Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1899-08-16
CHAPTER XII.-CoNr1NuED.
By chAUNcY G. HOTcHKlsS


will not 60 80 far as to say how this Ger
tainly would have ended had there been no
interference, but the end came in a man
ner totally unlocked for. / had worked the
fellow backward through the room, hoping
to get him where he could retreat no farther,
and had forced him we'll toward the heavy
settle whereon still sat the Quaker, when
that white-haired patriarch rose with an
exclamation, and selling his staff, stepped
behind Lowney and brought the stick down
on his barred head, telling him to the floor
senseless carcass.
Though the blow was serviceable to me,
such an act of war on the part of Quaker
made me turn on my ally and regard him
with astonishmcnt.
"'Twas foul thing to take man from
behind when engaged in front, my friend"
1 broke out, "and, though give thanks for
good intentions, twas an unseemly act, and
you belle your cloth"
''Thee has small time to pick fine holes in
my service, FRIEND" he answered, hurriedly.
'Iurn thee to the window and see my mo-
tive. I wish to make friends with thee, but
We must hurry! Look yonder!"
looked as directed, and to my amaze
ment saw squad of British cavalry about
turning into the lane leading to the tavern.
There was scant time for me to run for my
arms and get to the window, but, as l was
about to throw open the easement, the
Quaker laid his hand on my arm.
"Not that way!"he cried. 1T is swamp
land, and thee would be mired in the night
Upstairs-'tis safer for now-leave the rest
to me-"
With mighty nimbleness for so old a
man, he drew me toward the kitchen, and,
throwing open the door, pointed to a set of
boXed-in steps leading above, and then
quickly drew back, closing the door behind
him.
l had but gotten up the short flight when
I heard him go to the barroom entrance and
shout for help with all the might Of his
cracked voice. In a moment l heard the
clatter of arms as the men entered the low
err room, and at the same time the negro
came bounding up the stairs behind me.
The moonlight through the hall window
just showed me his black face as he ran to-
ward me, and with will to sell myself at
high cost lifted my sword to cut him down
when he cried in a horse whisper, and with
out the slightest trace of dialect:
Hold up, man! I'm yer friend! This
way!"
As he spoke he indicated door the latch
of which he lifted, and, throwing it wide,
placed his finger on his lips as he pointed to
passage with a window at it's far end.
With the words: II have no time to explain;
lie quiet till l get back" he turned and left
me, running downstairs as quickly as he had
come up.
Now from the moment 1 had crossed
swords with Lowney till the present the
time had been so short that it was as moth
ing. / was not confused as regards losing
my head, but mighty strange it seemed that
two friends had SO suddenly arisen, and this
fact was triAe bewildering. In some blind
way the Dove was still Wing station (un-
less treachery lay hidden about), though
what had become of young King and how
could come by Nick Stryker, were still puz-
zles. In the face of the action and words of
the Quaker, whose blow had saved me from
immediate capture, could but think he was
not what he had seemed to be, even if he was
Quaker at all. That he was friend to the
cause was plain enough now, though at first,
with the feeling that every man. hand was
against me, even thought his sending me
above might be but a trap to take me alive.
But this could not be, for on going to the
window / saw the easement opened on a
roof that sloped easily to near the ground
common arrangement in architecture in
those days, and one that still holds.
had been alone bare five minutes when
through the still night air heard the sound