The Iola register., 1901-06-28


"Quick!" she said; run around to
the side gate and come to the wing
room. A Yankee spy is there. Kill
him IL he attempts to escape. A thou
sand dollars II you kill or capture him"
The soldier ran, cooking his gun as he
entered the side gate. The mother
went at once to her sons room. She
met william, who was bringing an an
swer to the soldiers letter.
"Yes'm, he's in es room," he said.
The light in her sons room shone
through the transom. There was no
time to explain TO Raymond. Know
ing his violent and excitsble nature,
and remembering his disguise, which
he might forget IL there was an alarm
below, she noiselessly turned the key
in his door and glided on TO her room.
But Raymond had left his room imme-
diately after handing William the note,
and was already approaching Frances
room below. As he passed the hall en-
trance, the door leading from the
apartment into the garden opened and
husband and wife entered. With a cry
of amazement he rushed into the room,
drawing his sword as he entered.
"Who are you, sir?-why are you in
this room?" he asked, angrily. Somers
drew his sword instantly and con-
fronted him. Holbin had paused and
was staring wildly.
Richard Somersl"
"Yesl" Somers gently put aside the
slender form which instantly inter-
| l. bo "a ha Il ID
sought. His eyes scanned the familiar
uniform Of his old enemy in doubt.
Speak out, sirl"
"Spare your voice, Raymond Holbin.
came with a message for you. Louise
is dying in my camp; | was unable to
resist her prayer. She implores you to
go to her to right her wrongs. for her
child's sake. Go, if you are man, and
can; let this marriage take place; DO
something for the miserable woman
whom you have so deceived"
"She was not killed, then"
"She is dying!" said Somers, shocked
and sckened at the matter-of-fact
question. Did you suppose that she
was dead?"
ayes. She insisted upon trying to
run the gantlet." A light dawned
upon Somers. cry of horror escaped
him, and all the old enmity for the man
came rushing over him again.
"You encouraged herl You knew she
was going TO her deathl You sent her
under a false promise-her statement!
Frances, Frances, out of this room!
God has sent me to avenge Louise.
Madman, murderer, we settle many
debts to-day" Blind. almost. with his
rage, Somers rushed upon his enemy.
Their swords olashed as, facing each
other, the two men circled about the
room. Then Holbin's sword went
down. With incredible quickness he
avoided the thrust which was almost q
part Of the disarming q blow, rushed to
the easement window, leaped into it
and burst open the blinds. His hand
thrust in his bosom quickly reached
backward; a pistol flashed. At this in
Atant the sergeant rushed into the
room, saw the blue uniform escaping
through the window, and the extende
pistol. He leVeled his gun and fred
The man in the window reeled back anG
plunged headlong into the room.
at couldn't be helped, captain" sale
the soldier, lowering his weapon. "Onc,
outside he would have given us a Ions
chase. Did he hit you?" Well nigh
he ask the question. Capt Somers wsi
deathly pale IS he looked upon the body
of his foe.
NO" he said, utterly at loss to un
derstand the situation. Frances, II
the moment of the tragedy, reelec
against the wall, sick and faint, but the
instinct Of a woman whose loved one j,
in danger instantly rallied her to hei
senses. She was the first to realize the
full significance OF the soldiers action
you have saved our lives" she said
weakly; "any reward you may claim il
yours. The man was evidently a spy
Her hospital experience and familiar
ity with tragedies had served her well
But the strain was fearful, and she GOV
cred her eyes again.
Brief as was the respite for Somers
it was sufficient. Passing his arm
around her, he urged her out Of tn
room.
Three minutes - keep everybod,
out for three minutes, and am safe,
he whispered. White as a ghost, bu
y brave, She took her stand at the foo
. of the stair and waited.
b Somers returned and bent above tn
}. figure of his enemy, his mind at work
7 The reference by Louise TO the dis
!. patches, the blue uniform, the hors
e tied in the yard, the hour, and III
O character of the man aroused a multi
s tude of suspicious. From the pocke
he drew sealed packet and folde
t paper, the latter a pass through tn
2 lines. There was no time for an eS
e animation of the package; the soldier
= leaning upon his gun, was waiting
= Promotion for Somers was in sight
n but he had entered the room with a
Y avowal that he could not disregard.
=; Sergeant" he said, take this to tn
d war department.; it will bring you pre-
e motion, l think. The honor is yours.
/. But, captain, it was you who reall
Is did the work. We're you after him ?