Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1899-08-17
the hope a forlorn one. It seemed tina. was

SlSneu myself TO TINS WQcn the Diack came
in with food for the two, and ct the same
time the door reopened, there entering 3
man whom even in the dim light knew to
be Of a different stripe than the others.
| II was Quaker. and SO intirr that he
walked slowly and heavily with the aid NJ
staff. Giving the two at the ta5lc wide
berth. he wcnded his way to the rear of tho
room and, seating himself on the 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
draw their chairs together and whisper,
though after moments close talking the
former shouted across the room:
"Hello, snuffy! Where be thee FROM"
There came no immediate answer to this,
whereat the trooper swore roundly and re-
peated his fellows question in louder
| roice.
81 travel from the Kingsbridge and be-:
turned in feeble treble.
mimicked the gambler, as he put in his turn
at insulting the old man.
ITO a 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 its effect
on the two, who were at once more respect
full in both tone and words.
| "Ye'll not find him, them" volunteered
the trooper. HE has a sore head an a
broken heart-the one from scrimmage an
the other through loss o his lady. Ha' We
seen aught O. runaway beauty on yer trav.
l. al. t,Il los with Y,oip cd hand w
"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
"Yca, friend. I met with female.
though scarce beauty, and with hair as
she came from the woods near Days tav.
v;ctuals But, friend, was unprovided, and,
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"
"'Forc God, an believe it the lass
Lovingly" said the trooper, starting up and
for the first time giving the cardsharper a
name I'm off on the scent. Where away
did she go, old man."
Back to the woods, as saw her" wal
the answer.
.What woods? In what direction?" hur
redly asked the rcdcoat.
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 aite,
food and rest l would not have her harmed
through me. Thee had"
Damn your thecs an thous an Wash
ington an being worstcd!" shouted the
trooper, cxcitcdly. '1'm off, Lowney. Tel
the rest when they come. IT'S fair day
that bid We stop me for sup in this place
l will requite we yet. Give me Quaker 70,
truth an good luck. Alloh, lad!" And with
4 rattle of metal he was out OF the door,
while in a moment l heard his horse put
ting from the yard full tilt.
As listened to the QuaLcr's description
Of the girl, of whose identity doubted an
little as did the trooper, my heart sank with
in me. l considered the suffering she had
undergone to make necessary her asking
food of stranger on the high road, and waa
fast getting to the point of leaving my plac.
| VI SOiCcuiElti!IS ulspdeShii1iA SA'S iioh A~N "
ney, stealing his horse, overtaking the troop
or, and rescuing the girl myself, and all
without thought of my own risk, when an
accident put an end to this sudden dream al
hcrosm and caused me to face stern facts
Twas but natural that had taken 4
quick dislike to the Quaker. who had limo
Gently been the means of setting pursAcl
on the track of the patriotic girl, and 't,vai
also natural that l wished to see more 81
him than his legs and the butt of his stall
TO the end of satisfying my curiosity, litS
cd my head as before, but was seemingly
less cautious with my foot, for, moving it uIA-
thinkirgly, l tilted my sword, which must
have but just balauced on the edge Of tic
bench, and sent it crashing to the floor win
Ito mel a racket that might have been me Id
by falling house.
Both the Quaker and Lowney gavA .
start as the sharp sound echoed through tht
room, the former dropping the spoon he wal
carrying'to his mouth, while the lattes
sprang to his feet and looked toward the
darkened corner in which had beer hid
ing. The two candles in the large apartment
gave but scant light, but, scant as it %as, ii
proved enough for the sharp eyes III til:
gambler, who evidently caught sigat of Z
face, for with an oath he cried: "What have
we here-a drunkard or deserter?' ard ad
vanccd toward the table.
And now it appeared that would be sud
denly forced to do the very thing tina: hl.:
a moment before had been buzzng in mJ
brain as only dream. Concealmcnt being
no longer possible, l would face matters al
they fell out, and trusted to put all into
execution before help in the shape of the
negro or others without might arrive. Ere
Lowney had covered half the space betwixt
us, stopped for my sword, and, jumping tc
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 .
voice which might have been heard fur
long, he shouted:
by the great Jehovah! tits Donald
Thorrdyke, or his spook from hell! Are ye
run to ground at last? If ye 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 firearms! -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 so 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 the
door, and then the battle began in grim earn