Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1899-08-09

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in with food for the two, and at the same
time the door reopened, there entering
man whom even in the dim light knew to
be of different stripe than the others.
II was Quaker. and so intirm that he
walked slowly and heavily with the aid At
a staff. Giving the two at the table wide
berth, he wendell his way to the rear of the
room aud, seating himself on tho settle, or
dered a plain meal of milk and bread and
butter.
| There was nothing remarkable in the ad.
vent Of tired Quaker, but his appearance
caused the sharper and his companion to
draw their chairs together and whisper,
though after moments close talking the
former shouted across the room:
| "Hello, snufy! Where be thee from?"
| There came no immediate answer to this,
whereat the trooper swore roundly and re-
peated his fellows question in Z louder
voice.
II travel from the Kingsbridge and be-
! Yond, FRIEND" was the final answer re-
turned in a feeble treble.
! ''To where, then, thee son O drab?"
mimicked the gambler, as he put in his turn
at insulting the old man.
| ''To friend in the city-a Capt. Scam
nell, of De Lancy's regiment. Mayhap thee
knows him." was the innocent response.
| But, innocent as it was, it had it's effect
| on the two, who were at once more respect
full in both tone and words.
"Ye'l not find him, them" volunteered
the trooper. "He has sore head an q
broken heart-the one from scrimmage an
the other through loss O. his lady. Ha' We
seen aught O runaway beauty on yer trav-
els-a tall young lass with painted head?"
| 'Does thee mean young girl with hair
inclined to red?" asked the traveller, with
something of interest in his voice.
| "Ay, that same," returned the trooper,
bringing his feet under him and half rising
| "Yea, friend. l met with a female,
though scarce beauty, and with hair as
thee describes. She was tired and wan as
she came from the woods near Days tav-
ern, by the Hollow Way, and asked me for
victuals. But, friend, I was unprovided, and,
indeed, in these times fear stragglers, be
| they male or female"
''Was the same tall an fine o skin, an
with dark eyes?"
"Ay, think she was of proper height, and
her eye was dark, if do not err"
| "'Fore God, an / believe it the lass,
Lovingly" said the trooper, starting up and
for the first time giving the card-sharper a
| udlue LII OIL Oh TIE SCSuL w uGIe away
did she go, old man,"
| the answer.
| riedly asked the redcoat.
'Thee knowest the woods and orchard
| where Washington worsted Howe on the
heights of Harlem? That is the spot, friend.
1t strikes me she might be fair enough after
food and rest. would not have her harmed
through me. Thee had
Damn your thees an thous an Wash
ington an being worsted!" shouted the
trooper, excitedly. "I'm of, Lowney. Tell
the rest when they come. 'Tis fair day
that bid We stop me for sup in this place.
I will requite We yet. Give me Quaker for
truth an good luck. Alloh, lad!" And with
a rattle of metal he was out of the door,
while in moment l heard his horse put.
ting from the yard full tilt.
AS listened to the Quaker's description
of the girl, of whose identity doubted az
little as did the trooper, my heart sank with.
in me. 1 considered the suffering she had
undergone to make necessary her asking
food of a stranger on the high road, and was
fast getting to the point Of leaving my place
of concealment, dispatching the man Low
ney, stealing his horse, overtaking the troop.
er, and rescuing the girl myself, and all
without thought of my own risk, when an
accident put an end to this sudden dream If
heroism and caused me to face stern facks.
Twas but natural that had taken q
quick dislike to the Quaker. who had inno-
Gently been the means of setting pursacr
on the track of the patriotic girl, and twas
also natural that wished to see more Of
him than his legs and the butt Of his stail.
To the end of satisfying my curiosity, kfs
ed my head as before, but was seemingly
less cautious with my foot, for, moving it UNI
thinkingly, tilted my sword, which must
have but just balanced on the edge of tte
bench, and sent it crashing to the floor wish
| Ito me) racket that might have been me- Dc
by falling house.
Both the Quaker and Lowney gava 4
start as the sharp sound echoed through the
room, the former dropping the spoon he was
carrying to his mouth, while the latter
sprang to his feet and looked toward tho
darkened corner in which had been bid
ing. The two candles in the large apartment
gave but scant light, but, scant as it VAS, it
proved enough for the sharp eyes of the
gambler, who evidently caught sight of q
face, for with an oath he cried: "What have
we here-a drunkard or deserter!" ard ad.
| v1nceQ toward the table.
And now it appeared that would be sud-
denly forced to do the very thing that bu:
a moment before had been buzzing in my
brain as only dream. Concealment being
no longer possible, would face matters az
they fell out, and trusted to put all into
execution before help in the shape of the
Lowney had covered half the space betwixt
| T co. orl -
the bench and from that to the table, drew
the blade.
As the advancing man beheld my figure
loom suddenly on high, for the beams of the
ceiling barely cleared my head, he stopped
short and stepped a pace or two backward,
drawing his sword the while, then with 4
voice which might have been heard fur
long, he shouted:
"By the great Jehovah! it's Donald
Thorndyke, or his spook from hell! Are We
run to ground at last? If We be no ghost,
surrender in the name of the king!-Ho, old
man! here is the devil himself; get to my
holsters and fetch the 6rearms!-Hither, ye
black rascal! help me mold him here! Help
here, say! Damn the closed door!-Eoy!
boy! Oh, what pass is this!"
Waiting for no action on the part of the
old Quaker, and hoping to forestall the ne
gro, leaped to the floor, and in an instant
the swords of Lowney and myself were
crossed in combat -. ...-:
The onset was 80 sudden that it drove the
man backward against his table, which, with
the candle and earthenware, was upset,
though the crash did not mar the fellows
guard Taking advantage of the opening
thus made, I sprang between him and tho
door, and then the battle began in grim earn
| est ...,.... 80. 49, 49,.