The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-05-25
A Stirring Story of Love and Adj
venture in Revolutionary Days.
" as % the Shadow Copyrighted 1902 by Dodd Mead Coz

on mission to Gen. washington, the
Importance Of which 1 could only gather
from Putnam's instructions when he gave
me the letter and told me how much
speed and sagacity meant
rs II very muddy
1 could scarcely recognize the voice, 1t
had so changed. All the tears. all the
fear seemed to have disappeared, and
In their place something strange, very
strange, had come.
oh no madam; the road Is clear as
floor. and the sun is fast drying up my
wet Clothes answered, too angry too
worried. to be even civil.
l heard as light sound as of the sudden
drawing in of breath. but no other re-
sponse came as we moved slowly on.
until at a bend of the road we came sud
denly upon the tavern. as the creaking
sign over the door designated--a small,
looking house ramb bling off
against the side Of a bill as forsaken and
silent Il spot as ever william selected for
foul deed. There was nothing for it, how
ever. but to alight and in a moment with
neither word nor look. she had slipped Off
Rogers back. and walked straight into
the main room of the hosiery and ] after
her.
CHAPTER II.
The scene that met our gaze as we got
lDTOUSn INC UOOT WIS hllS lillliB Jul tbll-
soling In fact my companion drew back
against me as she entered, and instinct
lively grasped my arm. For the room,
which at best was about what might
have been expected from the exterior
of the house. was now filed with the
fumes Of foul tobacco; and the long.
low ceiling was black with the smoke Of
lamps that spluttered and smelt till the
a turned the
At one end burning a fire in a huge
fireplace Two or three common tables
were in the room, and around one of
these half a dozen men stood holding
their mugs high in the air as they reeled
about and sang in drunken discord
For he's a cho-l-ly good fel-l-o-o-w!
FIT he's a cho-l-l-y good fel-l-o-o-w!
F'r he's a cho-l-l-y good fel-elo-o-o-o-w,
AS nobody ca-an de-eny-y-y!
1t was clear enough that the jolly good
fellow on this occasion was wretched
lump of clay lying In most inhuman
posture under the table, At the farther
end of the room stood bench. which.
from the bottles upon it. was evidently
the bar, and behind this leaned the tav-
ern-keeper, humping out the time with
a pewter mug
AS the company appeared to take not
the slightest notice of us, but continued
to celebrate the virtues of their for the
time departed friend, I led my compan-
ion over to the fireplace. drew up a stool
for her. and babe her sit quietly for the
double purpose of drying her clothing and
avoiding any unnecessary attention from
the other occupants of the room. Then,
still moving quietly. I approached the
landlord, and. with many misgiving.
oil In, fnu -4,sT 81
drink
AYE, food there is none" cried he.
but you can drink yourself to death, and
you will my friend"
And forthwith he pointed to a row of
ale kegs.
Listen to me landlord" said I stern
ly. Il have lady here, and she must
have food and lodging this night
1 got no further, for he began thump-
ing upon the bar, and shouted to the
jewellers:
Hi, boys, look here What In hells
name do We now! Stop yer screaming and
bowling! Do yer not see there's gentry
PRESENT."
The noise ceased in moment and
the company stood looking at the tav-
ern-keeper, and then, following the line
OF his finger, all turned like automa-
tons to where the girl SAT bending over
the fire. l had an instant to study them
closer. and became aware, as one will
in the twinkling of an eye, that one of
the company appeared to be of a better
sort. He wore top-boots and riding breeks
and swallow-tail coat, befouled with
mud and by his side hung a long sword
Another was a sombre, long-faced coun-
tryman, while the rest appeared to be
clowns, that are alike whether in town
or cuntry the world over
The silence lasted but an instant, and
then he of the riding boots Strengthened
himself, and cried out:
why, you wheps of Satan, do YOU
not know a lady has graced our board?''
And, as / sidled over to the fire place.
he rolled this way and that and finally
came close to her as she turned to look
at him.
Madam" said he. as he started to
make a profound bow with sweep of
his pewter mug. sending a thin line of
ale In a circle over the floor mad m, l
s'lute ye-"
But the bow was too much for him.
and he stumbled over his own feet, and
fell at hers. The quick turn of her head
as she stepped back from him, threw
her hood back on her hair and then |
saw her face for the first time
What face 1t was! I shall never for
get H. newer! cOuld not describe it. for
1t seemed then all eyes and wavy brown
hair and a small mouth. that had more
of scorn in it than 1 could have believed
possible In any human feature Beauti-
full? Aye, that it was, white now as
snow in its frame of dark hair and darker
hood. But l know not what devilish in
f1uence the face had on me, for. as the
man struggled to his feet she gave him
slow look, and then. turning to me, said
quietly, with contempt in her voice:
"Will you not protect me. sir?"
And l, without hesitation struck the
fool In the face with my closed fist and
sent him rolling over himself against the
wall.
Twas foolhardy thing to do. and 1
knew 1t before l had finished. For. no
sooner was he down, than a howl set IN
from the others, as they made for us.
There was but time to push one of the
long tables between us and to draw NV
rapier, when the crew was at the other
side of the low barrier.
Yet then I felt more tranquil than
had since entering the tavern: for the af
fair was taking on the look of a fight.
and L had been In so many, large and
small. of late, that there was certain IA
miliarity to It, and it put me more at nv
ease. I turned the pistol out of the near
est mans hand with my point, and got
the girl behind me, when the leader for
so he was) got upon his feet, purple with
rage, and roared
stop there! The man has insultcd me,
Stop! This is not for you clowns! Clear
away herev And with a soberness I had
little expected, he scattered them TO
either side. and leaning his hands on the
table spluttered In nv teeth.