The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1888-11-14

q. II By some stronger VEN OF memory
had Just beeu tapped. II was in Fire
Prairie bottom when they caught me.
and they just took me back on my
road . little way 70 . hin just opposite
where Fire Prairie creek esnpfies into
| the Missouri, and not more than three
rules from my mill. znd there they
vent into camp. There's tre cold
spring there that runs ia clear stream
down the hill and across the road into
l Fire Prairie creek. and on the other
side there's sedgy pond that used 70
be the finest place for duck | eyer
struck. I've seen the whole pond last
black with EN-
s.Just see how ignorant We all are OF
geography. said Miss yaleria. Nov,
] never knew before that there was
Fire Prairie creek, OF Fire Prairie bot
tom in the country. Did you. ma
ior ~
Cant say I did, said the major.
.but then these local names, you
know
-Of course. agreed Mis- Clara, the
leader Of his faction, with scornful
curl Of her lip.
well, prompted Miss yaieria. sec
ing that her man had quite lost the
thread of his story. They took you
into camp and what next7g
ooh. they pieketed their horses and
got their supper. and sat on q log
and looked at EN-"
why why didn't you run away
asked Miss Clara. You weren't
tied.
sSo: but there was the guard stand
| ing around with loaded muskefs, and
then there we're about 800 men be-
sides | didn't see much chance Just
then"
"Did they give you any support
| asked Miss yaleria's lieutenant.
mo; they didn't seem TO have any
TO spare One OF the prisoners
| asked-',
what there we're other prison.
ers2"
.0h. yes; six or eight OF 'en. 1t
was a way these fellows had of arrest
| ing every man they met on the road. =
sAnd what was 1t one of them
asked said the little lieutenant.
Asked the guard whether we were
not TO have some supper. Guess not,
said the fellow, but you'll have pref
ty early breakfast most likely and
he tapped his musket."
"Graciousi" how perfectly dread
full exclaimed Miss Valera.
"0h, that's nothing" said the ma
jor; guards always amuse themselves
by playing upon the fears OF their
prisoners.
Since there were so many Of you"
said Miss Clara, with the air of being
au fat in such matters, 81 suppose
you rose aud overpowered the guard,
when the others had gone to sleep,
and so got away"
mo, oh no. said Bachelor Jim.
without arms or concert of action
that would Nv been impossible.
We'll, what did you do2" demanded
Miss Valera.
Went to sleep" said Bachelor Jim,
SPONTANEOUSLY.
''To sieepY Think of it," exclaimed
Miss Valera, appealing to her COM
pany, who responded with wonder
ing shaking OF heads.
"0h. tired man win sleep under
any fire ii he has half chance" said
the major.
Eyes, indeed confirmed Miss
Clara; 1--WE often seen that stated. +
suppose you are q somnambulist then,
Mr.. Starkweather, and walked away
in your sleep" she added, with fine
irony.
"0h, no." said Bachelor Jim, with
undisturbed serenity. II was wide
enough awake when got away"
well, but how did you get away 2"
asked the little lieutenant.
How did I get away?" repeated
Bachelor Jim, as il it had Just oc-
Cured TO him to tell that part of the
adventure. well, you see, | wokeup
about midnight, lsuppose. The camp
was all quiet, one guard was asleep,
another was on his beat a few yards
of, and the other was standing by the
fire smoking his pipe
All. yes. and you crept." began
Miss Clara.
mo, didn't creep at ALL inter
rupted Bachelor Jim, with positive
ness that delighted his faction, II
walked up to the fellow By the fire and
asked him ii he couldn't let me have a
pipe and some tobacco"
Mercy, What did you do that
for7" asked the little lieutenant who
had evidently expected something far
more heroic.
We'll, felt like ia like TO smoke. "
And what did the rufiian say?''
"Oh, he was civil enough. He was
an lrishman, and he said 'begorra
kin that same Hyur's Jack ashlape
an the pipe shtikini out OF his
pocket. shure. yez might ez well be
kapin ii warrum fer him."
"Oh, Mr.. Starkweather interrupt
ed Valera, leading of in clapping OF
hands, how perfectly clever that is.
never had an idea you could initiate
| the Irish dialect like that. Go on.
what next?n
"WeIl," continued Bachelor Jim, his
eyes twinkling like diamonds. '.he
filled his pipe and handed II to me.
| an may it taste shwate TO yez,' saws
he, belize its the last pipe yez'il liver
| smoke
Capital cap,talln cried Miss Val
eria, and | suppose when YOU found
him so ohliging you bribed him to let
you 60"
why, no. didn't" said Bachelor
jim. What would let him know |
had money forf That's Just what |
was trying 10 hide from him."
ooh, | forgot that. Well2r
+" asked him 10 get me coal of fire
TO light my pipe.
oh" calculated Miss valeria again
in a puzzled tone, while Miss Clara
| threw her sarcastic smile.
And when he stopped 20 get IL. :"
continued Bachelor jim; Il hit him
with my fist as hard as could drive.
just under the ear. and knocked him
over into the ire, and then ran OF as
fast As ! could clip il.
\ chorus of "oh - greeted this de-
noGment, a unexpected 60 the audi
ence as 10 the unfortunate Irishman.
and Miss Valera added enthusiastic
ally;
Dear how perfectly clever that
was. never should have thought OF
such thing.
II think il was real deceitful and
ungrateful. said Miss Clara. The
idea of knocking a man down In the
| very act Of doing you favor. and into
the IRE. too II was barharousl in
humani"
But sou don't think that he would
have shot him II he hadn't Knocked
him dows, urged Miss Nalcria.
No, he wouldn't either. nor If he'd
stayed in his place, retorted Miss
Clara.
And how was he TO get away il he
stayed in his place :" demanded Miss
Valera.
"weil. don't care. there must have
been some other way" maintained
Miss Clara, 4 dont think il was hon
orable aud I've always hear,i there
wa honor among thipVes non'f xaff