Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1900-03-08

Dr. McCary was allowed to roam in aad
about, Donald thinking he might yet be need
ed for his skill Thorndyke was anxious for
the return of the Phantom, and was now
in the habit of daily taking a walk up the
gently slopng cap of the cliff, which sud
denly breaks away to the sea in an almost
sheer precipice, to get, if possible, glimpse
of his craft. Oftentimes on these occasions
Gertrude would be with him.
One day Ames asked him to give McCary
an overhauling for some papers taken by
his sister from Mrs. Badely's desk, which
were now missing. Accordingly, when next
he met the doctor, he asked him fo5 the
papers. McCary had his gun with him and
his gray eyes were bloodshot, betoktrsng
free use of liquor. He started, and the CUR
slipped from his hand. If there were any
doubts before that he was the thief, they
were now dispelied Before he could formu-
late an answer Thorndyke leaped for and
laid hold of him. With one hand he twist
ed him around, with the other drew from his
breast pocket a mass of papers, then with
finishing push thrust him backward. BY the
time the surly redcoat had gotten to his feet,
Donald had found what he wanted, and then
walked off with the gun over his shoulder
without even looking to see what might be
McCary's next move.
4 few days later when Donald walked to
the cliff Gertrude was with him. He was a
hundred feet in advance of her as he reached
the brow of the promontory. He gave a
shout as he sprang forward, for there,
stretching out for miles, vessel after vessel,
was the British fleet.
Then he heard behind him piercing
shrek. Turning he saw Gertrude throw her
self on the form of McCary, just as he sent
bullet whizzing by his head. In moment
he tore himself from the girl and put off in
full flight, and Thorndyke after him. They
met on the verge of the cliff, from which by
a mighty effort the doctor was thrown head
long.
Then, turning Donald hurried to where
the motionless form of Gertrude lay. His
passion broke against all restraint, and he
poured into her deaf ears the story of his
love, and kissed her white lips. Her eyes
opened slowly, and he knew she had not
been deaf to all he had said. She looked him
squarely in the eyes and said: Donald, have
you only courage while in the grip of mur-
derous monster and-and over the body of a
lifeless woman? My poor boy-my hero-oh,
my love"
On the morning of the 5th of September
Mrs. Thorndyke was too i'll to rise from
her bed. John Phillipse, the doctor at
| Edgartown, was called.
Nothing ails your mother" he said to
Donald, Saving the disease of old age. You
may have her with you for awhile yet, but
she's tender, lad"
Next morning TIE British landed on the
| island, with but little warming of what was
to come. Capt. Scanned! with several ma
rnes was at the house. DR.. Phillipse and
Rachel Thorndyke were in the main room.
| Donald had had time to hide himself to
| await developments. No one seems to have
| known at the moment what had become
of Gertrude. Ames, of course, was still con-
fined to his room.
Without knocking, Scammell entered and
| demanded that Gertrude King, Beverly
! Ames and Donald Thorndyke be surrendered
| to him. AT that moment the hall door
opened and Gertrude entered. Her face was
| flushed as though just awakened from nap.
| Seeing Scammell, she uttered a scream,
and turning, fled through the door by which
| she had just entered, sanming the portal
| behind her. Rachel placed herself against
| the door, but one of the marines pulled her
| rudely away and sprang up the stairs, with
! Scammell close behind.
AS Thorndyke appeared on the scene he
met marine, who opposed his advance, but
he was shortly laid out by blow from the
butt of a gun. A third marine had attacked
| the doctor, and Donald dealt with him in
| the same summary fashion. Then up the
stairs to his mothers room, where he knew
he would find Gertrude, he rushed.
Ames was leaning against the wall con-
| fronted by the marine who had come up
with Scammell. In front of the bed stood
Gertrude with cooked pistol in her hand
and facing Scammel.
| al h. hn hnar III
| the brave girl say, in answer to some ques
ton: Never alive, sir Settle with him!
| am the promised wife of Donald Thorn
| dyke"
Donald drew his sword, and with the
| cry: Turn, you villain, turn" he smote
Scammell across the shoulders with the flat
of the blade. As the two men shifted, cir.
cling for an advantage, Scammell neared the
door, and quickly turning, rushed to the
room below. Here there was more room
for the play of swords. The officer was
clever, but Donald drew him foot by foot
Suddenly throwing his wrist out of line, his
point fell off. Like lightning Scammell took
the bait; the next instant his sword was
spinning through the air. Before the whrl
ing steel reached the ground, Thorndyke's
blade had passed through the throat of the
villain.
In the meantime in the room above the
marine had shot at Gertrude. The bullet
had missed her, but had done its deadly
work on the aged sufferer in the bed. Ger
trude fired with her pistol, and the marine
lay on the floor dead.
Over the bed, where lay his beloved dead
| Donald swore vengeance which should no,
cease untl his country was rid of the butch
ers invading it. Ames reached out his hand
and thus was cemented anew the covenant
between them
For the two days the British remained or
Martha's Vineyard Donald and his little
party lived in a disused shed deep in the
heart of the forest. On the second evening
he returned alone to the house, and was
surprised to find it still standing, showing
no evidence of having been entered since
they had fled from it. A crude coffin was
constructed and the mother was buried in
the woods near the edge of the home lot
DR.. Phillipse doing the last offices. And
there she still rests, marked by the stone
| Donald lived to see begin to cIumble away