Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1886-08-03


,suman was nrsa as tie aspulchTe 1T
JeauG lam slck. weary, hungry and
s0rely pressed By ny enemies. ] am
the Americnn spy for whom : re-
ward e oaered. You can save ne or
deliver ne Into tbs hands Ct yeur
husband, or those who have gone In
pursuit. of me-.
ne mother ana daughter az
changed glancss but neither spoke,
and Hastings anxi0ualy awaited the
decision Of bis fate.
The woman who had opened the
door nov signlfsd By . m0ti0n Of
the hand that be should enter. he
did 90, and . seat was placed Tor him
by the daughter, whoee synlpathies
were obviously enlisted. She giaEced
sympalhixingly as bis detected coun
tenance. and noticed bis falkering
steps nnd limbs trembling with weak
ness.
I'VE can give you food, but orr
protection will avail but little after
my husbands return, = said the WON
an.
Can you not conceal met" asked
Hastings, earnestly. Heaven viii
surely reward you for the deedT
The mother looked a. her daughter.
and The two conversel togetheg IN
low voice.
I'VE win do what We can, said
the former. briefly. IS she placed re-
freshment before him. and signed %
him 70 eat.
s'DO nos stop 10 talk, sic added,
quickly. a. the young officer endeav-
ored 70 express his gratitude. There
Is no tins 10 lose, and food will do
mere good than anything else.
Hastings did not wait for q second
bidding. and the nutritious beverage
soon had the effect TO renew his
strength and inspire fresh courage
dis head felt less giddy, the cheerful
fire warmed his stifened limbs, and
be would certainly have fallen asleep
IN his chair had not q feeling OF
dread lest the men should suddenly
return. caused him to look often
anxiously toward the window.
They win be gone two hours,
said the younger woman, as II TO re-
assure him on that point.
Hastings signified his thanks, and
looked at the fair speaker So atten-
lively that q crimson glow stole over
her expressive countenance, making
her look more interesting than be-
fore. He forgot, Tor the moment,
himself, bis Illness, the danger he
had incarred. the risk he now ran,
everything, In contemplating her
symmetrical figure, regularity Of
features. and the benevolent kind
ness that beamed from her eloquent
eyes. He was startled from his rev.
cry by the barking Of q dog.
You are lostIn she exclaimed
Father Is near byln
Hastings started to his feet and
looked hurriedlv about for some
mode of egress besides the door by
which be had entered.
The young girl shook her head, and
her cheek paled with terror. Hast
ings knew that discovery was inevi-
table Il be remained where he was,
aad that the result would be equally
fatal If he ventured 10 leave the cab
in.
The yeung girl stood an instant as
II spell bound, when the voices came
nearer and nearer. Suddenly she
sprang toward door which opened
into a dark closet.
.'Go In, 90 inr' she whispered,
land secrete yourself behind those
clothes"
The officer mechanically obeyed.
and the door was quickly closed and
fastened upon him, while his deliv-
ereF. with uncommon self possession,
placed herself In the chair he had
just vacated, drew up to the small
table on which food had been placed.
deliberately commenced eating.
She had hardly done so when her
father and his companion entered the
cabin, both looking somewhat Ill.
humored and disappointed.
What are you up and eating at
this hour for, Hettiegn asked the for
mer. abruptly, regarding the young
girl with look Of establishment and
displeasnre.
''Becausepm hungry" was the I'M
hesitating reply.
"Well, aud so are we hungry, girl;
80 get us something quick. for we've
got 70 ride a dozen miles yet; that Is.
II the fellow don't disaDpoint us
again. Confound hint We might
have been on the right track by this
time II the horses had been forth
coming he muttered, as Hettie las
be called hef) busted herself in plac-
ing eatables before them, as she had
been hidden.
While this had been transpiring,
the mother had silently left the cab.
In, entered an outbuilding, aud was
preparing q comfortable place In
which to conceal Hastings before
her husbands return; and this will
account for her absence when his
proximity had been so opportunity
discovered by the young girl.
While the men were satisfying the
demands of appetite she re-entered.
but started back in alarm Ct perceiv-
ing what Q change Ia affairs the last
fifteen minutes had wrought Hettie
caught her eye and 8 warning glance
checked the exclamation that was on
her lips and recalled her usual pre-
sence Of mind.
"WellSn she said, interrogatively,
approaching the table.
We've had to wait for the horses,
and the rascal will give Us the slip ii
We don't ride for dear life. returned
her husband moodily. II say, Ben, :"
be added, with an impatient gesture,
haven't you almost done eatings"
Just finished y replied Ben, push.
ing back his chair. and buttoning bis
coat I'm all ready
well 90 theA Is soon as / get
another hat"
And approaching the closet which
contained the object Of their solici.
tude and pursuit. speaker stepped
in and commenced searching for the
article be had named.
The reader can imagine the sensa.
tons Of oar hero as be crouched be.
hind q pile Of bedding, trembling
/ lest a sudden movement Of thu man