The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-04-17


moment the girl was being rowed over the
dark waters of the river as fast as four
pairs of lusty arms could drive the oars.
The dark figure of the captain, with his
hat In his hand, was discernible until q
bend In the river hid him from sight, and,
unaccountably, Doris felt more light
hearted than she had felt for many and
many long day.
"Here's nice piece of business, Doris,
said the squire, as the girl entered the cot
tage. ''The keys of the lookup have been
stolen from Guilty Langdon's house. the
lookup opened, the Johnny Crapauds all
let loose, and Bob Copplestone, the sentry,
found living on the ground with broken
head. There'll be pretty work at Dart
mouth tonight, for the privateersmen will
be all drunk and the Trenches will get
aboard their craft and be off before any
one can stop 'em."
81 don't think they will, father" said
Doris, kissing the old gentleman. ''The
captain OF the Old Noll has been warned
and will be ready for them, although, poor
fellows, l am sure l would help them to
escape if l could"
"Well, be that as it may." replied the
squire, what is your news, child ?'
well have that tomorrow, father, re-
piled Doris. Its late now; but you can
GO to bed happily, for 1 think it is good
news"
Punctually to the hour of midday Doris
hurried down to the Seven Stars inn.
There, leaning against the support of the
projecting bow-window and surrounded
by an admlring group of natives, stood the
famous captain of the Old Noll privateer,
lii his laced uniform, knee-breeches, and a
sword at his side. Doris colored up as she
advanced to meet him, and instantly felt
that she had seen his face before. He sa-
luted her with stately courtesy, and she
led the way to her fathers cottage.
Capt. Briggs" she said presently, 'I'm
going to take a great liberty"
Take t, by all means, madam" said
the captaini.
'Pm going to call you Master Briggs,
junior"
Had Totnes tower fallen over the street
at that moment, it could hardly have pro-
duced a more startling effect upon the
captain than did this brief announcement.
"Why-good heavensw he exclaimed,
stopping short, 81 haven't heard that name
for years"
mot since you were at Tusculum house
school; not since you pulled little girl
out of the Black pond!" laughed Doris
"And you are she Doris Adams, daugh-
ter of Squire Adams of Barncombe Hall!"
he exclaimed. "Well, welll If I've
thought of you once during my voyage, 1
have a thousand times. I'm so glad-so
glad"
81 can never forget that day." said
Doris, ''and we all wanted to see you and
thank you, and reward you; but you had
gone"
81 ran away to sea" said Capt. Briggs.
But, Miss Doris, it's still stranger that, as
/ saved your life, so you should have saved
mine"
81 save your lifel" exclaimed Doris.
"Why, how could that be?" The captain
opened his waistcoat and showed, sus-
pended to bit of ribbon, battered cop
| per coin.
That was the penny you gave me as
my reward" he said laughing. I've
worn it round my neck ever since. Well,
French bullet once 1attened itself
against that penny, which would other
wise have gone to my heart-so you saved
my life"
They found Squire Adams walking up
and down the little garden in a palpable
state of perturbation and excitement, but
| the clouds all vanished from his face when
Doris appeared, followed by Capt. Briggs,
radiant and handsome; and the meeting
| between the poor, broken-down old squire
and the young sailor was OF the most cor
dial and enthusiastic nature.
'That lying rascal will be here in few
minutes" said the squire.
What lying rascal, sir p asked the cap
tain.
"Why, man bearing your name who
has been passing himself off as the Briggs,
| Junior, who saved my Doris life who is
madly in love with my child, who is very
rich, and who-you tell the rest, Doris; |
cannot"
So Doris told the captain how her father
had been ruined by the capture of his
trading vessels by French privateers; how
he was crippled with debts; how Mr..
Briggs had appeared on the scene, and,
posing as the little boy who had jumped
into the Black pond thirteen years before,
| had offered to relieve the squire of his diff
ficulties in return for the hand of Doris,
and how he was expected momentarily to
receive his final answer. Capt. Briggs
| looked grave.
"That must be nv Cousin Malthus. l
heard that he had succeeded to my uncle's
fortune. We never got on well together,
but never thought he would have done
this sort of thing"
But time went on, and Mr.. Malth us
Briggs did not reappear, and the idea
struck all three that, having heard of the
arrival in England of the genuine Briggs,
Junior, and fearing exposure, he had got
| out of the way.
'Did you have much fighting with the
French rascals Ia night, sir?" asked the
squire.
''Short and sharp" replied Briggs; lone
fellow made dead set at me, fellow in a
cloak, and 1 had to knock him overheard
the other chaps"
At that moment a white-faced servant
girl rushed into the room, crying:
"Oh, sir ! oh, Miss Doris there's body
been browt to the doorp
They hurried out, and there, on rude,
stretcher lay the dead body of Malthus
Briggs, surrounded by silent crowd.
"The man / knocked overboard !" whis-
pered the captain in a voice OF horror. II
did not recognize him, of course, as my
Cousin Malthus. Depend upon it, he it
was who planned the escape, and the at
tempted recapture of the prizes"
or course-we need hardly write it
| Doris Adams fell in love with the dashing
young captain and married him; the old
squire got clear of his debts, not with the
captains hard-earned prize-money, but
with the fortune of the unfortunate Nal
thus, which Briggs, junior, inherited as
next of kin. The Christmas of 1904 was
| kept at Barncombe Hall in good old style,
and among the guests who assembled to