Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1901-05-14

eyes and fair hair and complexion.
was patent at once a. the mother
Of the lovely. dnrk-eyed girl and the
trim young soldier who formed the
other members of the group.
Three or four officers, some of them
past the meridian. others young sub
alterns. stood looking on in evident
interest, and Stuyvesant halted spell
bound. not knowing just what to do.
1t was over In moment. The rail-
wayman, confused but happy, had evil
IDENTITY been the recipient of kind and
sppreciative words, for his face was
glowing, and Miss Rays fairly
beamed with the radiance of its
smile. Then the door flew open a.
the slevator-car stopped for passsn-
gers, and the ex-brakeman backed in
and disappeared from view. Then
the mother twined an arm about her
daughters slender waist. and two
young officers sprang forward to her
side. Together they came sauntering
towards the parlor door, and then,
all on . sudden, she looked up and
saw him.
There was no mistaking the fash
Of instant recognition in her beauti-
full eyes. Stuyvesant's heart leaped
az hta eager gaze met the swift
glance. and noted with joy that she
certainly saw and knew him; more
than that, that the sight gave her
pleasure. But in another instant she
had recovered herself and turned to
ask some quick question of the young
gallant at her side, and Stuyvesant,
who was almost at the point of bow
Ing low. found himself savagely hat
Ing those yellow straps and stripes
and wishing the cavalry IN perdition.
Somebody WAS speaking to Mr.. Ray,
and he couldn't catch that young Of
ncer's eye. The party stopped q mo-
ment at the threshold. one of the
officers was saying good night, and
then voice at Stuyvesant's elbow
said: (Which 10 Lieut.. Ray?" It was
the bell-boy.
A sudden inspiration came to
stuyvesant. What is it7" he said.
Have you . message for him?"
YES" was the answer. They're
tslsphoning for him from the Presid-
10. Want him to come at once"
Tell me the whole message and
I'll give it," said stuyvesant. "Any-
thing wrong?"
"Yes, sir. The clerks at the phone
now, but I couldn't get the trouble.
Something's broke loose. as I under
stand it."
And that delay was fatal. Bound
ing up the steps, three at stride,
came young officer, breathless, and
made straight for the group. Seeing
that Mrs. Ray and Miss Marion were
close at hand, he paused one moment,
then with significant gesture called
Ray to his side. Then Stuyvesant
could not but hear every word of the
sudden and startling message.
Ray, you're wanted at the bar
racks at once. Prisoners escaped and
your house is robbed!"
Stuyyesant ran beside him as Ray
went bounding down the stairs and
out into Montgomery street.
Can l be of any service? Can't
help you some way?" he urged, for
he saw the young officer was looking
white and anxious. But Ray hur-
riedly thanked him and declined. He
could not imagine, he said, what his
loss might be, yet something told
him If anybody had escaped it was
that hnlking sinner Murray.
HA
at the corner, waved his hand in
parting. and was whisked away west
ward, leaving Stuyvesant standing
disconsolate.
How now could he hope to meet
herr The clerk at the office seemed
friendly and sympathetic when
Stuyvesant wandered back there, and
gave him such particulars of the
situation at the Preside as he had
been able to gather over the wire.
1t seemed that rumor had reached
the commanding officer that a num-
Der OF tools had been smuggled into
the guard-house by the prisoners,
and by the aid of these they hoped
to cut their way out. Despite the
fact that 1t was growing dark,
search of the prison room and cells
was ordered while the prisoners
stood in line in front awaiting the
usual evening inspection. There was
no one to tell just who started it
or how, but, all on sudden, while
many of the guard were aiding in
the search inside, the whole array
of prisoners, regular and volunteer,
old and young, except those few in
irons, made sudden and simultane-
Gus dash for liberty, scattering in
every direction. Some had already
been recaptured, but at least rs were
still at large, and the post adjutant,
telephoning for Ray, briefly added
that there was every evidence that
his quarters had been robbed.
All this Stuyvesant heard with an
absorbing interest, wondering wheth-
er it might not be possible to make
it plea or pretext on which to
present himself to Mrs. Ray, and then
ask to be presented to her daughter.
A second time he assembled the stairs
and, sauntering by, peered in at the
parlor door. Yes, there sat the
charming matron looking SO winsome
and kind as she smiled upon her
circle of visitors, but, alas, they We're
four In number and all officers of
rank in the regular service, and
Stuyvesant's shyness again over
came him.
Moreover. his brief glance into the
brightly lighted apartment. all dec
Grated as it was with flags and flow
ers, revealed Miss Ray seated near