The Red Cloud chief., 1902-07-04
cspyrish, 1901. Stree, and Smith. New YORK..
CHAPTER NJ.

up.
Such a smile upon the face Of Bar.
naby looked bad for Capt. Brand and
his great game: the foundations of
his Spanish castle were getting shaky.
and possibly the whole tremendous
structure must come crashing down,
enguling him In the ruins.
What's the word?" asked Artemus.
"All goes on %serenely, so far as |
know"
Artemus shut one eye.
There's some high old fun in pros.
pect."
Well yes, I suppose so; st. Pat.
rick's day is always booming with
good cheer in New York"
"Ah! | mean for us; for our friend
the captain"
That strikes closer home. Now, |
knew you were the bearer of good
news when | saw you enter"
Il always said | was born under a
p~eradventure."
We'll, tell me your adventures, and
how good fortune attended you. All
OF which shall he to the glory Of our
cause, the yindication OF truth and
right, and the utter decentralization of
Capt. Brand"
Come over here. where comfort
and velvet chairs await us, and pre-.
pare yourself for a surprise hat will.
! guess, surpass anything you ever
heard"
So they settled down.
Charlie e~ndeavored to retain his
composure and possess his soul in
patience.
He knew Artemus of old and that n
ceremony had to be gone through with
ere he would disgorge the secrets he
possessed, such as would not disgrace
the cross.questioning in one OF the
higher courts.
We'll. now. you know what hopes
! had with regard TO the fellows on
the Rialto; how | built up air-castles
concerning the finding of one or more
among them who knew Macauley by
heart. and would, for a proper consid.
Grafton, take pleasure in d%enouncing
him 10 his face.
Il only ran across one man who had
played upon the boards with the
great Macauley; he declared he would
know him under any Disguise; that
his mannerisms must always betray
his individuality even though he rep.
resented an Arab or q h%eaInen
Chinee."
"Ah; that's the man we want said
Charlie.
And that's the man we won't get.
You see, he had one experience with
Macauley, and TO this day he declares
the mention Of the man always sends
a chill up and down his spinal column.
In a word, he fears him worse than
the devil fears holy water. and nei.
Their brides nor pleading could in.
duce him to say he would open his
batteries on Brand. The most | could
get him to promise was to see the
other from "A safe hiding place and
then secretly give us his opinion. with
the ir%on.bound proviso that his name
would never appear in the natter
Charlie elevated his eyebrows.
Il should say that man was a little
bashful."
"He admitted the soft impeachment.
and confessed to a CHASTITY fear. No
Macauley for him. thank you. A
burnt child breads the fire. you know
ut might be some satisfaction to
us IL he added the weight OF his secret
testimony to our own strong convic-
tons in the matter: that IL. IL would
perhaps influence Lady Airline"
mo doubt, no doubt"
will 1t pay TO summon him. them
This direct method OF questioning
was the best way of assisting Arte.
mus along.
II compelled an answer, and thus
necessitated the unmasking of his
strong batteries.
II hardly think So"
You know best. but / should like to
hear your reasons for refusing what
small favors the gods throw in our
way"
And you shall, Charlie. my boy.
In the first place. il woulI hardly pay
us to depend at all upon such secret
testimony. II We could inject some
alcoholic fluid into this low comedian,
To give him backbone, so that he
would face Brand and finish the game
in a blaze Of glory, it would do very
well; but | fear the only thing that
would give the poor devil artificial
courage, would at the same time steal
away his senses, so that our cause
would hardly make much progress.
Don't you agree with me?"
Charlie nodded in the affirmative.
THAT is n reason, you see. 1t
wouldn't pay to bother with such q
witness; time and labor and good
point ! wish TO make. His evidence
isn't needed"
"Ah!"
since I have found another way
OF ensnaring the wonderful Capt.
Brand in a net which must render him
utterly helpless. When the Rialto
prospects grew dim, | had in my mind
another alternative, by which | meant
40 ,,aIn ono lact lao,arata ,,n,o ,,n,,