The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1900-03-13

and the tap was repeated
this time quite loud. He rose up to
sitting posture and listened again.
Some time elapsed, then came short
rap on the pane. He couldn't be mis-
taken now. Some one was at the win
dow, He arose, procured his revolver,
and slipped cautiously to the window.
The night was quite dark, but his eyes
vaguely outlined figure outside.
"Who's out there? What is wanted?'
he called.
"You are wanted" came back in
mysterious tones.
"Who are you?" t
"Raise the window and see."
"It's too dark to see"
'"Then hear and feel"
ST fear it's q burglar"
"The burglar doesn't want much"
"What does the burglar want?"
"Only you"
He raised the window and cautiously
thrust out his head.
He couldn't see a face, but two soft,
warm lips accidentally ran against his
own. And two arms that he thought he
recognized, went around lis neck-all
by accident.
"Get on your things. darling" said
voice in tones affectedly masculine.
"Come quick, dear, before your stern
old father hears Us. The coast is clear,
darling, but-ha, hai-there is no time
to lose. Two gallant steeds await, i'm
patiently, our coming"
"Oh, er-I fear" hesitated Fred.
"True love fears nothing" spoke the
one on the outside, half appealing, half
commanding, adding, in half serious,
half lauS scsssx tones: "CoUSo, while yet
the day croEches under the eastern
wall, while yet upon thy cruel fathers
eyelids press the leaden fingers of deep
sleep Soon the bird OF dawning will
begin to drive the damp dark with his
long, high notes. Come, sweet crea-
ture, come away and let's be one ere
comes another daE!"
Fred hesitated no longer, but hastily
dressed and had soca crawled through
the window. landing in the odorous en-
brace of his nocturnal visitant.
A soft, warm palm embraced his fin
gers, and an eager, sweet voice said:
Come, this way!"
A few seconds later, Maj. Tom Peter
son, suddenly awakening, heard muf
fed volley of Loofs on the road, won
dered what 1t could mean, then went
back to sleep again.
At about ten o'clock on the morning
of the above strange episode Maj. Ton
Peterson was sitting out on his YER
anda, cleaning up his trusty old rife
! He hadn't found out yet that his sor
| Fred was not in his room. The latter
Of late, kept no regular hours, and the
| father didn't even know whether the
son had slept at home. While quietly
engaged wiping the last vestige of dir
from barrel and hammer he casually
cast his eye down the road, and behelC
his enemy by inheritance coming
toward his house at a furious stride
He now rose up and assumed ques
tioning attitude, rs he had never had
visit from Maj. Pitchford. He saw tn,
latter was white from some awful pas
sion.
Up to the yard gate came Maj. Pitch
ford and commanded his enemy st
step out"
"Must I bring this?" queried Peter
son, tapping his gun.
''No, sub, not now, sub. Come heal
this minute, subj"
Peterson went out, and while he wa
approaching the gate Pitchford. with
| ~
from his pocket, and reached it sowar,
the former commanding:
Read this, sub, and tell me wha
we'll do about it, suh!"
Maj. Peterson read the following:
Dearest Papa: Learned to-day that yo
had taken an oath to kill my Fred If h
stole me and ran off with me. know 70
we'll enough to know you would not brea
that oath. What was to do? Could
give him up? OF course mott Would a
low my husband shot before my own eye
by my own father? Certainly not! Wha
must do? What could 1 do? Wen, goo
sense came to my rescue, and decided
steal Fredl Before you read this 1 wi
have stolen him. but will be given leg;
right to keep the stolen goods Your 10y
ing daughter, BETTE :"
Maj. Peterson stood a momen
stunned with awe. Then he burst int
a loud laugh.
"Well, major, we're in neat trap
But l shan't kill your daughter, sub, 70
stealing my son, subj My voice is this
I'll break my gun and sless my daugl
ter. What do you propose to do. sub
The old mans face was dark for
moment, then mirth struck it and sha
tered it into smiles.
'By George, major, Ill snap m
bowie and bless my son, suhl"
"Give me your handi This marrias
of our children, sub"
Divorces the feud forever, subj
Criterion.
First Coffee In Western Europe.