Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1886-10-14

utes found himself fast sizking into
slumber. The pine toroh fickered
on the wall. the embers died ous in
the CRATE, when suddenly ; Aand rest
ed on his arm and a voice shispered
in his ear:
Stranger. I've got something to
tell YOU
Hogan started up. The girl knelt
beside him. with her finger on her
lip.
Get up" she said. 'and put on
your coat. The sooner sns are OF
the better. The old mar ksd when
he said was his daughter; he has
gone for the boys. He said to me
just now, I've found ont his business.
He must have plenty Of money with
him.. And know what that means.
There will be four of them here in
half an hour, and you are a dead
man, if you don't go now"
Hogan started to his feet. Stitched
in his belt were several thousand dol
lars, and he remembered that he had
chattered away most indiscreetly fam
cying the old man would know no
more than he chose to tell.
81 am a fool, he muttered, start
ing to his feet. This is no silly Jest,
girl?"
Gods truth. said the girl. I've
seen sights that would make you
move faster than you are doing now
if you had seen them. There-get
your horse and come. will show
you which way to take. They will
kill me if they suspect me; but l
reckon | will ward them off. Come.
AS in dream, Hogan followed her.
She led him by the hand through
thick woods until they came to a wide
opening.
Mount she said, ride that way.
Make all the speed you can. l have
done all can to save your life, Jack
Hogan
God bless you! said he. You
know my name. | see. II the time
should ever come when / can do as
much for you, will
Perhaps, she said doubtfully.
You have saved my life, child he
said, as he mounted his horse. 1t is
a debt a man don't forget in a hurry
listen! | swear that if | can ever
do anything for you will swear
on this He drew a little golden
cross from his breast and kissed it.
Keep it TO remind me of the oath if
| should forget it, he said, and put
it into her hand. Then as a man
rides for his life he rode away and
reached his destination in safety.
Two years from that night Captain
Jack Hogan sat alone in his tent
writing a letter home. There was
some one at home who waited for
those letters aaxiously, and who wore
them fondly in her bosom. Thoughts
OF her softened the soldiers heart
Glad indeed would be have been to
leave war and all its cruel scenes for
home and peace-home and her.
Half the sentence in which he told
her SO was written. when his servants
voice sounded in his ear.
Beg pardon, captain. There is
girl outside. Can she see you?'
"A girl (" said the captain. Yes;
send her in. Some poor. starving
creature, | suppose. for orders for
rations.
And then he started to his feet and
stood silent and amazed; for the fig
ure that glided in was that of the gill
who had saved his life two years ago
that night. She. for her part drew
from her bosom little gold cross and
held it toward him.
DO you remember your oath ? she
said.
He answered, i do
Then save my Dams life as saw
ed yours two years ago.
Your Dan ? he asked.
Yes. Dan Barton. He is to be
shot tomorrow
Dan Barton, the spy, lay we'll
guarded not far away. 1t was Cap
tain Hogan who had detected him.
On the morrow his life would pay the
forfeit,
And he is your Dan. poor girl p
said Captain Hogan. Sit down; try
to be calm. Do you not understand
that it is out of my power to save