The San Francisco call., 1903-12-13


this way and that. with anxious terror
written plainly in her face.
What is it?" 1 asked, when she had
found me out.
'''Tis the worst that could happen"
she whispered. You are discovered,
both of you. Colonel Tarleton was too
shrewd for us. He has let it be known
among the officers that there are two
spies in the house, and now. Hark!
what is that2"
We were standing in a deep window
bay and 1 drew the curtain an inch or
two. The air without was filled with
the trampling of hoofbeats on green
sward. a lighthouse troop was sur
rounding the manor house.
back to the ballroom: twas now come to
this that open publicity was our best
safeguard. We must find Dick" said l.
Have you seen him?'
Together we made the slow circuit of
the dancing room, but Jennifer was not
to be found. Out of the tail of my eye
/ saw a soldier slipping in here and
wall. This brought it to matter OF
minutes. of seconds. ma yhap. and still
We looked In vain for Dick.
oh why did you bring him here? he
will surely be takenl" Her voice was
tremulous with fear. and / answered as
/ could, being sore at heart. in spite oi
all. that her chief concern should be for
But by now my purpose was well ta-
ken. and though it appeared that Richard
Jennifer was more than ever my sue
cessfUl rival. | pledge you. my dears, 1
had no thought OF leaving him behind.
So we made another slow round of the
rooms. and while we were looking Tor
Dick 1 spoke in guarded whispers to
the warning was not needed.
Her shuGder Of loathing shook the
hand on my arm. That mani Oh, Mon
sieur Johni | fear him day and night!
I could hrff rtrr hsrf a
finding Dick-we must find him quickly.
There was no other place to look save
in the entrance hall. and at the door one
of the statue-like soldiers took two steps
aside and barred the way. l faced about
and we plunged once again into the
thrOng. but not before | had had
glimpse of Richard in the nall beyond
When the chance offered, L bent to whis-
'Dick is in the hall. looking for me. Go
you TO him and warn him. l may not
pass the door, as you have seen.
He will not escape without you. she
demurred.
Tell him he must. Tell him I say he
must,'
She glanced over her shoulder with a
look in her eyes that made me think of
wounded bird f1uttering in the net or the
'0h. it's hard. hard," she murmured.
l snatched the word from her lips
ITO choose between love and wifely
duty? Then l make it a command. Go,
quickly!
She went at that. and | made my way
slowly TO the far side OF the ballroom.
taking post in a deep-recessed window
giving upon the lawn. Though ii was
January and the night was chill and raw.
the rooms were summer warm with the
breath Of the crush, and some one had
swung the easement
Without, ] could hear the horses of the
waiting troop champing restlessly at
their bits. and now and again tne low
gentling words of the riders. Why the
colonel did not spring his trap at once L
could not guess; though learned later
that ne had magnified our two-man spy
ing venture into a patriot foray meant
10 capture the whole houseful OF British
officers at swocp. and was taking his
mea Sures accordingly.
Twas while l was listening TO the
champing horses that j heard my name
whispered in the. darkness beyond the
nearest OF the soldier watchers began to
edge his way toward my window.
''Tis dick Jennifer," whispered the
voice without. Swing the easement a
little wider and out with you. Be swift
about IL, for Gods sakei
II am fair trapped l whispered back.
Make off as you can"
And leave you behind?" So much
heard. and then came sounds of a strug
gle; the breath-catchings of two men
locked in a strangers hold, smothered
oath or two; fall on the turf under the
window, followed by the soft thudding
of fist blows. / could bear it no longer.
The edging soldier had come within
arms reach. and when swung the case
ment a little wider, he laid hand on my
shoulder.
"In the name of the kingr he said;
and this was all he had time or leave TO
say. For at the summons | drove my
fist against the point of his wagging
Jaw, and the recoil of the blow carried
me clear of the window seat with what
a din and clamor of a hue and cry to
speed the parting guest as you may fig
IRE for Yourselves.
The alighting ground of the leap was
the body of Dicks late antagonist lying
prone beneath the window ledge; but the
lad was up and ready to catch me when
l stumbled over the vanquished one.
"'Tis legs for 1t now" he cried. Make
for the avenue and the horses at the
hitch rail-"
At rising twenty man may run fast
and far; at rising forty he may still
run far If the first hundred yards do
Ro Sad bULs dafed MS thPeuGS the Sn linen line
Of encircling horsemen and were
dying down the broad avenue with
all the troopers who had caught sight of
US laundering at our heels, Dick was the
pace-setter. while 1 made but a shifty
second. gasping and painting and dying
thousand deaths in the effort to catch
my second wind.
"Courager' shouted Dick, fiinging the
word back over his shoulder as he ran.
There is help ahead if we can live to
reach the gate!"
But luckily for me. the help was near
ar at hand. Half way down the box-bor-
dered drive. when 1 was at my last gasp,
the shrill yell of the border partisans
rose from the shrubbery on the right,
and voice that | shall know and well
come in another world cried out:
'Stiddy. boys. stiddy till ye can see
the whites O. their eyes, Now. then;
give il to 'em hot and heavyr'
A haphazard banging of guns followed
end the pursuit drew rein in some confu-
sion, giving us time to reach the great
gate and the horse rail. and to loose and
mount the gray and the sorrel we had
marked out.
While we were about this last. Eph-
rain Yeates came Looping down the ave
nue. and through the gate to vault into
the saddle of the first horse he could lay
hands on; and so ii was that we three
took the northward road in the silver
starlight. with the pursuit now in order
again and in full cry behind us.
Twas not until we had safely run the
gauntlet of the vedette lines by by
path known to the old hunter. and had
shaken off the troopers that were follow
ing, that l found time to ask what had
become of the men who had formed the
ambush in the shrubbery.
The old man gave his dry chuckle of
laugh.