Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1900-04-11
CHAPTER XII.
A FIGHTING QUAKER.

Here was i at last pinned down to close
quarters. l had hoped they would eat, then
drink themselves drunk and leave, but the
sharper's intention of remaining all night,
if necessary, together with the known hard
ness of head of the average trooper, made
the hope forlorn one. 1t seemed that was
to be confined to the bench for hours unless
some chance should free me, and had re-
signed myself to this when the black came
in with food for the two, and at the same
time the door reopened. there entering
man whom even in the dim light knew to
be of q different stripe than the others.
II was Quaker, and so infirm that he
walked slowly and heavily with the aid of
a staff. Giving the two at the table wide
berth, he wended his way to the rear of the
room and, seating himself on the settle, or
dered plain meal of milk and bread and
butter.
There was nothing remarkable in the ad-
vent of tired Quaker, but his appearance
caused the sharper and his companion to
draw their chairs together and whisper,
though after a moments close talking the
former shouted across the room:
Hello, snuffy! Where be thee from?''
There came no immediate answer to this,
whereat the trooper swore roundly and re-
peated his fellows question in louder
voice.
Il travel from the Kingsbridge and be-
yond, fricnd,'' was the final answer re-
turned in feeble treble.
"To where, then, thee son o drab:"
mimicked the gambler, as he put in his turn
at insulting the old man.
TO a friend in the city-a Capt. Scam
nell, of De Lancy's regiment. Mayhap thee
knows him." was the innocent response.
But, innocent as it was, it had its effect
on the two, who were at once more respect
full in both tone and words.
''Yell not find him, then," volunteered
the trooper. He has a sore head an a
broken heart-the one from scrimmage an
the other through loss O. his lady. Ha' ye
seen aught O runaway beauty on yer trav-
els-a tall young lass with painted head"
Does thee mean a young girl with hair
| inclined to red?" asked the traveller, with
| something of interest in his voice.
CAY, that same," returned the trooper
| bringing his feet under him and half rising
"Yea, friend. / met with a female,
! though scarce a beauty, and with hair as
| thee describes. She was tired and wan as
| she came from the woods near Days tav-
ern, by the Hollow Way, and asked me for
victuals. But, friend, l was unprovided, and,
indeed, in these times fear stragglers, be
they male or female"
WAS the same tall an fine O. skin, an
with dark eyes,"
CAY, think she was OF proper height, and
her eye was dark, if do not err"
Fore God, an 1 believe it the lass,
Lowney!" said the trooper, starting up and
for the first time giving the card-sharper a
name. I'm off on the scent. Where away
did she go, old man."
Back to the woods, as I saw her." was
the answer.
| What woods? In what direction?' hur-
riedly asked the redcoat.
''Thee knowest the woods and orchard
| where Washington worsted Howe on the
heights of Harlem? That is the spot, friend.
1t strikes me she might be fair enough after
food and rest. l would not have her harmed
through me. Thee had"
Damn your thees an thous an Wash
ington an being worsted!" shouted the
trooper, excitedly. Pm off, Lowney. Tell
the rest when they come. 'Tis fair day
that bid We stop me for sup in this place
| will requite We yet. Give me Quaker for
truth an good luck. Alloh, ladi" And with
rattle OF metal he was ont of the door,
while in a moment L heard his horse put
ting from the yard full tilt.
AS listened to the Quaker's description
of the girl, of whose identity / doubted as
little as did the trooper, my heart sank with
in me. | considered the suffering she had
undergone to make necessary her asking
food OF stranger on the high road, and was
fast getting to the point of leaving my place
of concealment, dispatching the man Low.
| ney, stealing his horse, overtaking the troop
er, and rescuing the girl myself, and all
without thought of my own risk, when an
accident put an end to this sudden dream oi
heroism and caused me to face stern facts
Twas but natural that I had taken a
quick dislike to the Quaker, who had inno.
Gently been the means of setting pursueI
on the track of the patriotic girl, and twas
also natural that / wished to see more oi
him than his legs and the butt of his staff
To the end of satisfying my curiosity, lift
ed my head as before, but was seemingly
less cautious with my foot, for, moving it un,
thinkingly, / tilted my sword, which must
have but just balanced on the edge of the
bench, and sent it crashing to the floor with