The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1902-06-19
whole adventurous career, o1 spall-
binding the enemy.


binding the enemy.
Seconds counted, and rs to q min
ute, it was precious beyond words.
Perhaps the major might be q little
more amenable to reason now that he
had things in his own hands.
The spell-binding began.
Paul crushed down his bona fide
feelings and bent his energies toward
cajoling the man who held their des-
tiny in the hollow at his hand.
To hear him talk one might have
been pardoned for entertaining
grave suspicion that his ancestry, in
stead of dating back to old Holland or
some Dutch country extended to the
famous region of Blarney Castle.
For truly Rhinelander did himself
proud upon this occasion, when the in
itself.
So rapidly he talked that the major
was not able to get word in edge
wise.
Several times he half raised the arm
holding that sword Of authority, as
though he would fain give the signal
for closing in on all sides.
But the major was a Frenchman,
with all the courtesy that distinguish
ed his countrymen from the barbarian
outer world, and on his life he could
not treat soldier and gentleman
with SO great disrespect as to break
in upon the thread of his discourse
with an order for his arrest.
So he waited.
Delays are often dangerous, and In
this case the old aphorism seemed
peculiarly suggestive.
For delay was what Paul desired
the hope of it oiled his tongue, and
gave him an eloquence he had never
before known he possessed.
The wretch who stands with the
moose about his neck, scanning the
horizon to see some cloud of dust that
might betoken the advent Of some
courier bearing reprieve, would ap-
preciate the feelings of Paul Rhine
lander as he endeavored to so hold the
fat major by the power Of his elo-
quence that the soldier would delay
giving his signal until the hoped for
arrival Of newcomers on the scene of
action.
At first Countess Aimee listened to
his flow Of compliments with astonish-
ment, since she had never suspected
the young American capable of such
remarkable effort.
Gradually, as she noted the soporific
effect of his harangue upon the major.
she began to feel some apprehension
lest her end might be defeated after
all.
She frowned and stamped her little
foot, whereat the major started and
glanced hastily toward her.
Then ensued pantomime between
the two, he Struggling his shoulders
as though asserting his unwillingness
to act while Paul kept up this flow Of
eloquence, while the woman pointed
to the American nodded her head
vehemently and again stamped her
foot in temper.
Paul saw it all but he did not let
a little thing like this disturb him. .
He talked on, even faster than be-
fore, talked in way that must have
convinced any jury and even inclined
the judge in his favor, talked as q
lawyer who seldom found occasion to
do so in defense of a client, for Paul
was holding his own life in the bal
ance.
A few minutes at the most was all
he wanted, and, thanks to his surpris-
ing tactics. he won.
He had kept the major in suspense
just three full minutes, loaded to the
muzzle all the while with an order for
action, yet finding no opportunity to
below it out unless he chose to forget
he was a gentleman. and he would
sooner die than do that
But patience has it's limits, even in
a polite Frenchman, and Paul, seeing
him puff out his cheeks, knew the
time Of probation had reached its end;
but a sensation Of satisfaction came
over him when he heard some one
gathering up the stairs, some one who
presently pushed into the room I'M
announced.
(To be continued.)
A NERvY sCOUNDREL.