Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1899-03-24

meet HIM, the boy, greeting nm with smile
and hand clasp, but, pushing past my !
guide, he advanced to where stood by the |
table, and with arippling laugh which there
was no installing astonished me by saying; |
Donald Thorndyke herel Has he, too, |
escaped2 Heaven is indeed goodl I have no |
need Of counterfeiting dumbness with him.
Beverly, by what fortune
The flow of words was cut short here, for
Ames let out cry just as cleared my mud
| died brain and recognized the girl, Gertrude
King, disguised as Quaker. With the
cloak gathered about her as though to con-
ceal her altered apparel, and slightly bent as
I in shrinking modesty, she stood with eyes
and lips apart, while my late guide grasped
! my hand and said:
'.By the Lordl but struck better than I
knew. Why, man, twas you who gave me
/ the first hand In help, and that at the fire,
but have never seen your face closely till
now. knew you as the savior of my sister,
but had no guess was In your debt for my
| self"
We're quits, as you said, but It's a small
debt She is your sister, then" ex-
claimed, in my bewilderment referring to
the matter which had been bothering me.
How is it am thus hoodwinked? Have
we not just sworn"
NAY, FRIEND" he broke in entreatingy.
1T but guessed at you at first. This dumb
ness has been mask from the start. Twas
that and your. pass which got Gertrude
through the lower lines. / but continued it
with you, fearing you would shirk the risk
OF having girl share what adventure we
might have in store. Y GU gave me to un-
derstand that much. Be not offended"
'Nay, Beverly, could have told you bet
4 IL. Il pIx,ty
must pardon my appearance, nor think am
unsexed inwardly as outwardly when say
that / know you will not refuse your help
, to me; for, as you once risked your life for
mine, you will not leave us and put it be-
You'd my power to do my share in making
, good the debt. The same feeling which babe
you defy Clinton will surely not allow you
. to leave me while am still unfortunate!
I And can help. I will not faint nor lose my
head and cry out if danger comes. car
= shoot; ay, and will, if need be!
. She was a striking object as she stood
there in the light of the single candle. Al
she spoke she stepped forward, the cloal
! slipping from her hands and falling abou
Z her in graceful folds. Not whit less of !
beauty was she for all that her hair wa
a shorn for more than halt it's length ant
e stained almost black, for in her male at
q tire there was no mistaking the grace of he
!. sex, which in her accentuated In her pres
{ ent rig she seemed less tall than in he
e proper costume, but it gave freedom to he
!. movements and there were ease and supple
# ness in even the small gesture of extendin
4 her arms toward me as if to add weight t
her words From top to toe there wa
" witchery about her, and little wondere
Il at Scalnmell's infatuation How on cart
. she had passed the lines without havin
: been suspected was a puzzle, unless, indeed
II she too, like her brother, was skilled in ac
n ing part.
I. mistress Gertrude" I replied, bendin
my head, whereat she attempted courtes.
re which, to say the least, was graceful despit
,e the lack of sweeping drapery, you nee
n not think me generous when tell you thi
n. the oath which binds me to help your brotl
er binds me to help you also, and to tn
ID last extremity. These may be but empt
al words; danger lies in every quarter, nc
Of can probe way through. Madam, do nj
r. count on the success of my best efforts, b,
40 for the sake OF all know them to be my hes
i And now for your story; but, first, how is
If that brother and sister bear differel
I | names?"
rs eve are but half brother and sister, sal
" Ames 'Ne'er mind genealogy; let's get b
by low and eat, then for sleep, then for VIII
III God wills 1t can bode no evil to us tn
of we three are thus met, but what find f
m Clinton could he but clutch usl"
I'D