Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1889-12-20
THE MYSTERIOUS GUNNER
An Exciting Story of the War
of 1912.
By JOHN r. ArUsICK.
CHAPTER XVII.
THE DESERTER'S PLAN.

Major Bridges was a stout, plethoric
Englishman about forty years of age.
He was, as the reader has doubtless
judged from his plans, ambitious,
naughty and INSCRIPTIONS. He had blue
eyes and Hght-broWn hair, which was
close-cropped.
He wore a belt about his waist, which
sustained q sword and pistol
COwardice was not one Of his vices,
and the moment he recognized his enemy,
Captain Alton, he determined to fight.
Aha, you Yankee dog, 1 will have to
shoot you, I see, D." said the Major, draw
ing his pistol.
G filth was as quick as he.
Everything now depended on the rapid
ity with which they acted, A seconds
delay would be instant death.
Both pistols were drawn and leveled at
almost the same moment.
Perhaps their very anxiety was their
safety. Scarcely had the bright, pol
ished barrels glittered upon the air be-
fore two stunning reports rang out.
Griffith felt the Englishman's bullet
Craze his cheek, and in moment the
smoke from both weapons had sufficiently
cleared for him to discover that the En-
glishman only had lock of his brown
hair clipped from his temple.
Here is something which will not
miss cried Captain Alton, snatehing his
sword from it's scaDbard.
Very good, my young cock. I shall
take pleasure in cutting your comb, said
the Major, while a smile fitted over his
face.
you coward!-yOu knave, how dared
you abduct an innocent young girI?" And
the American leaped forward and attacked
the EngIishman with such fury that for
several moments the latter was forced to
be upon the defensive all the time.
The Major was cool, however, and care
fully parried the fierce blows and thrusts
HnHeH too TnH
Griffith was not long in discovering that
he had no mean antagonist His furious
assaults availed him nothing more than
to lose his strength, and in a few mo-
ments he tempered his attack with rea-
son.
Major Bridge, being an expert swords
man, had no fears of his opponent, espe-
cially as he only belonged to the vOlun-
teer service. Whoever knew a volunteer
that was equal to a regular army officer in
the handling Of sword or foil?
AS soon a. he has had time to cool
himself and strike less blindly, I viii
test the young fellows skill, the Major
said to himself, and q smile of infinite
satisfaction fitted over his face.
But as Griffith became cOOlerhe became
more cautious, and began to display a
skill which the Major never dreamed he
possessed.
AHA! where did you learn that?" the
Major asked, as our hero parted one of
his tavOrite thrusts.
Griffith made no answer, but returned
q counter thrust which the BrittOn found
required all his skill to parry.
very we'll, sir; if this is TO be war to
the death, so be it" cried Major Bridges,
who, despite all his determination to keep
cool, was growing a little angry.
Our herO's turn had come to be cool,
and, being tireless and watchful, he soon
convinced Major Bridges that he was at
least his equal.
They had been engaged but a few min
utes when the bushes at the rear OF the
Major parted and two redcoats, with
fixed bayOnets, rushed to the rescue Of the
BritOn.
Don't kill himl" cried the Major, who
now discovered that the tide had turned
in his favor. I want to make him pris-
0ner.
The soldiers could have shot our hero
with their muskets, but instead they
sought to disarm him. He had three
foes instead of one to contend with, and,
consequently, he was forced to use his
sword more earnestly and rapidly.
The bright steel blade few like light
ming above the heads Of the Englishmen,
and the clash of steel and flying sparks
indicated the fury of the strokes. Clash
ing striking. glancings and darting, like
fcrked beams Of lightning, the polished
blades few, the steel points Of the bayO-
nets darted again and again at the Ameri-
cans breast, and it was only a question
Of time when his sWOrd-arm would be
exhausted.