The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1895-11-30

of his own chimney smoke. A tai,
many branched oak grew in the swamp's
edge. He made for it, intending to shell
ter himself in it and reconnoiter the
land. AS he set foot amid the lower
boughs some one above cried hushedly:
"Stopl' Then in the next breath:
"Godl You are Austin Reid"
"And you are Yellow Jim, Reid said,
falling back apace, his hand going at
once to his pistol
''Stopl We are on the same side,' the
other said, with a tinge Of authority.
"Do you think I am not as true to my
south as you, as any man, dare to be?''
ct am g4ad to know it, but how do
you happen to be here, them" Reid ask
ed, holding out his hand, which the 9TH
er wrung hard.
''I? Oh, I am scouting! On detached
duty" he said. "That is the most, the
best, l can do. I know all this country
roundabout, you see, and, so knowing,
have managed to find out very much else
that my commander will like to know. :"
"But how did you manage it," Reid
asked. Jim, you were unfair to me, -
he added a little responsibility. eff only
you had told me. Believe me, was not
unmindful of your peculiar position.
You might have gone with the heartiest
godspeed. "
Z "There were reasons" Jim said
breathlessly. I'll did not suffer. Ihad
money-all I needed. Invent straight to
New Orleans, later to Paris There I
found people who had known Carroll
Austin. The rest was easy. Of course
came back as soon as / knew there must
be war.
Zone would think you would fight on
the other side, - Reid said. "God knows.
though, I am glad you are on ours. Tell
me, have you found out anything about
my wife?"
"She is safe and well,' the other
said, looking away. "They have set a
guard about her house, SO she shall be
neither robbed nor frightened. %
''Thank God for that! I have been
frantic with anxiety. ought to have
known that her sweet eyes would tame
the most savage WRATH Reid said,
barring his head as he spoke of his wife.
"No man worth killing would ever
harm her if once he heard her speak
and saw her smile"
s'You had better not try to see her, -
Jim said little anxiously. "Take my
word that she is safe and cannot pdbsi-
bly, come to harm. You will almost GER
tainly be captured if you venture within
gunshot Of the house. I myself have
narrowly escaped it more than once .
''But must see her-I will, no mat
ter what the risk" Reid said with a
straining gaze toward his home. Jim
gave him curious, pitiful look, then
said, lightly shaking his head:
"As you please. Perhaps it can be
managed if we wait until 10 o'clock
tonight"
1t was a little later when they
wormed themselves through the chain
of sentinels and came under Mrs Reid s
windows. Inside all was light and
mirth. Lisette sat at the piano with
half a dozen men, in blue uniforms
with shoulder straps and gorgeous gold
lace, lowering about her, each eager, it
seemed. for a word, smile from her.
She had taken the officers to board, for
protection, she said. So much Jim had
learned and told to Austin Reid before
they veatured in. Now, they saw her
cheeks two damask roses, her eyes full
of happy light as she played or sang for
each of the group around her whatever
he most desired.
There was charming light coquetry
in it all. Her eyes fairly danced some
times as she broke from some patriotic
song into the chords of Dixie" or 'sMy
Maryland" The watchers outside saw
that she was somehow full of triumph.
Reid began to breathe hard. Jim laid a
hand over his lips.
Presently the men began to go away
one by one. For each Lisette had gay
good night, but not one of them touched
her hand. At last only one remained, a
handsome fellow, tall and soldierly,
with colonel's strap on his shoulder.
He had been throughout the evening the
most silent of the group, with consum-
ing fire eyed silence that had made
Reid ache to throttle him. Now he came
close to Lisette. The piano sat in re-
cess by the end window, outside which
the two men crouched. Those within
were bare two yards away. Involun-
tarily Jim crouched lower, then nearly
sprang upright. The man inside had
taken Lisette in his arms and laid his
lips to hers in long, long kiss.
Reid sprang up like one mad. Jim
caught and held him fast.
Be quiet You must ~ he said, with
his mouth at the others ear. Reid was
struggling with giant strength.
Let me gol I will kill you if you
try to stop me!' he painted. "God, she
is my wifer'
mo; she is mine!' the other said,
still holding him hard. ''It was Jim
who died in the swamp that night.
Heaven knows wish it had been me.
took his coat and put my ring upon his
finger. Darkness and the poison did the
rest Now Won know all. Let MS get out