The Lebanon express. (Lebanon, Linn County, Or.) 1887-1898, 1896-06-25
CHAPTER Nv.

CHAPTER w.
For once Susy had not exaggerated.
Capt. Pinckney was lingering with the
deputy who had charge of him on the
trail near the casa II had alrendy
been pretty well understood by both
captives and captors that the arrest
WIS simply legal demonstration, tliat
The sympathizing federal judge would
undoubtedly order the discharge OF the
prisoners on their own recogniznnccs
aud it was probable that the deputy saw
10 harm in granting Pinckney's re-
quest, which was virtually only delay
in his own liberation. 1t is also possi-
BILE that Pinckney had worked upon the
chivalrous sympathies Of the man by
protesting his Discrimination to leave
heir devoted colleague, Mrs. Brant, at
The mercy Of her antagonistic and cold
flooded husband at such a crisis, and 1t
to be feared, also, that Clarence, as
eputed lukewarm partisan, excited no
personal sympathy even from his own
party. Howbeit, the deputy agreed TO
delay Pinckney's journey for parting
interview with his fair hostess.
How far this expressed the real SEN
timents of Capt. Pinckney was never
known. Whether his political associa-
tion with Mrs. Brant had developed into
a warmer solicitude, understood or ig-
nored by her, and what were his hopes
and aspirations regarding his future
was by the course of fate never dis
closed. A man of easy ethics but rigid
artifcialities of honor, fattered and
pampered by class prejudice, So
called man of the world, with no ex-
pcrience beyond his own limited circle,
yet brave and devoted to that, it were
well, perhaps, to leave that last act of
his Intellectual life to the simple record
of the deputy.
Dismounting, ,heapproached the house
rom the garden. He was already fa-
niliar with the low arched doorway
which led to the business room, and
from which he could gain admittance
to the patio. But it so CHANGED that he
| entered the dark passage at the mo-
ment that Clarence had thrust Susy into
the business room, and heard its door
shut sharply. For an instant he be-
lieyed that Mrs. Brant had taken ref
age there, but as he cautiously moved
forward he heard her voice in the patio
beyond. Its accents struck him as
pleading; an intense curiosity drew him
further along the passage. Suddenly
her voice seemed to change to angry
denunciation, and the word Liar rang
upon his ears. 1t was followed by his
own name uttered sardonically by Clar-
ence, the swift rustic of skirt, the
clash of the gate, and then. forgetting
everything, he burst into the patio.
Clarence was Just turning from the
gate with the marks Of his wife's hand
| still red on his white cheek. He saw
Capt. Pinckney's eyes upon it, and
faint, half-malicious, half-hysteric
smile upon his lips. But without
! start or gesture of surprise, he locked
the gate, and turning to him, said, with
frigid Significance:
"Ithank you for returning 80 prompt
! ", and for recognizing the only thing /
now require at yonr hands"
But Capt. Pinckney had recovered
his supercilious ease with the signifi.
can't demand,
"You seem to have had something al.
ready from another,s hand, sir-Dut i
am at your service" he said, lightly.
"You will consider that | have ac-
cepted il from YOU, sir said Clarence,
drawing closer 10 him with a rigid
face. II suppose it viii not be neces-
sary for me to return ito make YOU
understand me-"
AGO on" said pincknev fluahinp
slightly, "Mske your terms, I am