St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1895-04-27
CHAPTER XXI.

One night not long after this Calfcot
woke Lieut.. Stocking up about twelve
o'clock rather urgently. LISTEN" he
said.
His friend sat up on his cot and re-
marked that Calicot looked very white
In the dim light. The harsh hum of
many voices reached him in confused
and disagreeable way. intermingled
with occasional shouts of command
and the tread of feet and accompanied
by the loud drone of the machinery.
s.What is it?'' he asked.
'Hendricks Is sending up all his
forces. It has been going on now for
two honrs. Get up and dress yourself;
the women are frightened. # think q
battle is going On overI sad or is iIn
perslin ~
Stocking then got up and the two
men went into the adjacent quarters,
where they found Miss Endicott with a
shawl around her head and Miss La
port rubbing her hands. Both Of the
women were very much alarmed. as in-
deed they well might be with all that
hideous din going on in the arena.
Calicot then explained to them as calm
" as he could that the armed forces
were being sent up as fast as the lift
could carry them. 'sThere is, he said,
"a struggle about to take place. Let
us preserve our wits SO that we can use
to the best advantage the only means
we have of obtaining information. "
Miss Endicott, in spite of her trepi-
dation, appeared to understand the sit
uation, and when Calicot asked her If
she could put herself en- rapport with
Mrs. Hendricks, she answered prompt
": eyes. 1t requires no effort what
ever now" She merely closed her eyes
a moments as If collecting herself and
then said: She is packing her trunk
she is attired in a riding habit: there
are four men with her; they look as il
they had been travelling; now she goes
to the instrument; she Is reading its
message to the men. / cannot hear
what she says. They are all listening
to her eagerly. They are disputing;
the man who was with her before
writes something and reads it to them;
the woman shakes her head; she does
not approve of it. Yes, I can read it.
we start at three o'clock. Miss Frank
lin must come back with Mrs. FL.
Here Miss Laport made an ejacula-
ton. 'I am lost" she said. They
are coming to take me.
Lieut.. Stocking ground his teeth in
an impulse of helpless indignation.
Calicot held his hand up deprecat-
ingly; Miss Endicott went on: s.She
has gone to the telegraph; the man is
waiting for her with paper and PEN
Gil in his hand
seThe man." Calicot explained to
Stocking, SIS Fenning. He viii write
down the dispatch that comes from
Hendricks. Listen
sShe is. speaking said Miss Endi-
colt. He is writing; they, are all
listening
IBougereaul
ssYes, yes" said Calicot, ayou must
read the writing"
Don't move until you get orders
from me. Bloody work here before
morning"
What does that mean?" asked
Stocking.
at is Hendricks dispatch. He does
not want them to start for the Laran
until he has driven of the forces that
are here. 1t is plain enough. We at
least have gained time by the arrange
ment and must profit by it. I"
..How are we to profit by it?'' asked
Stocking.
Calicot held up his hand as warn
ing not to interrupt Miss Endieott.
They are gone" said that young
woman; Sit is dark.
sThey have gone, said Calicot, '.tc
the telegraph station. .
..But, oh dear exclaimed Miss La.
port, .show is all this to our advan'
tage?''
Eyes, !. said Stocking. That's what
we want you tell us. =
Calieot addressed himself to Miss
Laport.
Hendricks, he said, Twill be
flushed with victory, self-eonfidence
and more likely to grant any request
Won make of him. If your father wers
| TO ask him now TO let him take yor
away, pending these dreadful scenes