The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-07-04
AMUsEMENTs.
ace. Take me away. and save Frank from


place. Take me away. and save Frank from
that man.
l saw him make a sudden movement. He
stood a moment and then set her quickly
away from him. A stride brought him up
TO Hazeltine. and grasping the man by the
arm he turned him around so that they
stood face TO face.
God in heaven!" whispered the as
founded man hoarsely. as Hazeltine stood
looking him in the face without a word.
Curtis gazed at him long and steadily, as
If he were coming out OF a dream. Then he
twirled Hazeltine about again and looked
at his back as the man stood with his long
cape over his shoulders. A moment. and the
dazed man had turned the other face 10
face again.
Great God in heaven he groaned under
his breath.
We'll. cousin. do you know me?' said
Hazeltine with a forced attempt at hi
larity.
D 1 know thee, thou foul spy? Do 1
know thee? Aye. now l do But not till this
moment did 1 suspect the fend Hazeltine
could be my own cousin, Frank Pendle-
tom"
"Tis a mistake, Rob. You have the wrong
man"
He lies, Curtisi" I cried, lies in his
teeth! I've followed him and caught him
now. and bound him. and we have but TO
take him across the river TO I'LL one of the
orders that sends us here"
Never fear, Merton. 1 could never mis-
take that figure. w followed him these
three months" and l saw his strong face
set in grim resolution and turned to look at
Mistress Philipse. She was standing by in
silent horror at what she had heard, but as
she saw me approaching her she ran to
Curtis.
MY brother. will you not protect me
from this MANI"
Why. Debby dear, do you not know Mer-
ton Balfort? What harm would he do you?
None. dear sister. none"
He has already! He led me here TO de-
coy our cousin Frank to his ruin. And-I-
/" and she broke down completely again.
"'Tis not so. Mistress Philipse. 1 came"
D not dare to address a word to me.
SIR" cried the girl, jumping from her
brothers side and stamping her foot. And
she was back again sobbing in his arms.
"'Tis a gross misunderstanding, Curtis"
said 1 at my wits ends. You are her broth
err" He nodded. II felt it long ago. 1 knew
it. aye, knew it all alongi Yet did I never
understand ii till now! Well, then, 1 came
here to help her in-in another matter
look at me so, Robert Curtis, my conscience
is as clear as a bell-but when l came here
this man appeared and 1 knew him at once
for Hazeltine. and no more suspected his
relationship to you and TO her than you did
ten minute ago."
"'Tis a lie!' cried the girl, passionately.
"a gross"
Mistress Philipse. I cannot answer you
as l would a man. l can but say 10 you
aye, swear to you-that you are wrong.
And may God forgive you for your hard
words and your lack of faith in one who
who-would watch over your welfare!"
IL cannot understand the thing NUT
tered Curtis.
Let us get this man away in safety.
friend" said L. And then I will explain
And 1 walked UP to Hazeltine and babe
him precede me.
"'Tis impossible said Curtis.
"'Tis what?" cried ]. wheeling about at
him.
He cannot go thus to the commander-in-
chief" replied the man with that quiet
irmness and ~distinctness that always be-
longed TO him. "'Twi be simply an exc
cution by hand"
AYE. that it will, man, and the sooner
and simpler the better" said /.
1T is quite impossible" he repeated in
the same tone.
Robert, my friend, We have lost your
bearings. Do you take your sister and leave
him 10 me-" and 1 signed to Hazeltine to
move towards the road.
Merton, If you attempt to remove this
man, you must first cross swords with me.
said Curtis in a cold. wiry voice. the more
terrible in its, meaning because its tone
was not raised one whit beyond the ordi-
nary.
What mean you. mani" asked 1 in
amazement, unconsciously drawing my
sword an inch or two. He did not move,
but, folding his arms, said in the same cold
voice:
Precisely what 1 say. If you try to re-
move him you must first overcome me, and
whatever the result of our struggle, there
will be more than time for him TO make
good his escape" Then. turning TO Hazel.
tine, he walked slowly up to within a foot
of him. with folded arms, and said slowly
and distinctly in that same why voice:
Frank Pendleton. you are my own cous-
in. Therefore shall you not, If can pre-
vent II, go TO the gallows, as God knows
you should. But l nave within this hour
learned that you are the veriest traitor in
this land; for you have acted as spy to both
armies in this war. and therefore shall you
not go from this spot till either 1 have
killed you or you me. Turn round"
do not do it. Curtis 1 cried. Its a
foolish sense Of honor. and the man does
not belong TO us" But he proceeded. and
soon Hszeltine's arms were free.
Curtis did not even look at me. but kept
his eye on Hazeltine all the time, only
vouchsafing:
Hold thy peace. Merton! This affair is
between only God, that man and me-" AND
they were at II there in the dim moonlight
before he had finished speaking. And z
weird sight it was TO see these two men
one fighting 10 save his life. knowing h
must cope afterwards with me. the other
cool, sure. as fine a swordsman as ever
saw, standing for his honor and crossinl
swords with is own cousin whom he had
lived and played with through all their boy.
hood, whom now he detested. but would no.
hang. And under the dim blue light of the
moon a few yards away stood the girl
watching them with wide eyes. silently.
lowered about them with drawn sword