Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1895-07-18

terine white cloth. Seeing them. tho
man stood quite still watching them,
only tho white cloth fiuttering in the
wind.
"a flag Of truce - grunted the cap
tain, sharply calling halt-he was too
true u soldier not TO regard snch sign.
'.what does be want. wonder? Lower
your arms there. men, there is plenty of
time. - he added grimly.
The robber came on again rapidly and
finally halted little distance above
them. with the baby still perched upon
his shoulder. Then he, too, lowered his
carbine and stood there. with head mp
raised, looking at them defiantly
lyon have mel he cried at last, his
voice ringing out clearly through the
still air. lyon have tracked me up here
--you, hundred against one man. Yet,
even now, you should not have taken
me calmly thus. even though / stand
alone--yon should not have taken me
thus, but for the little one.
He glanced mp for q moment at the
baby on his shoulder and drew one lit
tie hand down 10 his lips, and then faced
the soldiery again, speaking directly for
tie first time TO the old officer;
ssYuu arc brave man, captain, he
added almost appealingly, "and such
men do not make war on infants, What
do you do with the little one. my cap
tains"
The captain shrugged his shoulders.
1.-THE child Is nothing, Andreano, he
said sternly. "She may die with you.
With a bound the bandit had sprung
back from them. and In an instant the
child was off his shoulder and behind
him, and he knelt there with his car
bine leyeled, fiercely facing them.
.'Beasts!" he cried. ~ come 70 You
under the white flag, well knowing that
must die, and asking nothing for my
self crave'only that You should spare
the innocent httlspne. Know this, then,
since you will mott will kill the child
rather than she shall fall beneath your
murderQus blows, and viii die such a
death as few men have died, with a
dozen coward souls TO bear mine own to
hell. Now, what say your
He lnelt there quite calmly, with his
carbine leveled and with the child
thrust behind him. But tho old captain
had stepped forward and raised his hand.
'Stop, Andreanol" he cried. "You
are right. We make not war on babes.
This hunting down Of one man is but
little to my liking, and will not foul
it more. The child is safe.
The man rose and laid down hts car
bine and took up the child again.
"And tho little one shall go with you
down into the valley in safety" he
asked slowly,
~ have given my word. No harm
shall come to the little one. Give it to
me-, +"
The robber kissed the baby's soft face
ACKNOWLEDGMENT, twice. thrice--and
then moved quickly toward the captain,
down the rocks, and passed the child
into his arms.
IT thank you, my captain, he said
gravely. "And now you are to shoot
me?"
'sSuch are our orders, Andreano
The other shrugged his shoulders.
$50 be it," he said softly, "only cover
the face of the little one that she may
not sec. !"
The captain passed the child into the
hands of the little soldier of the swarthy
face, and they took it quickly out of his
sight Then came an order rapidly given
and another; volley rang ont startling
the echoes ON those lonely hills for a
moment; there was half sobbing cry
and Andreano's course was run.
So it came about that when the sol
diers marched down into the valley
again one of them bore upon light
pole the head of the notorious bandit,
for all the wide eyed peasantry to cape
at. and, strangest sight of ALL upon the
front of the captains saddle, with the
captain arm about her, sat q laughing,
Growing, dark haired baby. -Tirefly.