The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-05-23
NONE BUT THE BRAVE
By HAMBLEN SEARS.

to them. Il cannot be married too soon.
| Else why should 1 have run away from
homer
After all, the man was no minister, and a
forced affair like this could mean nothing
And so there. in the reeking room, with one
man in a stupor and with five as wicked
| specimens of humanity as il had ever been
my lot to meet. the drunken Marvin mar
ried US in the early morning hours. How
| the wretch knew aught of the marriage
| service / could not then tell. But he did,
I and we agreed by nods-only speaking
when forced toto cleave TO each other in
sickness and in health. in good fortune and
| in bad. till death should part.
| When he came 10 ask my name, hesi-
| tated. and was about TO give another and
| then-cUrse me for a careless beast-the
man called Purdy spoke up. reading from
the rim of my hat: "Balfort."
And so / gave my name.
| Mistress said Marvin. your name
| now"
| Deborah Philipse," she said beneath her
BREATH and then repeated part or what he
dictated, though her arm grew heavier and
heavier in mine till my wounded wrist
| throbbed with pain.
| / thought then il was over, but he must
| needs get paper and ink. and write out a
blurred and rambling certificate that Mer-
ton Balfort and Deborah Philipse were
married the 18th day of September. 17sO. by
James Marvin minister of the gospel
/ whereupon those looking on roared with
laughter at him and his solemnfty. and
most Of all at his signature that covered
half the page. When he had signed, Purdy
| cried out:
Now. toast to the bride" and we filed
again, and they drank and 1 tasted.
But Marvin stood up. keeping his balance
as best he could. and droned out in mock
| solemnity:
| Gentlemen. you forget. The minister has
not had his fee
Then turning to me, he said in wheed-
| ling tone. with horse-pistol pointing at
me from his right hand. You would not
forget the man of God that made you the
| possessor of such as this?"
| Indeed. I had not seen IL until that mo-
ment, nor had il occurred 10 me till then
| that l had on my first night in this coun-
J try fallen in with a gang of SINNERS. II
| was clear enough now. and the amuse-
ment they were to have, and were having.
while robbing me was of their own devilish
making.
LET me pay the fee" said the girl eager
| ly. and. drawing out a silken purse. she
took from il half dozen gold pieces
enough for forty weddings-and handed
them to Marvin, adding. II thank you.
| sir
I could have cried with rage at this last
the simplicity of the girls vision, coupled
with her infinite skill in turning the whole
| episode from a fight into a peaceful, or
rather harmless. robbery!
| Marvin held the pieces in his hand. and
made wry face as he leered at her.
| Its but small sum for so great a
service. Mistress Balfort!'
why" said she, with a vacant stare
and then looked at me. Something must
have shown on my face; for, with sud
den catching Of her hand at her throat and
falling of her smiling mask, she handed
him the purse and turned away.
| Marvin counted out the pieces with slow
| precision, and then turned to his gang.
This is but a paltry pair after ALL said
he. And never have had so small mar
riage fee Can you not help your lady wife
out, good sir?"-addressing me.
An uncomfortable movement that 1 made
|
feet away. and with a groan 1 threw him
my wallet
1t held a goodly sum, and l prayed that
they might forget 10 search me. for what
else l had lay with my dispatches in my
boots. But savage grunt from the other
side of the room saved us. Every eye turned
towards the sound, and we saw the Jolly
good fellow wriggle and sit up. He was
dressed like my opponent, and was watch
! ing him as he struggled to his feet, when
spasmodic grasp clutched my arm. 1 turned
to see Mistress Philipse's face close up to
mine and abject terror written on every
| feature
That man. That mani gasped she
Save me from him. in Gods name!" And
| whether because this was the last straw
| or because of some new and greater dan
| ger from this last addition to our company,
l know not-she leaned against me and
would have fallen had not picked her up
and carried her into the other part of the
| tavern.
The door opened into hall. and from
| that turned into the first room. which as
| often in such houses, was a bedroom;
there laid her on the bed and took off her
| soaked shoes. She lay quiet, and 1 seized
the chance to seek the landlord He was
not far. for found him standing looking
at me as / came into the dark hall.
"Gowan," said 1. you have as vfllainous
lot here as ever I saw, but if you be the
man think you. you will get me out of
| this place"
What can I do with them. sir? They
own the house now Twill be a godsend If
they do not burn IL about our ears,''
go back down the road and find the
| coach You'll get a hundred times the pay
there for what want you TO do"
| IN do what can" he muttered.
| Give me another horse and a woman's
saddle, If you have ii"
You'll find two horses hitched to the
coach. Keep them" For, if the men had
not taken them. they must still be there
The men. 1 knew, would be gone by this
~ cannot get the horse for We just now"
he muttered. standing first on one foot and
| then on the other.
Come with me. then" said l. and we
went back 10 the main room. Twas a
tcklish job. but we did it, They were at
their jolly good fellow again-now he sat
| on a stool with his head in his hands-and
they hailed me an old friend / must
1 H. s~I~