The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1901-10-30

an errand as this fo'2 Why didn't we
send the soldiers?"
Jack" said Helen. "1'm sorry you
regret 1t. don't. never regret"
"Yo're shown the white feather"
said Buck.
Jacks eyes glistened with anger.
"The white featheri What do yo'
mean, yo' little pest? White feather!
I'm not afraid of all the guerrillas In
Christendom. They won't hurt me.
Pm going down there to ask 'em TO
something to eat. III get yo' all off.
White feather! I'll show yo'W
She sprang upon the rampant, but l
caught her and dragged her back.
Let me go!" she screamed.
"Didn' | tole yo' Missy Jack hab de
biggest temper in de soufT' cried Gin.
| ger proudly.
Let her 60" said Helen, land III
go with her. If those guerrlllas who
are disposed to protect us can do 80,
they will succeed as well without you
as with you. Indeed, your presence
will only tend to irritate them. Come,
Jack. Wen try It."
L stood aghast ut such n plan. l fOy,
bade 1t. The girls were determined.
| DpSStu, OEupEcu, StOIl1Su AT lDcDb, dS-
claring that for every step they took
toward that den OF hellhounds ]
would take two. AT last Helen laid
her hand ON my sleeve and looked me-
calmly in the eye.
"Major Branderstane, 1 want you to
let me have my way in this matter.
You owe 1t to Inc When you We're
wounded, took you In and succored
you. Since we ave been in this place
l nave obeycd your every order. Jack
has flashed unknowingly, unintentlon-
ally, n stroke of genius. Jack is a
genius. She has hit OH our only chance.
She fascinated the guerrillas once, and
she'll do 1t again. She will split them
In halves and set one half against the
other. But she will need me. Give me
that revolver"
All this was lost on me. 1 swore
they should not go. | planted myself
between them and the rampant. Helen
stepped to one side of me. Jack dartcd
to the other. Ginger put his hand on
my arm
Don't stop Missy Jack, mars. Missy
Jack can do eberyt'ing wild men folks"
He turned ny face to the cliff. "Look
dat away, an yo' won't see hit"
When l broke from the old man, Hell
en- and Jack were beyond the rampant.
have seen llfeboat men pull out in a
Sempestuous sea-, breasting n bowling
wind and madly tossing pillows: |
have seen men march out to battle with
almost a certainty of death or mutila-
ton, but l have never looked upon any
sight with the mingled terror and adj
miration hat thrilled me as l beheld
these w girls, without other weapon
than woman's lOveliness, descend the
rocky slope toward the guerrilla camp.
They moved hand in hand, as | have
seen graceful ships sail side by side.
Helen was the taller and the more
commanding, but both walked erect,
Helen buoyed by a native courage,
j Jaqueline confident in the possession
Of a gift, q genius for bending men to
I her will.
They had scarcely left us when the
guerrlllas caught sight of them and
stood looking up In stupid wonder.
Ginger, Buck and l were staring down
upon them, Ginger's eyes starting out
Of his head. Buck leaning excitedly
over the rampant, c%lutchlng my car.
bine. On went the girls. between the
thanking rocks, out upon n gentle swell,
through n slight depression, over
stones, weeds, brambles, till at last
they came within so yards of the guer-
rilla camp. hen came n cheer from
the bandits-I knew not whether of tri-
umph or welcome-and the girls en-.
tered the camp.
What they said, what was said to
them, l could not hear. / could only
see. Captain Ringold raised his hat
N stood with 1t In his hand. he was
evidently speaking, for the men gather
ed around, and all seemed to be intent
on him and the girls. TEen | saw
Helen step n little to the front, and all
faces were turned to her. Occasionally
she made a gesture, now turning to our
little fortress, now pointing the finger
of scorn at the guerrillas. as though to
shame them or to influence whatever
Of manliness there might be in them.
She was making them a long speech.
at least, 1t seemed so to me, who could
see, but not hear. AT last there was n
cheer. The conference was ended.
Then thel little actress, %Jaqueline. was
evidently using her art. She would
whisk up to n Of the men, stand be-
fore him in n favorite position Of hers,
bent slightly forward, and shake her
finger in his face. All the men stood
watching her. Occasionally there came
n burst Of laughter, a yell of applause,
n clapping of hands, and 1 knew shat
Jack was carrying her audience.
Then / could see the figures below
beginning to busy themselves about
preparations for supper. Helen and
Jack o hold as they had lone once
before, the men permitting them % do
the work. ttht u
Buck, beside me-, chuckled.
What is 1t, BuckT'
"That consumed Jacks goin roun'
thar with the skillet In one ham an
chawin somep'n she's got in the other.
Wish / was thar"
When supper was served, each man
We'd with the others to provide for their
guests. Jack was seated ON the ground,
her back resting against a tree, a plate
In her lap, a tin cup at her side, EVIL
Il * \a ~