Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-10-17


cured my arrest rs a SPY Then fol-
lowed the plan TO isidnap ne and force
me into payment OF money before the
final revenge.
! We hiyouacked where we haa met
the band on the plateau, under the
trees that waved above Us. their
sproUting leaves lighted up By our
campfire. lay awake the greater part
of the night. Watching for an oppor-
tunity to escape. but one sentry after
another was placed over me, and morn
ing came without my having made the
attempt.
At sunrise we moved northward. as
on the day before, my captors still
keeping strict watch over me. Dur
ing the day Jaycox pushed on in ad.
vance, Why did not know, but sur
missed that his going had something to
do with the plan to plumber me.
The mountains seemed deserted.
Not a human being did we see save
two women and a negro, all on horse
back, travelling in the same direction
as ourselves. ! caught several glimpses
of them, though always at a distance,
and wondered how it was that poor
white trash" to which class they APP
peared to belong. could afford the at
tendance of a slave.
When we halted for the night, which
we did about s o'clock in the afternoon,
the captain came up to me and told
me they were going to take me to
point near my old. home, Knoxville.
where would be required to sign -.
check for a large amount, all they
could squeeze out of me. but II there
were not sufficient funds to my credit
in the bank must execute papers that
: would enable him TO convert property
into money. If would do as he wish
ed. be would set me free. This knew
to be lie. The gang would find pre-
text to murder me whether signed the
document or not.
He left me sitting on the ground.
leaning against a log, contemplating
the horrors of my situation. If l did
not pay my ransom. should be MUIR
dered; if paid 1t, should be murders
ed. 1t was Hobson's choice. | mazda
up my mind that l would attempt to
escape. get shot and thus end situs.
ton that was in6icting on me mental
torture far greater than any physical
pain mortal ever endured.
Casting my eyes inadvertently to-
ward the road. l saw two women pass
ing northward and in another moment
recognized them as those had noticed
on the march. To my surprise, one of
them turned and rode toward us. The
other hesitated. started on. turned and
followed her companion. l noticed
something familiar about their figures.
The coarse texture of their jackets and
gowns and their unbecoming sunbon-
nets were out of keeping with their
graceful carriage. IF these women
knew" thought, that they were en-
tering a guerrilla camp. they would be
stricken with terror" When they
reached a point a dozen yards distant.
they paused. the one in advance call,
ing in a harsh voice:
Scan you uns tell us how IA tits {!
Tracy?"
Then beneath the llomely check bon.
net. through the olive darkening of her
complexion under the cheap calico.
s tiful companion was none other than
my fascinating little friend who had
}. saved me from the impetuous wrath Of
Captain Beaumont-Jaqueline Rutland,
q Had a pair Of angels come down
from heaven and lit on my shoulders
I I could not have been more astenished.
! rubbed my eyes. thinking that my vi.
sion deceived me. but when looked
r again there was Helen sitting on hel
horse. chatting with the guerrillas as
b If they were ordinary persons. making
t. commonplace remarks in excellent dia.
3 lect. with which long residence neal
the mountains had made her familiar
IS Jaqueline remained short distance be
hind her. For awhile feared that
q Jaqueline would betray them both, for
'r could see that she was trembling. But
IS presently all terror seemed to leave her
i She rode up beside Helen and began
o. to chaff the men. at once attracting the
10 attention of the whole hand.
?. "Yo're likely GAL" said one Of them
"Git down often that critter and sta.
p awhile"
at Couldn't think of it,
W "Oh, yes, 70 kin" And he walket
up and took hold Of her bride rein.
p "Yo' Jim Canfeld," cried the cap
ct tain, "let that cyril alone!"
ID The captain advanced and invited tn
l two visitors to alight. promising tina
~ they should be respected. Jaquelin
% gave him a grateful look as he helpe
e, her off her horse with far more ga
us lantry than might have been expecte
er from the leader Of this gang Of ru1
as fans. Indeed there was something l
ed his bearing to make me suspect tina
ne this bandit captain-Ringoldt they cal
l1s ed him, though suspect the name wa
'r- assumed-was an unworthy membe
le of some good southern family who ha
NC disgraced himself with his peers an
:. become a leader of those who wer
:, like himself, devoid Of principle. br
"a in other ways his interiors. Jaquelin
must have OWNED as much for n