Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1899-05-24

HAre We not the man who bearded Gin
ton? Who would not know we after the
days rumpns with searchin's an descrip-
tions? Are there two O. yer shadow on the
island? Is not yer pane Thorndyke! Ills
lucky we fell afoul O Nick 6tryker instead @
Others"
"By the Mighty! Are you Nick
Stryker" I asked, light bursting on me.
Chick Stryker is my NAME" he answered.
II thought you said Nat Burns was"
"Who ever saw Nat Burns?" he broke in.
mo one. He's always away. Come, now,
I've little to tell. What brought We to the
Dove?"
"To find one calling himself Rex" I be-
gan. but he stopped me by an exclamation.
REX! an we asked for man o. the name
O King? know none such, but Rex-why,
he it was that laid out the tory and saved
yer neck. An ye knew him not! Well, on
my soul, tits scarce wopder!"
SIS it possible? No more than A brother
upborn would have known him, Is Low
ney dead?" asked.
FAY, he's dead, an We ha' the credit O. it.
Dit ye not hear party putting after ye to
the rorth? We have no time to palayer.
Stay here until | guide the Quaker hither;
he's maxim blind fools o. an officer an three
men over the body O. the tory, but his risk
is great. tell ye that Rex is sore beset him
self, an I would hang higher thaA Hannah
were my position known. We each need the
other, for tits beyond me now to more StaaA
help We out of the muss ye have just got
ten in" ).
'eWhat is the man's real name" asked
as he turned to leave me.
"Ames," was the short answer as he
made off, and in the small light OF the moon
that was now close to its setting marked
his figure grow less and less until the shad,
ows swallowed it.
Now saw where had made mistake in
NOT closely following directions and asking
for "Rex' In the first place. And equally
stupid had been in determining that Nick
Stryker was openly known by his name.
When inquired for KIM" it had never en-
tered my head that Rex could be aught but
the brother of Gertrude, and it now came to
me that mayhap Clinton was inside the
truth when he said that youth had persisted
in the flames. How, then, could the poor
girl have Jared since she left me? Yet her
brother had escaped, according to Mrs..
Badely, and twas possible the girl had
known where to join him. Either Clinton
had lied or his mistress had been deceived,
and twas fair muddle to clear. Striker
had known me through reputation and de-
scription, and if my act had become cele-
brated SO might have hers, and determined
to ask him if he knew aught of the girl for
whom had now more than passing inter,
est.
However, the matter was not to be cleared
by thinking, and as just now had need Of
my brains in my own behalf, Iput it aside
and came home, as charity should.
Where was to pass the coming night!
Where was to procure bread for the NOR
row? would not fast again. though it
came to entering house and demanding
food at pistols point. What was the end
of it all to be? Even now was held pris,
oner by quaking bog, and had put myself
into the power of man who, in my mind,
was no more negro than was Rex or Ames
an aged Quaker.
Twas foolishly weak in me, but as one
hour went far into another and nothing
CHANGED, took blue turn, thinking Of
home and my mother and my sister, and
their worry and wondermens at my long alb.
sence, finally getting myself into mood
that was made up of universal doubts, and,
were it not that had sense of shame left,
| fairly think might have whimpered Gks
Il sick child.
Indeed, there was nothing in my surround
ings to prick my pluck. When the moon set
a darkness almost like that of the night be
fore came down on me. The dew was like
rain on all about, and not so much as Q
stone, wet or dry, was there to rest upon
The unusual fast, the lack of sleep, the un
ceasing danger and present inactivity made
La ~ kka,.,
The night voices of the swamp were well
nigh deafening, and / was like to lose my
head betwixt theavocferous bellowings o.
the frogs and the strain under which my
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