Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1900-04-25

deeply mysterious. Two immense Chin |
neys pierced the floor and went out at the |
roof, but beyond these the sweep of level |
was unbroken save by large bed with cur
tans, a table, and several chairs. A half.
moon window at either gable end was let
high into the wall. A long ladder leading to
one Of them showed it had been used as
post of observation, but now both were care
fully covered to prevent any interior light
reaching abroad.
Here, then, were comfortable quarters at
last. 1t was none too COOL but there was
plenty of air, and could but get bite and
a few hours sleep felt something might
come of it, especially as there was safe
hiding place near at hand which could be
used at pinch, and such possible refuge
would prove a mighty factor in preventing
Generalization.
l was looking at the trapped hole in the
| floor through which we had come when l
! heard footstep on the stairs and man ap-
| peared from below. He rose into sight as
| though there was no end to him, so tall and
| gaunt was he, and as he came to the light
| saw that he possessed but one eye, and that
set in a face which had the length and ex-
preston of that of horse With barely
! glance at me, he took my companion aside,
! where they held whispered conference.
| Suddenly turning, he held out to me an arm
| like fail and grasped my hand. Then with
| n smile which disclosed magnificent set of
| teeth, and like magic transfgured the eX
preston of his face, he said iii the purest
| English and with Il voice OF wonderful
modulation:
Donald Thorndyke, you are heartily well
come to the poor house of Peter Burt. 1
| trust it will hold you in safety until way
of escape is made clear. Your deed is
! known to me. l honor you for your gen
erosity, bravery, and patriotism. Pardon
me-" he interrupted as l was about to
speak, Il know your present needs, and will
supply them at once; then we will talk"
And with this he abruptly turned and went
below.
He had barely disappeared when strange
thing happened. | was facing the bed when
| heard an exclamation come from behind
the curtains, which were drawn close, and at
the same time they parted, discovering n
youth clad i'll long Quaker cloak which de-
scended halfway down his shapely calves.
For the moment l was startled, but at once
surmised that he was the dumb brother of
my companion. Ames sprang forward to
meet him, the boy greeting him with smile
and hand clasp, but, pushing past my
guide, he advanced to where ] stood by the
table, and with a ripping laugh which there
was no mstaking astonished me by saying;
escaped? Heaven is indeed good! 1 have no
need of counterfeiting dumbness with him.
Beverly, by what fortune
The flow of words was cut short here, for
| Ames let out Il cry just as / cleared my mud
died brain and recognized the girl. Gertrude
King, disguised as a Quaker. With the
cloak gathered about her as though to con-
ceal her altered apparel, and slightly bent as
in shrinking modesty, she stood with eyes
and lips apart, while my late guide grasped
my hand and said:
by the Lord! but struck better than 1
knew. Why, man, twas YOU who gave me
the first hand in help, and that at the fire,
but l have never seen your face closely till
now. / knew you as the savior of my sister,
but had no guess l was in your debt for my
self"
We're quits, as you said, but it's small
debt She is your sister, them l ex-
claimed, in my bewlderment referring to
the matter which had been bothering me.
How is it l am thus hoodwinked? Have
we not Just sworn
Nay, friend" he broke in entreatingly.
! '"I but guessed at you at first. This dumb
ness has been mask from the start. Twas
that and your pass which got Gertrude
, through the lower lines. l but continued it
with you, fearing you would shirk the risk
of having a girl share what adventure we
might have in store You gave me to un-
derstand that much. Be not offended
NAY, Beverly, l could have told you bet
teri" said the girl. Capt. Thorndyke, you
must pardon my appearance, nor think am
q unseXed inwardly as outwardly when | say
> that l know you will not refuse your help
. to me; for, as you once risked your life for
mine, You will not leave us and put it be-
O | yond my power to do my share in making
good the debt. The same feeling which bade
, you defy Clinton will surely not allow you
! to leave me while l am still unfortunate!
And l can help. | will not faint nor lose my
head and cry out if danger comes. 1 can
+ shoot; ay, and will, if need be-"
She was a striking object as she stood
= there in the light of the single candle. AS
! | she spoke she stepped forward, the cloak
n | slipping from her hands and falling about
her in graceful folds. Not a whit less of a
beauty was she for all that her hair wa.
shorn for more than halt its length and
stained almost black, for in her male at
/ tire there was no mstaking the grace of hel
l., sex, which in her accentuated. In her pres
ent rig she seemed less tall than in hel
4 | proper costume but it gave freedom to hel
Il movements, and there were ease and supple
I ness in even the small gesture of extending
;. her arms toward me as if to add weight t.
o her words. From top 20 toe there wa
I witchery about her, and 1 little wondered
# at Scammelfs infatuation. How on eartl
! she had passed the lines without havin:
$ been suspected was puzzle, unless, indeed
V she too, like her brother, was skilled in act
Y ing part
b Mistress Gertrude / replied, bending
,f my head, whereat she attempted courtesy
l. which, to say the least, was graceful despite
d the lack OF sweeping drapery, you nee(
y not think me generous when tell you tina
the oath which binds me to help your broth
e er binds me to help you also, and to th'
O last extremity. These may be but empt!
O words; danger lies in every quarter, no
Y can probe way through. Madam, do no
; count on the success of my best efforts, bu
/, for the sake of all know them to be my best
I. And now for your story; but, first, how is i
e that brother and sister bear differen
n names%
% Eve are but half brother and sister," sait
g Ames. ''Ne'er mind genealogy; let's get be
d low and eat, then for sleep, then for wha
h ] God wills. 1t can bode no evil to US tha
we three are thus met, but what find TO
% Clinton could he but clutch u.s."
Ie CHAPTER XIV.