Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1899-11-23


well rewarded. Have you money!"
mo, your excellency; | have nothing but
my promise of prize money. l am living on
the credit of that"
Indeed! Have you the paper with you,
properly indorsed?"
For an answer | took it from my pocket
and laid it before him, at the same time
realizing with a start that the commune ica-
tion given to me the day before had been
left in my room in the hurry of escaping
from the tavern. He picked up the docu-
ment | laid before him, glanced at it, and
then, rising, went to bookcase, which on
being opened disclosed a small strong-b box
This he unlocked, and taking from it several
rouleaux of coin laid them on the table.
you must have money; you cannot get
ready without it. You will have many ex-
penses. Listen! | shall not intrust you
with a packet to General Pigot The ven
ture is too hazardous. Teli him to hold
Newport to the last extremity, and | will
start to his relief within two weeks.
shall also communicate with him by land" ;"
He arose again, and ciasping his hands
behind him walked up and down the floor.
| saw that the man was wishing TO come to
a point against which just then he was shy
ing, and, as time was an object to me,
hoped to help him over the difficulty by
remarking
The matter of the cruise is plain
enough, but your excellency limited at Sc
cret instructions"
eyes, yes" he answered. at was that
referred to a moment since" He hesitated,
and then pointing to my arm, continued,
Perhaps your wound would cripple you
for active service?"
No, your excellency," l answered bur
riedly; cit is about healed"
''Will you, then-undertake to-to-in
short-to abduct "a person and-and
perhaps deliver her to Pigot"
1T is woman, thep?"
at is a woman. In fact, my position is
delicate-I must not be known in the mat
ter. She is troublesome to Well, her
brother is about to be executed. l wish to
save her from this knowledge Do you
follow me? She is to be the victim of an
unauthorized outrage; the motive to be
your own. No i'll treatment, no unnecessary
violence, of course. You shall be paid
you shall be well paid Get the boat
ready-be ready within five days. Can |
rely on you? Then report for final details.
Is there anything more?"
Yes, your excellency, there is more. |
shall need pass. Some of my men are with
out the lines"
''Very good" he returned, sitting down
and pulling paper toward him, on which he
wrote rapidly; then pushing the writing
away, he began talking with the feather of
the quill betwixt his teeth
Here is your pass" said he, laying his
hand over the paper and looking hard at
me, 'and there is your gold. There is more
to come. No violence-no brute violence
What would you do if necessity demanded
your sinking the ship? f-if-if-"
The pen in his mouth gave his voice the
character of a snarl his eyes flashed, and
he bent forward eagerly. | caught q
glimpse of the villainy of this man, and
without winking promptly replied:
Save myself, your honor!"
As though smitten by a revusion of feel
ing, he started back and exclaimed
mo! no! Not that! Great God! not
quite so quick! What tool you are! Is
there no other ways Let me think; let it
rest as it is until you report.-Ah what is
the meaning of this,'
The last remark was drawn from him by
noise of controversy in the hall without,
the sudden opening of the door, and the en-
try of a female unannounced. She was
veilcd, but before the door had fairly closed
behind her, with graceful move of her arm
she uncovered her face, and | involuntarily
came to my feet as | recognized the young
girl whose beauty had struck me as | was
about leaving the Sprite.
Her eyes were red from weeping, and, in
deed, the tears on her cheeks were as appar-
ent as the few raindrops on her siiken hood,
as well as on her plain though elegant cos
tune. Over her white brow and from under
the back of her head covering there strayed
a few locks of hair, which some might have
called red, but red they were not, being the
richest of auburn, and of such a nature that
the damp of the air had curled them into
a mass of crisp waves.
If tears were on her cheeks, there were
none in her voice as she advanced before the
Engishman. As she came to within pace
of him she halted, and demanded in a low,
firm tone, which for all its tirmness was
sweet:
''Slr Henry Clinton, where is my brother"
Clinton dropped his eyes, while heavy
frown contracted his smooth forehead. For
an instant he appeared about to give way to
temper, but finally unpuckered his brows
and feplied easily, as though patronizng
petulant child
"My dear Miss Gertrude, you must ask
your aunt"
Call your Mrs Badely no aunt of mine,
OH IleulS' Cne may De my Budluldl, DuL
none of her blood flows in my veins. Be
that as it may, sir, she has but this moment
referred me to you. My brother has been
gone a week. You have promised each day
that l should see him the next. Sir Henry,
where is my brother?"
The decidedly defiant tone of the last de.
mand made me wonder at the audacity of
the speaker, but instead of arousing the tenn
per of the man to whom it was addressed, it
made him rather draw into himself, though
not without an effort at self-control. Again
he arose and paced the floor behind his desk,
but finally stopping in his walk, took a long
breath as if he had arrived at a determine
ton, and suddenly turning to me, said:
Capt. Lounsbury, the plan | mentioned
will remain in abeyance.-My dear Ger
trude," he continued, addressing the girl, Il
have been trying to save you from pain, but,
as you will have the truth, will give 1t to
you. Your brother has been discovered act
ing in the interests of the enemy. His of
fense was clear, and he has acknowledged it.
lie was arrested one week ago this day. He
was tried fairly cOnvictp1 and pntpnppd N