The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-06-11

llOll VI TIE fulfilling, Wnlle 81 small
amount of sawed lumber was brought
to the scene. In few days after he
had set stoaidly to work and had felled
dozen trees he suggested that he need
| ed a horse to drag them. and his white
charger was given to him to their mu-
tual delight.
| Reckon it'll kinder chirk i'm up a
little and mex i'm think some of gettin'
away. He don't hev no int 'rist now an
nachelly hain't no thought o. writin'
| for money. Then 1 guess it 'ud be a
good idee to send Their cyril with his
dinner each day. Eff they'd only fall in
love 18th each other seems kinder's eff
they'd both be morn eager to git way
cutters this. They might try to 'scape,
ter be sure, but faint no ways likely!"
| This state of procedure kept on for
about week without incident of any
| sort. Lieutenant Pearmain suspected
he would be watched covertly from be-
hind the trees, in which conjecture he
was right. But seeing nothing and
hearing no exchange of conversation
that amounted to anything they became
| careless. There was evidently much of
Importance going on outside the forest,
| because the gang had been returning
Of late in an uncommonly happy state
| of mind, which mental condition all
| ways meant an increase in their con-
sumption Of whisky. An increase in
drunkenness caused a decrease in vigil
lance.
The young officer decided it was time
to make an attempt.
To this end he addressed the girl for
the first time. Angelina Gordon's suf-
ferings were greatly increased by this
time, and Lieutenant Pear2nain realized
by her looks that there was no time to
be wasted He had never spoken to
the girl about their captivity, nor on
any other subject except the mere COM
monplace Of the days rations when she
brought them. But there had been
subtle communication in the glance of
their eyes, and the unuttered language
was clearly understood by both. It was
no secret to Lieutenant Pearmain that
he loved Angelina Gordon. 1t was the
main impulse, driving him to make a
desperate effort to escape
His conduct was not so clear to the
fair captive, although she hoped that
he was planning for their mutual de-
liverance. She could not conceive that
man, even Northerner, could see
her distress and not wish to be Of as
sistance. She read lesson of hope in
his kind gray eyes-it was he only
thing that buoyed her up day by day.
Finally, one day, she received a smafl
piece of paper, a leaf from the little
red book, which she took from the palm
of his hand, which trembled as it
touched her for the first time.
BE prepared to ride with me to-mor-
row."
There We're many things to favor the
effort. The constant sounds of his ham
mer and ak had come to be the only
evidence the captors needed to assure
them that their prisoner was at his post
of duty. He had heightened his noon
day meal in order that he might take
his start at once, as they would not be-
gin to suspect his attempted escape so
soon He had also kept Miss Gordon in
kind of desulltory conversation. so
that her return was not SO prompt. 1t
was noted with satisfaction by the men.
L reckon the love business s begin
ming to work." one of them remarked.
The next day, after giving the note,
he did not wait to eat his dinner The
young man, who had never dared to
look a girl in the face. lifted Miss Cor
don into a place in front of him onto
the bare back of the white charger.
This he did in Difference to the possibili-
ity of bullets from the rear He walked
the horse at first, fearing the sound of
a rapid gait would be heard He had
no bride, his captors had substituted
a halter of rope in it's place He may
have gone half a mile before he dug
his heels into his animals side, and, as
II conscious of the attempted escape,
the noble fellow put in his best PAGES
Pearmain remembered his long ride,
blindfolded, giving him no chance to
know how long a time was required tc
get out of the forest. But he had de-
cided not to make an effort to get into
the open at first. After going about an
hour he turned from the bride path
and struck out aimlessly into the depths
of the forest. A recapture would thus
be difficult. He disliked the idea of re-
naming among those Southern pines
through the night. Yet he knew there
would be a strong effort to find him
and that the chances We're more favor
able if he remained among the trees,
several miles from the bride path
When the day began to darken he
felt it was his duty to lay the matter
before his companion. But little had
been said as yet. and he hardly knew
whether he would be understood Il re-
quired more courage than airy expert
ence of the war to enter into the mat
ter. But his brave spirit prompted him
to the proper words.
81 can we'll realize. Miss Gordon" he
began, that I have given you but little
reason to think that l have any interest
in your welfare. 1 have felt that to
show you any interest at all would be
dangerous to any attempt that I might
make in your behalf Natural enemies
as We are, it may be difficult for you to
believe that 1 am doing this entirely
for your sake. It may be that 1 have
no right to make this statement, but it
is all will say. except to ada that it
seems very unwise for us to make any
effort to get out of this forest tonight.
I think without doubt that our captors
are already on our track 1t is but nat
ural to suppose that they will carefully
watch tonight to see if anyone energies
from among the trees. Therefore, will
let the matter rest with you If you
wish to have me find al way out at once
will endeavor to do so''
Lieutenant Pearmain never forgot the
trustful smile with which his words
were received, nor the sweet cadence of
her reply:
"Ah believe you are right All will
trust you to the end"
When the belated dawn lightened the
somber depths of the forest the next
morning, sorely hungry the pair moved
onward and were kept in a straight line
by familiar geometrical device. In a
fnx +, iv1cr fyan lat