Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1889-12-27
THB MYSTERIOUS GUNNER
An Exciting Story of the War
of 1912.
az JOIN R. 1rUsICK.
CHAPTER XIX.

1-


Darn herl It's we'll enough the white
flag was raised, said the irrepressible
Yankee, Simon Kinman. Eff it hadn't
a been, we'd blowed her eout o. water.
Oh dear, oh, deari They are comm
right here now to put the yoke on our
necks, groaned Zeke Gross.
The Yankee turned his eyes upon the
discouraged Zeke, and said:
"Doan't We be so pesky feered o that
ar long naik o yOurn. Yell find 1t safe
enough for the hangman when the time
comes"
aBe sure your neck amt broke, Yank"
%Oh, mines insured, returned Simon.
What re they gOin' ter dO?" asked a
big boy coming forward and gazing at the
boat
@They are coming here to cut our
throats," the Yankee answered, with a
face which was gravity Itself. although
there was a humorous twinkle in his eye.
ooh, Der gOsh!" cried the boy, Selling
his throat IN both his hands; Il don't
want my throat cut"
@Can't help that, neither do L" said
the Yankee with a mock sigh; "yit I
guess the rascals intend doing it.
ooh, Der gosh! what'H L do to git
out'n it?"
Go and hang yOurself!"
"Oh, Der gosh!" and with this meaning
less expression, he ran away to the ex-
treme northwest corner of the fortifca-
ton, ana would have leaped the parapet,
had not someone told him there were red
coats on the other side, ready to impale
him with their bayOnets. Then, with an
other shout:
"Oh, Der gosh!" he ran under the floor
of a house.
There were shouts Of laughter at the
expense OF the timid boy, who had fed
from the flag of truce.
"He is big enough to handle musket,
said Alton, who had noticed his ignomin-
TCrht ha he AT7Vsdr he
bOmbardment?"
@He was hid either under the house CT
in the bOmb-prO of buildin'" said ST
Cole. He is the biggest coward Twin.
The boat came steadily in, and the Of
hcer stood in the bow holding the flag of
truce in his hand.
Capt Alton turned to the deserter of
the XenOphOn, who stood at his side on
the parapet He was startled to see how
pale his face had grown. Mr.. Burnett, ="
he said, hadn't you better not be seen?"
1t viii make no difference, the desert
er answered. They know we are here,
and why need we conceal ourselves? If
the village surrenders, we must surrender
with it.
Capt Alton could now understand why
the deserter had grown so pale. To be
captured would be death to the deserters.
GCan you surmise the cause of this flag
of truceP" Capt. Alton asked.
"Yes, sir.
What is it?"
~There can be no other object than the
capitulatiOn of the town"
Il do not know" the young Captain
returned, walking back and forth on the
top of the parapet. There may be some
other object, one which we cannot sur
mise at first believe Major Bridges
went aboard the ship last night.
Would we not have seen him?"
"The pickets on the northeast of the
works say they saw a small party pass
down to the beach and boat put off for
the vessel.
Then this flag of truce may be the re-
suit of a conference"
/ think it is.
The boat came slowly and carefully to
shore, as though it was altogether not
certain of the reception it would receive.
1t is said that traitors are always sus-
piciOus of treaChery. Those who IN ViO-
latiOn of all manhood and honor had
been so cowardly as to abduct helpless
young lady to hold between themselves
and an enemy need hardly expect flag OF
truce to be respected.
4Is not this another cheat another
means to deceive us?" said Captain Alton
to his companion who remained at his
side, his white face turned upon the ap-
preaching boat
Il have had that in mind myself, the
deserter of the AenOphOn answered, and
I am now watching the scOundrels, trying
Captain. do not allow them to come with
in your works.
How viii arrange that? Go down tc
the beach to meet them?"
mo; they might have plan to capture
you and drag you away. Those who were
treacherous enough TO abduct young
and helpless girl would be treacherOu!
enough to abduct an army officer, ever
under a flag of truce"
Then what would you suggest"
Let all the correspondence be carried
on by your officers in writing. Captain
AIOnieth or Major Bridges, or perchanct
both, have sent an officer to treat witt
you. Send some one to receive whatever
communication he has brought.
Your idea is an excellent one, Mr.. Bur
nett, and shall adopt the plan you sug.
gest.
He then called to Simon and told hin
to choose six men, armed with mUsketl
and bayonets, and go down to meet the
officer.
"AH right, Cap'n, an eff ye say the wore
Wen jist drap the last mothers son o
them Britishers, afOre they kin put In t.
land.
mo, Simon, you must not harm them
You are sent to treat with them"
Treat emp" cried Simon in amazement
@Naow We don't find me treatin' EN-, by
long shot. I'd ruther plagUy sight sinl
EN- In the sea then to go to treatin' EN-.
You don't understand me, Simon,
Griffith said, with ais mile on his pale face
Those men have come with some prop
ositiOn for me, and L am going to SEN
you to receive the message, and bring
to me. You are my officer, Just the sam
as the man in the boat is the officer of Cap
tain MOntieth. Leave your men fe7
rods behind, and advance yourself to re
ceive whatever information they may hav
to send me.
~Iu do it Cap'n, I'll do it, yeou kin les
gamble ont. I'll foller eOut your in
structions to a T.
The six men were selected. and Simo