The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-04-24
|Tbe Warrior Maid
.......0f San Carlos
BY ROBERT EfRR.
1900 SHARP Ps0sss-

~ ROBERT EhRR.

ne vac a tu14e OF feminine loneliness.
Putting himssh together. and drawing Q
deep but silent breath, he went forward
with sof, tread. and the next instant
there was a grip OF steel on the wrist
Of shs young girl that rested On the earth.
With a cry OF dismay she sprang to her
feet and confronted her assailant, nearly
topplinx over the brink a. she did 80, but
he grasped her firmly and drew her .
step or two up the arcade. As he held
her left wrist there was In the air the
Hash OF q St.ietto, and the naval officers
distinguished career would have ended on
that spot had he not been . little quicker
than his fair opponent. His disengaged
hand gripped the descending wrist and
held her poweriess.
''Ruffianf' she missed in Spanish
The young man had = workable knovl-
edge OF the language. and he thanked his
stars now that 1t was 20. He smiled at
said:
When they gave me my commission ]
had no hope that should meet 80 charm
Ing an enemy. Drop the knife, signorino,
and I will release your hand"
The girl did not comply at first. She
tried to wrench herself free. pulling this
way and that with m0re strength than one
would have expected from one 50 slight.
But finding herself helpless in those rigid
bonds she slowly relaxed the fingers Of
her right hand and let the dagger drop,
point downward, into the loose soil. where
II stood and Qusvered.
Now let me Co." she said, painting.
"You promised"
Tho young man relInquished his hold,
and the girl. with the quick movement
OF a humning bird, dfyed into the foliage,
and would have disappeared had he not.
with equal CELEBRITY. Intercepted her. again
tn srlsoning her wrist. You lIar." she
cried. her magnificent eyes abiaae with
anger. "Fnithless mfnion OF faithless
race. you promised to let me co."
And kept my promise" sad the
young man. still with smile. II said
! would release your hand, and did so.
but as for yourself that Is q different
matter. You see. Sgnortno to speak
piaintiy. you ara . spy. / have caught
You almost within our lines, counting our
boats. and perhaps our men. There Is
war between our countries. and / arrest
you ~ SPY"
"A brave country. yours" she cried. ito
war upon women"
well" said the young man. with a
laugh. what are we to do? The men
won't stay and fight u.s."
She gave him a dark. Indignant glance
at this. which but heightened her swarthy
beauty.
And what are you." oh. said, 'bu.
spy?"
Not yet" he replied. III you had
found me peering at the fort. then, per-
haps. ] should be compelled TO plead
guilty. But as II e. you are the only spy
here at present. signorino. Do you know
what the fate OF spy isy'
The girl stood there for few moments
her face downcast, the living gives still
encircling her wrists. When she looked
UP II was with a smile SO radiant that the
young man gasped for breath, and his
heart beat faster than ever IL had done
I'm warfare.
but You VIII not give me up?" she muir
INJURED softly.
Then Indeed would I be a faithiess
minion.'' cried the young man forvent,y.
mot indeed to my country. bn, TO your
fascinating sex. which I never adored So
much as now
You mean that yoa would be faithiess
10 yeur country but not TO mee'
We'll" sad the young man with some
natural hesitation. .tf shouldn't care To
have 10 choose between my allegiance 70
one or tho other. England can survive
without warning upon women. as you have