to win
£t>oo," With this sum he subsequently
provided his necessary outfit.
When the allies marched into I'arls
after the battle of Waterloo, Gronow
found the Palais Royal a hotbed of
gambling—"the very heart of French
dissipation." "There were tables for
all classes. The workman might play
with 20 sous or the gentleman with
10,000 francs. The law did not prevent
any class from Indulging in a vice that
assisted to fill the coffers of the munici
pality of I'arls." The English visitors
were not slow to participate in the
play, one officer of the guards obtaining
leave of absences and never quitting the
Palais Royal till the time came for his
return to the regiment.
Large fortunes were often lost at
gambling In those days, the losers dis
appearing never more to be heard of.
Lord Thanet, for Instance, who had an
income of $2.»,000 a year, lost every
farthing at play and, concludes Gro
now, "I do not remember any Instance
where those who spent their time in
this den did not lose all they possess
ed."
FLOWERS IN MEXICO.
So Plentiful That Tlie> Are I'ned For
Great Public Oecoratloiin.
As a people the Mexicans are very
fond of flowers, and every village, town
and city has its place where flowers
are sold, and many of the larger places
have extensive flower markets. Often
the flowers brought to the market are
wild specimens found in the woods and
the lie Ids, but all are beautiful. In
many of the smaller towns and villages
the public parks and the sidewalks of
the streets are used as places for the
sale of flowers. Everywhere they may
be bought at surprisingly low prices.
So plentiful are flowers they ore used
for great public decorations. Some
times whole parks and the fronts of
buildings for many streets are covered
with floral decorations on a feast day.
The Mexican love of flowers has been
inherited from a loug line of flower
loving ancestors. More than a thou
sand years ago the chief feature of
worship among the Toltocs was the
great floral offering which was made to
the fair god once a year and which
lasted for a whole Mexican week. Imr
lug this festival one of the features
wan a great floral procession, which
traversed the principal streets of the
city to the sound of musical Instru
ments. Every one In the procession
carried flowers to lay upon the altar of
the god or to place ui>on the steps or
wails of his temple, lu this procession
were princes, nobles, priests and com
moners. This floral festival was an
expression of the love of nature for
which the Toltccs were noted. Until
they came Into contact with the Az
tecs later on In history they were pure
ly nature worshipers, anil flowers and
fruits formed the chief part of their
offerings. So the Mexican comes by
his love of flowers honestly.
No. 24
( o WiiOYS AS FIREMEN
THE WAY THEY BATTLE WITH FLAMES
ON THE PRAIRIES.
Ilorae* anil Men IMunitr Through the
Line of lire (u Their Station*—Cat
lip *.lu>t tie Sirrilrrd to Save Oth
er Cattle and the Urnu.
The "lireni.ti of the plains'* work
with a syst«m, each man knowing
what in expected of him and bravely
executing it Kke liretnen of the city.
Cowboys are the "fire fighters of the
plains," and turning grass is the ma
terial consumed.
We will take, for illustration, the
great Espuela or "spur" ranch in the
lower Panhandle country of northwest
Texas and go back n number of years,
when destructive fires were more fre
quent than they are now*. Hundreds of
cowboys were employed ou that ranch,
Jiving in camps widely separated, cov
ering the unsettled counties of Dick
ens, Crosby, tiarza and Kent.
Great and very destructive prairie
fires often occurred, and systematic
plans were adopted to fight successful
ly the devouring element, which not
only involved a great loss of grass, but
of stock also. One of the most success
ful plans was the following: It was un
derstood among the men at the various
camps that when smoke was discov
ered ascending from the prairie each
and every cowboy must saddle his
horse and gallop away toward the fire
straight out In a line from his camp.
This had to be done at night also, the
tire then being detected by Its light,
and the boys would come from every
direction, striking the line of fire at
many different points almost at the
same time. If the fire had spread much,
the men from the different camps
would sometimes be many miles from
each other, those from the same station *
going in a squad together.
