Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1903-05-08

CHAPTER Y.
DANCE FOR \ LIFE
e~HE proposition was received
Il with shouts Of approval
II "Io' don't mean yo' kin
dancer"
Reckon"
Good gal. Crar the way TO
uance"'
"lo' niger. tune that banjo! IT'S
lucky TO 81 20 got 7. strings an all, er
wed II mad" strings outen yer hide"
The camp WAS On circular piece OF
hard ground SO cut off from the sun by
surrounding trees and bushes that no
grass grew. The few scattered sprouts
were soon cleared away. Ginger sat
down On the log which lay near by,
twanged his banjo. tightening or
loosenins 4 string and then gave a pre-
liminary flourish.
JaIuelne took off her sunbonnet.
threw 1t few feet away and stepped
on to the clearing. There were mingled
fear and defiance In her face that set
my heart to fiuttering. Though 1 did
not know she was carrying out n pre-
concerted plan, somehow 1t got into my
head that she was about to dance for
my liberty-in other words, for my life.
The thought maddened me. An impulse
seized me to throw off the mask and
defy the whole band. Helen, seeing the
desperate resolve expressed In my face,
gave me look, partly imploring. part
ly commanding, that recalled me to o
sense Of my helplessness.
Jaqueline began sailing about, keep
ins time to Ginger's music. moving
hither and thither with uncertain steps,
ms bird will fit back and forth before
darting away in its flight. or as musi-
clan will sweep his fingers over harp
before beginning his melody. Gradual
ly the music grew quicker. and Jack,
gathering confidence, forgot everything
but the dance.
Since the entry Of the two girls into
the camp had suffered one terror aft
er another In quick succession. and
now 1t struck me that in case Jack sue
ceeded In fascinating this lawless group
some Of them, fired with a desire of
possession, would break through all re-
straint. l had been wonderstruck that
two defenseless girls should dare to
come among them, and now was stu
pefied that Jack should dance before
them and that Helen should permit her
to do so. But who shall measure the
strength Of woman's weakness? Moth
er Nature had taught Jack and Helen
their power, and they went about their
work with not 1.-THE Of the fright that
possessed me.
Meanwhile JaQueline had drifted in
to the dance and was whirling. bend
ing. floating. every muscle alive with
its especial motion. At times she
would lull, poise herself for a moment,
then. like a fitful wind, start again
with renewed fervor. At no time could
there be discovered aught but delicate
refinement in her movements. and now
1t was her purpose to attract without
exciting her spectators. Stimulated by
frequent bursts Of applause and by
the rapt attention Of the men surround
ing her. she found her main incentive
in a far deeper, nobler motive, feeling,
rs she did. the critical situation, the
dread responsibility, for human life
resting upon her.
What a singular scene! The ring of
ugly faces momentarily softened by
the sight Of grace and beauty; the cap
tain. his sharp face turning with the
dancer and following her wherever she
goes: Pete Halliday. standing with
folded arms. lowering from under the
broad brim Of his sombrero. grinding
his quid: Glnger's black face cleaning
with pride Mt furnishing the music for
his young mistress. inspiring her with
his own inspired melody; little Buck.
standing between two lank guerrillas
In "butternut," staring ut his cousin
and forgetful Of her danger in his inter.
est In her work; Helen Stanforth.
standing apart. her strong face wear
ing the expression Of a general who
watches a cavalry charge intended to
turn position on which hangs the fate
Of the day.
The guerrillas, not one Of whom
would hesitate to slit throat at the
slightest prospect Of gain. were watch
ing the little soubrette not only with
admiration. but with respect. Once
during her performance one Of the men
applauded with a ribald remark. He
was standing by the captain. who
stretched his arm, brought it down
with a backward stroke and sent the
man sprawling. Jaquellne saw the
act and the approving looks Of the out
laws, who were In no mood to have
their sport interrupted. The color left
her cheeks. but she kept right on, and
tho episode passed without further con-
sequences.
At moment when the attention Of
the men had become riveted upon the
dancer Helen, who had been gradually
working her way from the group to-
ward me. came and sat down on the
log behind Ginger. where she was par
TALLY screened by him. Watching her
opportunity. she deftly took a revolver
from her pocket and concealed it In
the folds Of her dress. With her eyes
fixed upon the group about Jack. she
waited for a burst of applause. and
when It came. reaching back. she drop
ped the weapon behind the log ut my
feet: then. rising. rejoined the circle. I
pushed the revolver under the log with
the toe Of my boot then kicked dust
and leaves over it. This accomplished,
! breathe1 the most comfortable sigh
Of relief have ever drawn In my life.
The whole situation seemed changed
by that little dust covered combination
of bits Of metal STOPPING. l slipped 1t
Into the leg of my boot and felt that
half the battle was won.
At that moment the setting sun came
out from behind a cloud and shot
lances Of light through the trees. cover
Ing the group-the beautiful and the
ugly. the good and the bad. the refined
end the vulgar-with gilded splendor
saw but Jaqueline. The usual ftful.
ness Of her disposition, her natural ex.
preston Of careless Indifference, had
given place to serious intensity de-
noting great purpose. Posing herself
between two movements. the gliding
CHI hap