Semi-weekly Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1897-1901, 1901-09-13

proposition or not? Say yes or no."
She curled her lip. 81 don't care tc
consider such a proposition"
Miss Rutland?"
"No" cried little Jack, with a SNAP
In her eye.
Buck I"
Reckon I'd ruther stay whar I an
awhile longer, though, by golly, I'm
mighty hungry" He spoke the last
words ruefully.
"GingerT
81 amt no traitor man, mars, eff !
air black. Ginger hain't gwine t. talk
bout gibbin nobody up t saw hisself.'
MY friends" | said, and l could not
repress n tremor in my voice, though
God knows l tried, 81 cannot accept
your sacrifice. The guerrillas, having
secured me, will doubtless quarrel
about you, and the captain and those
who are with him may find an oppor-
tunity to let you get away under cover
of the night"
"No, mol" cried all. well stand to-
gether."
"How were you to reply" asked
Helen.
IF the terms were accepted. we were
to go down; if rejected, we were to
wave"
Helen took Off her check bonnet and.
tying it to a carbine, stood up on the
rocks and waved 1t to the guerrillas,
who were standing below watching for
our signal. while our little command
gave as lusty a cheer as their exhaust
cd condition would admit.
But the real heroism was yet to come.
l had seen evidence that the woman
wing Of my army was not to be appall-
ed at any proposition. but 1t was i'm
possible that l could be prepared for
what was TO follow. l have sometimes
wondered IL 1t was not rather an ema-
nation Of genius than heroism, but
have invariably concluded that it was
the genius of heroism.
The isst flush of excitement at the
rejection Of the terms being over, Jack
began to show signs of irritation, a
condition | attributed to the gnawing
pangs of hunger. She shook her fist
II Tue Sutli mas, NO"1uS Ahit IL out
could eve get her papa again he should
scour the country till he had captured
every n of them. and when captured
she would herself take inexpressible
pleasure In making targets of them for
pistol practice. Then she would call
to them for something to eat. They
were too far to hear her. and of course
IL,n ,,.,,@ ,--,,Il ,A-. ln,-. I-A, ~r,
ed If they had. Captain, good captain.
dear captain" she cried, do let us out
of this! That's a dear boy!' Then she
turned TO Miss Stanforth. Helen.
what In the world did we come on such
an errand as this TO-? Why didn't We
send the soldiersT'
Jack" said Helen. I'm sorry you
regret it. l don't. never regret"
"Yo're shown the white feather"
said Buck.
Jacks eyes glistened with anger.
THE white feather! What do yo'
mean, yo' little pest? White feather!
I'm not afraid of all the guerrillas in
Chrlstendom. They won't hurt me.
I'm going down there TO ask 'em TO-
something to eat. I'll get yo' all off.
White feather! I'll show yo'!'
She sprang upon the rampant. but l
caught her and dragged her back.
LET me go!" she screamed.
"Didn' l tole yo' Missy Jack hab de
biggest temper In de souff" cried Gin
ger proudly.
Let her CO." said Helen, land I'll
go with her. If those guerrillas who
are disposed to protect US can do so,
they will succeed as well without you
as with you. Indeed, your presence
will only tend to irritate them. Come,
Jack, well try it."
l stood aghast at such a plan. l for
bade it. The girls were determined.
begged. ordered. stormed at them, de-
that for every step they took
that den of h~ellhounds !
would take two. At last Helen laid
Ter hand on my sleeve and looked me
in the eye.
Major Rranderstane, want you to
ct me have my way in this matter.
iou W it to me. When you were
Wounded, | took you in and succored
'Ou. Since we have been in this place
have obeyed your every order. Jack
flashed uninowingly, unintention-
lily, a stroke of genius. Jack is a
She has hit on our only chance. I
he fascinated the guerrillas once, and !
he'll do it again. She will split them ,
n halves and set one half against the I
Their. But she will need me. Give me I
hat revolver" I
All this was lost on me. l swore $
hey should not go. l planted myself
them and the rampant. Helen
to one side of me. Jack darted (
D the other. Ginger put his hand on
~ arm.
Don't stop Missy Jack, mars. Missy
ack can do eberyt'ing wild men folks" -
lie turned my face to the cliff. Look v
at Away, an yo' won't see hit" h
When | broke from the old man. Hell Q
i and Jack were beyond the rampant. .
l have seer lifeboat men pull u in a :.
sea, breasting n bowling
ind and madly tossing billows: l
seen men march out to battle with j
most a certainty of death or mutila-
on, but | have never looked upon any =,
ght with the mingled terror and adj ;.
that thrilled me as l bebeld J