The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1901-09-25

She WdUcd her bonnet. TO the gucrrilids.
views l wish TO get an expression Of
opinion from each of you separately.
Miss stanforth, shall we accept the
proposition or not? Say yes or no."
She curled her lip. 81 don't care TO
consider such proposition"
"NIiss Rutland?"
"Nor cried little Jack. with n snap
in her eye.
"BuckT
Reckon I'd ruther stay whar | am
awhile longer, though. by golly. I'm
mighty hungry" He spoke the last
words ruefulIy.
"Glnger?"
Il amt no traitor man. mars, eff
air black. Ginger haln't gwine { talk
bout gibbln nobody up Z save hisself."
my friends" said, and could not
repress tremor in my voice, though
God knows tried, II cannot accept
your sacrifice. The guerrillas. having
secured me. will doubtless quarrel
about you, and the captain and those
who are with him may find an oppor-
tunity to let you get away under cover
of the night"
"No. nop' cried all. "we'll stand to-
gether."
"How were you to reply?' asked
Helen.
"If the terms were accepted, we were
to go down; II rejected, we were to
wave"
Helen took off her check bonnet and,
tying 1t to a carbne, stood up on the
rocks and waved 1t to the guerrillas,
who were standing below watching for
our signal, while our little command
gave as lusty cheer as their exhaust
cd condition would admit.
But the real herolsm was yet to come
! had seen evidence that the woman
wing of my army was not to be appall-
ed at any proposition, but 1t was I'M
possible that l could be prepared for
what was to follow. have sometimes
wondered II 1t was not rather an ema-
nation of genius than herolsm, but
have invariably concluded that it was
the genius of heroism.
| The first flush of excitement at the
rejection of the terms being over. Jack
began to show signs of irritation, a
condition | attributed to the gnawing
pangs of hunger. She shook her fist
at the guerrillas, vowing that If she
could ever get her papa again he should
scour the country till he had captured
every one of them, and when captured
she would herself take inexpressible
pleasure in making targets of them for
pistol practice. Then she would call
to them for something to eat. They
were too far to hear her. and of course
her request would not have been grant
ed If they had Captain. good captain,
dear captain" she cried, do let us out
of this! That's dear boyw Then she
turned to Miss Stanforth. Helen,
what in the world did we come on such
an errand as this TO-? Why didn't we
send the soldiersw
Jack" said Helen. I'm sorry you
regret 1t. l don't never regret"
"Yo're shown the white feather"
said Buck
Jacks eyes glistened with anger.
"The white feather! What do 20
mean, yo' little pest? White feather
I'm not afraid of all the guerrlllas In
Christendom. They won't hurt me
I'm going down there to ask 'em 70
something to eat. I'll get yo' all off
White feather! I'll show vol"
She sprang upon the rampant, but
caught her and dragged her back.
LET me go!" she screamed.
"Didn' tole 20 Missy Jack hab d.
biggest temper In de soufT" cried Gin
ger proudly.
"Let her CO." said Helen. "and III
go with her. II those guerrillas wht
are disposed to protect US can do so
they will succeed as well without yoi
as with you. Indeed. your presence
will only tend to irritate them. Come
Jack. Wen try It,"
stood aghast at such plan. for
bade 1t. The girls We're determined.
begged. ordered. stormed at them. de
claring that for every step they tool
toward that den of hellhounds
would take two. At last Helen lal,
her hand on my sleeve and looked n
calmly In the eye.
fro ur coNTrNrrrn1