The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1897-08-19
CAPTAIN CLOSE
ny CAPTAIN CHARLES KING.
Copyright. 1894. by , p Lippiucot, Co.,



al this uproar proceeded--Lambert
.ame suddenly upon two dim. swaying
figures. The one nearest him-that of
man-was clutching, throttling, APP
parently, a slighter form in white, a
woman. The butt of his revolver
'traightened out the dark fgurewith one
rack, and then for n moment every
hing was darkness and confusion. A
amp, held by some screaming female
at a neighboring window, was dropped
with a crash. The screams subsided TO
scurry and chatter and Ethiopian pro-
testations and furious demands: "You
Elinor! you black nigguh-you let me
out this room Instantly" Then rush of
footsteps to the window again, and
tragic appeals: "Mamma-ma-amma
Whut's 'shappened? Doanswer? DO make
Elinor let me go to you, or Ah'll jump
out this window. Ah'm comm now"
And. indeed, a dim, slender form could
he deserted, arrayed in white. ben,liGg
low from the easement, when Burns
. With his lantern came tearing around
the corner. Then majestic voice, i'm
perious even though well-nigh breath
less, was heard: katherine. return to
your bed instantly. Do you hear? in
stantly! And send Elinor to me-"
That Katherine shot back within the
sheltering blinds was possibly due not
20 much to the impetus given her by
those imperative orders as to that i'm
parted by the sight of a pair of shoul-
derstraps aud the face of the young ofli-
4 4
Well might he look amazed At his feet
IN the pathway Private Riggs was
spmwling, half stunned by the blow he
had received. On his back amidst the
wreck of a glass hot-bed, Private Muir
ply was clutching at empty air and
calling on all the saints in the Hibern;an
calendar to rescue him from the hands
of that old bedlam. On the pathway, in
loose wrapper, her bosom heaving
with mingled wrath and exhaustion,
Dne hand firmly cliftching a stout cane,
the other clasping together at her white
neck the shreds of her torn and dishev-
sled garb, her dark eyes flashing fire,
her lips quivering, stood a woman GER
tainly not so years of age. despite the
silver in the beautiful hair streaming
down upon her shoulders and the deep
lines of grief and care in her clear-cut
and thoroughbred face. She leaned
heavily on the stick an instant, but
raised it threateningly as the luckless
Murphy strove to sit up and stanch the
blood tricklng from his laceratcd hands
and face.
Don't you dare to move, Suh," she
painted, unless" And the uplifted
cane supplied, most suggestively, the
ellipsis.
'Oh. fur the luv o. God, ma am, don't
nit me ag'in! Sure. I'd niver prczhoome,
ma'am-"
shut up, Murphy" growled Burns.
ITS easy to see what brought you
here. Shall 1 let Riggs up, lieutenant?
He's bleeding good deal"
But Riggs didn't want to get up. He
Topped helplessly back upon the gIass-
plot. Burns bent over and held his Ian
tern close. THE mans drunk, SIR" he
said-"and cut"
Il did that, i presume," said Lam
bert, still little out of breath alter
the dash to the rescue. 81 found
him daring to lay hands on this
lady. Madame, sincerely hope you are
not injured. 1t is impossible for me to
say how l deplore this outrage. These
men shall suffer for it, ] assure you"
With rapid step the corporal of the
guard, bringing with him couple of
men and another lantern, came iiur-
riedly to the scene and stood silent and
rrla atr 10
face. Two or three frightened negroes
had crept around the rear portico and
hung trembling behind their mistress.
With a shawl thrown over her head
and shoulders, quadroon girl halted
half way down the steps from the side
door, her eyes dilated, and her ilps
iwitching in terror, until low voice
from within bade her 60 on, and "a iall.
dark-haired, pale-faced girl in long,
loose wrapper fairly pushed her for
ward and then stepped quickly to the
elder woman's side.
go back to the house at once, my
child. This is no place for you. Go to
Katherine and tell her / say she must
not leave her bed. Col" And, silent
ly as she came, but with an infinite and
evident reluctance, the tall girl turned
and obeyed. Mrs. Walton had spoken
slowly and with effort. OF Mr.. Lambert
and his party she had as yet taken no
notice whatever. Again Murphy began
to squirm in his uncomfortable couch
IF mingled mud and broken glass and
head lettuce, and the cracking ac-
compartment to his moaning once more
made him the object of the lady's atten-
ton.
"Lie still, suh," she said, low and
sternly. "You have broken moh glass
now, sub, than youh captain can re-
place. Lie still whuh you are until my
suhvants lift you out-Henry!" she
called.
"Ye-assum," was the answer, as one
of the negroes came reluctantly for
ward, humbly twirling battered hat
in his hands.
go fetch your barrow"
Indeed. Mrs. Walton" interposed
Lambert, 'you need not trouble your
self. The guard shall carry these two
scoundrels TO camp, and prison life at
Ship island or Tortugas will put stop
to their prowling. 1t is on your ac-
count / am distressed. We have no
surgeon at hand; will send at once for
doctor in town"
She raised a slender white hand, re-
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