Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1889-11-29
1IRE MYSTERIOUS GUNNER
An Exciting Story of the War
of 1872
By JOHN r. 1EUsICK.
CHAPTER N.-lContinueel.


ticularly cautioning them not to fire
shot, unless it was done in self-defense. !
They returned in an hour and reported
that the British were lying idle in their
camp, as if they were awaiting some
event to transpire before making move.
Nothing more had been seen or heard
of the spies. The day wore away with
out a single hostile demonstration
In the afternoon Captain Alton paid
visit to the wounded sea captain. Ola
saw him approaching and came to meet
him.
How Is he, OLAF" the lover asked, |
seiZing her hands in his.
He is conscious, but very weak, she
answered.
Does he seem cheerful"
eyes. The doctor says he is far more
cheerful than one could expect, owing to
his week state"
Does tho doctor still have hope?"
Il fear not much" Tears came into
her beautiful eyes as she answered this
question. After a moments silence she
said: He wants to be taken home to
his own room, and urges so strongly
that the doctor has consented to his re-
mOVal, providing you think it safe.
think it would be safe as far as the
enemy Is concerned. Your house stands
back behind the hill and was not touched
by their shot, " returned Griffith. Lets
60 in and see him"
The old sea captain was very weak, but
his mind was perfectly clear. He asked
the young commander to take a seat by
his side and give him a full account of
the present condition of their defense.
Griffith did so, not even emitting to tell
him of the spies in their camp, and the
efforts made to spike their guns. When
he come to mention the two sailors as be-
ing connected with the attempt, the old
salt was aroused and said
No, no, lad; you are on the wrong tack,
ha1s Va. FTTu
sailor wouldn't do that way. When the
gunner Iaked the man. O'-War fore and aft
it warnt because he hated her captain or
crew; it war jist because thar was a princi-
pie in the thing. He's all right; ye' II find
them both true salts yit.
There is a deep mystery about them,
Captain Gatrell, which can not under
stand"
1T will all be very simple when We do
understand it; but, Griffith I've got my
death wound. My life is bound to be
short. can't live over a week at most,
and I want to be taken to my house, in
my own room, with you and Ola about me.
Can't 1 be taken there?"
Captain Alton consulted with the ply
sician, who said there was no reason to
apprehend any danger from the wound,
provided he was removed carefully.
Griffith thought they would be in no dan
ger of shells from the ship, for the man
Of-war would hardly venture within range
of the long gun again, and they could very
properly take the invalid to his own
house, and consequently he was carried
there on a litter and placed on his bed.
Captain Alton remained as long as he
dared, and fastened back to his head
quarters, promising to return late that
evening, when everything had been made
snug for the night.
The fog still rolled in in great masses
from the ocean, the sky was thickly over
cast with clouds, and the night promised
to be as dark as the last lad been. Cap
tain Alton busted himself at his head
quarters until everything he could think
of had been completed. He had small
guard of three or four detailed to watch
the mansion house of the old sea captain,
and doubled the guard at the guns.
Every precautiOn possible was taken to
make the fort secure from invasion by
the British spies. The young commander
knew that the spies we're shrewd and ex-
pert in their business. 1t might be only
the two deserters after all, yet he deemed
He had not visited the prisoners, but he
heard that they we're silent, refusing to
converse with any one.
When he threw his cloak about his
shoulders and sailed forth to pay his
promised visit to the great stone mansi on
on the hill, he found fine mist falling.
1t could hardly be called rain, and yet it
was enough to soon dampen ones clothes.
The night was intensely dark The fog
like mist, which had wrapped HILL valley,
grove and town, was SO dense that one
could not even see q lantern or lamp any
great distance.
But the Captain knew the way so well
that he crossed the small foot bridge al
the bottom of the hill and assembled to
the old familiar mansion without any
trouble. Ola was waiting on the wood
piazza for him. He saw her before he
reached the house leaning against one OF
the large columns which supported the
roof of the porch. To his inquiries as tC
how her father was, she answered:
He IS sleeping now. Mrs. Hatchet II
watching with him and the doctor said
he must not be disturbed under any cir,
cumstances. Let US 90 to the parlor.
He followed her. She lighted several
candles in the chandelier, which gave
mellow light in the room.
Seated side by side on the settee, the
lovers proceeded in an earnest manner tC
discuss their trying situation.
do you think the British are gone
Grifith?" the poor girl asked, fixing he
eyes on her lover.
mo, Ola, they are not gone. I thinl
there is no doubt of US having NOR
trouble with them; and yet as we mastered
them in our last encounter they viii
hardly dare an open assault again.
What do you think they viii dor" sh
asked
sThey have some strategy by whicl
they hope to take us, yet 1 hardly thinl
the British can lay a scheme so deep an
neat that Yankee cunning can not Be
through it.
Have you no idea what strategic plan
they have on foOtf"