The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1901-05-17

this room?" he asked, angrily. Somers
drew his sword instantly and con-
fronted him. Holbn had paused and
was staring wildly.
"Richard Somersi"
"Yes!" Somers gently put aside the
slender form which instantly inter
| posed between him and the man he had
sought His eyes scanned the familiar
uniform of his old enemy in doubt.
Speak out, sir!"
Spare your voice. Raymond Holbin.
! came with a message for you. Louise
is dying in my camp; ! was unable to
resist her prayer, She impores you to
go to her to right her wrongs. for her
child's sake. Go, if you are a man. and
can; let this marriage take place; 90
something for the miserable woman
whom you have so deceived"
"She' was not killed, them"
"She is dying!' said Somers shocked
and sckened at the matter-of-fact
question. Did you suppose that she
was dead?"
"Yes. She insisted upon trying to
run the gantlet" light dawned
upon Somers. a cry of horror escaped
him, and all the old enmity for the man
came rushing over him again.
"1ou encouraged her! You knew she
was going to her death! You sent her
under false promise-her statement!
Frances, Frances, out of this room!
GOD has sent me to avenge Louise.
Mailman, murderer, we settle many
debts to-day" Blind. almost. with his
rage Somers rushed upon his enemy.
Their swords FLASHED as, facing each
other, the two men circed about the
room. Then Holbin's sword went
down. With incredible quickness he
avoided the thrust which was almost
part of the disarming' blow, rushed to
the easement window. leaped into it,
and burst open the blinds. His hand
thrust in his bosom quickly reached
backward; pistol flashed. At this in
slant the sergeant rushed into the
room, saw the blue uniform escaping
through the window, and the extended
pistol. He leveled his gun and fired.
| Nv hioh III titC "lhbON INClCh DdCh anu
plunged headlong into the room.
ut couldn't be helped, captain" said
the soldier, lowering his weapon. "Once
outside he would have given us a long
chase. Did he hit you?" Well might
he ask the question. Capt. Somers was
deathly pale as he looked upon the body
of his foe.
NO" ne said, utterly at a loss to I'M
derstand the situation. Frances, in
the moment of the tragedy, reeled
against the wall, sick and faint, but the
instinct of woman whose loved one is
in danger instantly rallied her to her
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 is
yours. The man was evidently spy"
Her hospital experience and familiar
ity with tragedies had served her well.
But the strain was fearful. and she COW
cred her eyes again.
Brief as was the respite for Somers,
it was sufficient. Passing his arm
around her, he urged her out of the
room.
. "Three minutes - keep everybody
out for three minutes, and / am safe, -
he whispered. White as a ghost, but
brave. she took her stand at the foot
: of the stair and waited.
Somers returned and bent above the
figure of his enemy, his mind at worls
[ | Tho b, bo ! &.
patches, the blue uniform, the horse
tied in the yard, the hour, and the
D character of the man aroused multi
tude of suspicious. From the pocket
he drew sealed packet and a folded
paper, the latter a pass through the
lines. There was no time for an eX.
animation of the package; the soldier
leaning upon his gun, was waiting
Promotion for SOmers was in sight
but he had entered the room with an
J avowa that he could not disregard
; Sergeant" he said. take this to the
war department.; it will bring you pro.
motion. | think. The honor is yours
/ But, captain. it was you who really
5 did the work. We're you after him p
: YES" said Somers, slowly. 81 was
e looking for the man and had reason tc
suppose that he was on these premises
I | came in to find him. HI evidently en-.
e tered this room Incorporation! &c
d at once, sergeant. and send an am
S bulance. What family lives here?" He
7 asked the Question in sunnnrt of hi,
t character as a stranger.
Y Capt HoIbin's, sir! He is up
stairs"
t Full Of the Importance of his secret
the soldier hurried away. Somers
e passed through the hall and cut
h through the other door into the gar
n den. lifting his hand towards Frances
d Steps were approaching the stairway;
5 she passed quickly to the outside anC
: found him waiting.
: They will find him in the uniform o
e his country's enemy he said land tn,
n papers from his pockets will prove hin
r spy. am unknown. The soldier will
h say that a confederate officer pursued
Il the guilty man until he took refug,
t. here. and disappeared" The cir
o stood mute and silent before him.
? Farewell, Frances" he said.
II | Farewell sir" He looked AT her