Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1894-06-15
CHAPTER XVI.

Enough has been already told to in
dicate that Hendricks had in his keep
ing two prisoners whose presence add.
ed o periloUs siement 70 the under
ground society. These men, employed
by the secret service of the govern
ment, were to Hendricks the first direct
intimation that the forces of society
had in some way put facts enough tor
gether to warrant an Intelligent al
tempt TO run him down. Whatevor
theory these officers had been working
on had been summarily frustrated by
Hendricks taking them both prisoners
He had, with his usual qpiel1ness u
decision, summed up the whole chain of
consequences. Their mission was
secret one and only the secret service
derartment knew of it, but their dis
appearance would speedily bring about
his place the whole enginery OF tho
government. He expected to be be-
sieged in the end, but as war on a
large scale had been part of his calcu-
lation from the start this did not deter
him. He calculated as usual with great
shrewdness on the clement of time.
and he felt sure that If the under
ground rendezvous could be kept from
the knowledge of the public until all
his plans were matured he would pre-
serve an enormous advantage even in
a fight with the government.
In order to narrate what occurred IN
the Laran at this time it is necessary
to go back to Miss Laport.
Miss Laport was slender and pretty
Il r. atrnc n
great abundance OF beautiful wavy
chestnut hair and rather pensive oval
face, in which there were indications
Of strong character and much spiritual
ity She had received an excellent
education when her fathers means
were ample and she had suffered deeply
when his disgrace came. She was now
living a life of expectancy and mystery,
waiting only for the release Of her
father to redeem the promise early
made to go away with him and forget
in some distant place their wrongs and
their troubles Placed under Fenning
in Memphis she proved valuable
amanuensis and clerical assistant.
She worked patiently and uncomplain-
ingly and got to know q great deal of
the confidential business that was car
ried on between the Bayou house and
the office. She awakened Fenning's
interest and respect and she was CRATE
full for his consideration and care Of
her, and when he began TO evince
deeper interest she did not repulse
him, although he awakened in her
none Of the emotions to which girl of
her age is susceptible. She treated
Fenning with an undisguised kindness.
for he had shown a real solicitude in
her personal comfort and her future
welfare, and had secured for her
handsome salary which she scrupulous-
" put in the savings bank.
When they went to Laran Mrs. Hen
bricks treated her as an equal and q
guest But if it had not been for Fen
ming, her life there would have been
monotonous enough. He secured for
her the latest books, took her out for
long rides and looked after her amuse-
ment and comfort in thousand ways.
But Jennings was evidently not the
nature to touch her deeply His cool,
mathematical mind may have won her
admiration when she saw il exercised
In a crisis or dilemma, but it did not
move her affections. She was under
heavy Obligations TO Fenning and she
would not hurt his feelings. The mo-
ment that Lieut.. Stocking became
guest in the house, the whole aspect of
things changed. Here was passion
ate, heroic and emotional southerner,
who Immediately exercised over her
an influence that she could not resist.
His nature was the antithesis and the
complement OTHERS. lie was immedi-
ately attracted by her. They came to-
gether easily and often, and all the
amusements which had been enjoyed
with Fenning now wore new ardor
Of romance. | brief, these young per-
sons fell instantly and deeply in love.
When, therefore, on that morning of
the fight, she had seen him wounded
and dragged fighting To the signal
room, her indignation was unbounded
and her misery uncomfortable. She
knew enough of Hendricks affairs to
suspect that he was in some way acting
in opposition TO the authorities, and
she had gathered from Stocking some
thing of the peculiar nature of his
visit. When, therefore, he disappeared
down the shaft, her heart sank within
her She believed that he would never
return. In this wretchedness she took
to her room until Mrs Hendricks en-
deavored to extricate her from her de-
spair. That lady found her in con-
dition oi morbid melancholy from
which 1t was no easy matter to rescue
her, and it did not take her long 20 as
certain that contact with the lieuten-
ant had changed the girls views ma
terially. She wanted to go away and
reminded Mrs. Hendricks that Hen
bricks had promised to release her
father at the expiration of year. To
this Mrs. Hendricks replied that he
had been at liberty to go for some time
but had become interested in the COM
pletion of n gun and was staying vol
unfairly to see it tested. She further