If it was at night the scene would be
one of wild and weird grandeur—the
great line of fire, the galloping horses
as the cowboys approached It, some
from camps on opposite sides, their
forms and those of their horses stand
ing in relief in the bright glare of the
burning grass. Herds of bellowing,
frightened, stampeding cattle made
the scene more terrible and exciting
as they ran before the pursuing,
crackling, roariug flames. Above the
din could be heard loud shouts of com
mand from leaders of the assembling
men.
The men were not standing still on
their liorsws. The fire was traveling,
and they were going with It until
ready to begin their attack. Cattle
must be sacrificed to save cattle. As
soon as an animal fell four cowboys
dismounted, and sharp knives and
hatchets were at work, and in less
time than it takes to tell the slain ani
mal was cut In twain. The halves
were spilt so as to lay flat upon the
ground, and to each hoof the end of a
rope was fastened, the other end being
around the pommel of n cowboy's sad
dle. They dashed away to the line
of fire, dragging the severed parts aft
er them.
When the cowboys reached this, two
men would cross plunge through the
blaze. Torn tried It, but bis hoEb&
wheeled and turned away from the
blaze, snorting loudly and in terror.
"Give me your end of the rope,
Tom," one of the other men said. "I
can go over. Black Duncan will face
It." And with a great plunge he clear
ed the line of fire.
One of the other two also crossed,
and without a moment's halt and with
scorched faces they wheeled their
horses and ran parallel with the fire,
dragging the bloody half of the beef
over It, smothering the fire out as fast
as their horses could run and drag
the weight. One nmn was then on one
side of the lire and the other on the
opposite, each with his rope to the
foot of a beef, straddling the Maze nnd
beating out the greater part of"it.
.They wore slick duck Jackets and
leggings, upon which the flre could not
easily take hold. It was hot work,
however. They could get only the
length of their ropes from the fire.
The two men with the other half of
the beef were going In the opposite di
rection, taking the other end of the
line of flre. Suppose the flre was trav
eling south and the line extending east
and west, two dragged east and two
west, fast receding from each other
and every moment widening the black
streak which marked the trail of the
smothered flames.
While these four men were getting
ready to do this work other cowboys
were sitting on their horses near by,
their faces lit up by the burning grass,
aud cheering their companions who
were crossing the flre line to fight the
main battle.
These, however, who were Idle had
their work to do. Each held a rolled
flicker In his right hand, and when the
breach was made in the fire line they
divided their forces and followed the
boys who were sweeping the flames In
order to extinguish effectually any
which might be left.
Before the plan described was put In
practice wagons loaded with water and
tow sacks were run to a flre, aud the
boys had to dismount and fight the
flames with wet sncks. They were
supplied with these by men galloping
back aud forth between the wagons
and fire fighters. The dry, hot sacks
.Were carried back as fast as wet ones
were furnished.
The other plan was the best, being
more rapid and efficient. Horses would
get crippled and men burned at times,
especially when the wind was high,
those on the windward side being most
exposed. Some have been known to
stay in their saddles during a long run
until the skin would peel from the side
of the face that was next to the line of
fl!»•.—Fort Worth (Tex.) Record.
Always Something Wroa*.
Clerk Please, sir, can I have a
week's vacation? Employer—What's
wrong with you now? Clerk — I'm going
to get married. Employer—Now, you
were away a week with influenza and
ten days with a sprained ankle. I de
clare, there's always something going
wrong with you, Jones.
nilU to Suit ClrrnmitancM.
"How much will it cost mo to get a
divorce?" asked the man.
"That depends." replied the lawyer
absentmindedly. "now much have you
got ?" Philadelphia Ledger.
A4vnnln||* Mutual.
"Does her Inraily approve of her am
bition to go upon the operatic stage?"
"I'm —er yes and no—that Is, they
approve of her going away to sing?"—
Detroit Free Press.
Would Have the Fan Afterward.
Ills Mother Tommy, if you fight
with little Willie Walters today I shall
put you to bed for two hours. Tommy
- Put me to bed now, ma.
Ask only the well nbout their hea'tb
—Bacon.