Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1901-08-24

bright, genial smile on her serene
and happy face, stood a matronly
woman who, despite her soft blue
eyes and fair hair and complexion
was patent at once as the mother
of the lovely, dark-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 a moment. The rail
wayman, confused but happy, had evi.
IDENTIFY been the recipient of kind and
appreciative words, for his face was
glowing, and Miss Rays fairly
beamed with the radiance of it's
smile. Then the door flew open as
the elevator-car stopped for passen-
gers, and the ex-brazeman 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 a sudden, she looked up and
saw him.
There was no installing the flash
of instant recognition in her beauti-
full eyes. Stuyvesant's heart leaped
as his 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
had recovered herself and turned to
ask some quick question of the young
gallant at her side, and Stuyyesant,
who was almost at the point of bow
ing low, found himself sayagely 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
ficer's eye. The party stopped mo-
ment at the threshold, one of the
officers was saying good night, and
then a voice at Stuyvesant's elbow
said: (Which is Lieut.. Ray?" 1t was
the bell-boy.
A sudden inspiration came to
Stuyvesant. "What is it?" he said.
Have you message for him?''
eyes," was the answer. They're
telephoning for him from the Presid-
10. Want him to come at once"
'Tell me the whole message and
I'll give it," said Stuyyesant. "Any-
thing wrong?"
Eyes, sir. The clerks at the phone
now, but 1 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 a 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 sscaped and
your house is robbed"
Stuyyesant ran beside him as Ray
went bounding down the stairs and
out into Montgomery street.
E "Can 1 be of any service? Can't 1
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 hulhing sinner Murray.
He sprang upon the first street car
at the corner waved his hand in
parting, and was whisked away west
ward, leaving Stuyvesant standing
discons olate.
How now could he hope to meet
her? 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.