Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1899-12-19
CHAPTER VI


FOLLY RESORTS 10 STRATEGY.
During Polly's absence Robin had
been summoned TO join the outlaws In
q glade where they had previously
gone to prepare their horsee % tina,
when she returned to the cave Il wa
deserted Knowing that he was TO &C.
company the expedition. however. sbs
OWNED the reason fer bis absence. and
sat down on Q couch Of bearskins q
ponder,
A hundred wild projects to outwit
the bandits purposes hurried one after
another through her mind. but all were
impr,cticable and had 10 be abandoned
She began 70 despair. and then tori
BILE apprehension seized upon hsr.
What II Caudius Smith should put
his diabolical scheme in execution BE-
fore she could invent plan 10 thwaTt
III
She was aware that Caleb Shurker
had been the cause Of her lovers i'm
prisonment and that his wife had aban-
doned Robin for the old miser at Q
time when be was languishing In Jail
on her account But a. these wrongs
had been the means Of turning his
heart to her. Polly hArbored no III feel
ings toward them In fact. shs pitied
Zadie profoundly for having sacrificed
herself TO the commands Of her tyrant
father. and. now that she was threaten
ed with disaster. was ready 70 run any
risk to save her.
But how could this be accomplished
In vain had she endeavored 70 devise
means Indeed the moro she reflected
on the problem the greater became her
bewilderment. until at last the utter
hopelessness and helplesGness Of ber po-
sition inspired her to take desperate
chance
Her plan was to make . catspaw OF
Richard Smith. She knew that the out
law loved her in his brutal way and
hoped that she might persuade him TO
arsis, her by pretending to return his
affection
"The wretch IL far too stupid TO sus-
pect me. :" she reasoned. and viii will
ingly lend himself 10 my purposes !
only hope the expedition will not start
until have had a chance TO try him.
SO. hastily throwing q shawl over her
shoulders she left the cavern and cross
cd the platform toward the place Of
council She observed that the confer
ence had just come TO IN end. a. the
officers were dispersing In various d.
rections She observed further and
the sight made her heart beat quickly
that Richard Smith was advancing
In her direction and that he was alone
''out for stroll. my fair charmerf
he inquired as he drew near.
EYES: I have come out TO see your
expedition start she answered. with
q pleasant smile
'Oh. we shall not leave until after
darkl'' said the outlaw.
"And then" she returned timidly.
"I suppose win be left alone to the
mercy Of wild beastA
eye need have no fear on that
score. returned the outlaw. with 3
coarse laugh "A guard win Be left bs-
hind to protect ye.
lyon are very kind. I am sure. said
Polly demurely Then, with an air Of
well feigned anxiety. she asked earnest
ly. lis IL true that my companion IL
going on this eIpeditionf
"Do you mean your loverr This
with n scowl
The girl pretended 10 Be annoyed at
the question and answered scornfully;
my lover. indeedi i am tired Of his
love. In fact. since I have been In this
place I have seen that he 10 not the
only man in the world worth loving"
Here she dropped her eyes modestly
upon the ground. .
whats that ye sayf cried the out
law excitedly. "Ye don't love Roblinf :
Ye've seen another more TO your
fsncy,"
Polly laid her little hand gently upon
his arm and beaming upon him coquet'
tishlX answered:
"Tes, l have seen man mere Wnom
I would marry tomorrow II he would
only help me to escape from Edward
Robin.
The outlaws face became lvid with
suppressed passion.
.'who is hef His namef" be cried
in a choked voice
She drew back from him In alarm.
but. quickly controlling this feeling. re-
nlied with an aiP NJ aaGumed confusion