The Van Buren press., 1897-12-11
thrust would 20 home. and al would bs

f -Gc Gc1Fk OF a one l4A A--c NzAA- = -
fan before her. But the brutal nzture
OF the nan was now thoroughly aroused
by her stubborn silence He thrust
his evil. blozted face, flushed with an
ger. close 10 her own.
Come. find your tongue, vii you?'
he exclaimed. sayEgely.
Sic began % SOB helplessiy.
oh, In frightened she cried. pitt
fully. = want 20 90 home-I want to
90 home"
"TOu shall 90 home when I'm done
with you. and not before" he growled.
wrenehing a thick branch from vii
f l0w branch that grew near. He stripped
OF the leaves. and advanced threaten
ingiy towards her.
DO you see this2a he asked brutaIly.
+ We'll, as sure as Fou're standing there,
III break it across your hack II you
don't speak ont a. once"
But his companion, brawny fellow,
with a square, resOlute face and keen
gray eyes. sprang from the saddle and
stepped before him.
None Of that said he. @or you'll
deal with me. Dan Rothwell. and yoa
know yourself whether you're like 10
+ have the best of il. Ire stood b. and
seen you do many 4 cursed cruel thing
i-moreis the shame 10 me-bui lay your
hand on that child. and III laY nv hand
On ron. as you'll find 10 your cost"
"stand back, viii you?r snarIed Da1l.
with a savage scowl, trying 10 thrust
him aside and strike al the whimpering
child. who was clinging desperately 10
her protector.
Not I. Keep your distance. I tell
you. I've a little maid of ny own. the
living image Of this one. and I'll wiring
your neck before you shall lay finger
on her
This will serve ny purpose said
Dan, and dropping the switch he made
a swift grab n the kitten. and catching
il by the back of the neck twitched it
out of the child's arms and held II
sprawling in the air.
Then he drew his sword from the
scabbard and fourished it over his head.
Tell us where the mans hidden
he cried. triumphantly. "out with it.
YOU obstinate little jade, or I'll cut
the cursed little brute in two
The terrified kitten mewed and
writhed and twisted and made vigorous
efforts to scratch and bite its captor.
It's futile cries and struggles goaded its
little mistress into paroxysm of child
ish wrath.
Let it alone" she cried, passionate
Is. How dare you take il from me?
It's mine, and you shan't kill it
Dan laughed sueeringly as he held il
above her outstretched hands.
will you tell Us where the mans
hidden2s he exclaimed. Come, will
you. or won't you?'
40. I won't" she cried, stamping
Ter foot on the ground and facing him
with flashing eyes, Il won't. won't.
WON'T"
Then, suddenly realizing her own
Lelplessness, she broke into sobs. and
clung despairingly 10 Dicks arm.
~0h. make him give II back TO me"
she cried, piteously. Don't let him
kill IT, Oh, don't let him kill it,"
Dick turned angrily on his com
rade.
Come" he said sternly, that's
enough. Give it back TO her, l tell
you"
But al that moment. in its frantic
efforts to escape, the kitten eontriyed
TO dig its sharp claws into his hand.
and be dropped it, with an oath. Jes-
sic darted forward to pick it up. but
he thrust her violently on one side.
and with a blow of his sword stretched
il on the grass, twitching and with
ing in the agonies Of death He was
about 10 strike il again. WHEN Dicks
fist came like a sletge-hsmDe- On 11@
side Of his head and sent him stzggsr-
ing half-a-dozen yards away.
you hulL-ing backyard sto1t4s
Dick; you cowaE,5ly bE1tz- VII y0-
never have done with Fc-- E-F
tricks2 lis szch a. Fo- tAz- Ezzks
rs stink IN The zcztrlls q. The Vseo-ls
BeEone- Or - surs as tAsrs Is Cod iz
Heaven III drive ~ sword thruugf
your h-ack tszr1-
TIE ether sTsi Lzr1 WITH Z vs-c1-1zz
locE- but 10 6olbs D5ck Hss rhs bet
ter swcrls-zzzu- to- with string O.
E-Erter@5 c1rs=s hs Elu-E away.
L The meantime Jessie had thrown
herself On hey knees By the SIDE Of her
ltrtls co1paaj0u- . moment ago 50 fur.
q happy life. now q murilated. bleed
ing corpse- She lifted il with trern-
b5lzg fingers and placed II tenderly IL
ber lap.
-Oh.- she sobbed. piteously. -irf
dead. it's dead. and i'll never play with
us again
Dick glanced AZ her compassionate
is. and once more drew the chain fro1
his pocket.
Gone. little one. don't cry he said
gently. Look. here's the pretty chair
for you- Cheer up, and be brave little
maid
But she Only shook her head. and
heat sobbing over the dead kitten. He
patted her On the shoulder with rough
kindness put the chain on the ground
beside her, and mounting his horse
rude away. The rest Of the troopers.
having found no trace Of the fugitive,
were already some distance ahead.
As soon as he was convinced that
they were out Of sight, Walter scram-
bled down from the niche 10 comfort
the child. who was still sobbing over
the body Of her little playmate. But
she refused 10 be comforted. and, re-
garding him as the cause Of the kittens
death, repulsed his awkward attempts