Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1903-04-24
CHAPTER VI.

Ky 4clI ar 4IlpulS SHOULD not nave
been surprised. But Jaquclinc knew
nothing Of logic or the merits of the
case. She used no plea; she conquered
by a LOOK.
what Il queer man"
"Who-I:' The captains smile
brOadcncd.
"QucercSt man | ever saw. What do
go want to take him away TO? Don't
yo' know he's wounded, and we just got
him fixed up:"
'You don't mean it." He spoke as
defcrentially as if the information were
really a surprise to him.
Don't want ever to see him again3
What grumpy thing you must be!
Suppose I'd say l wanted never to see
you again."
you'd break my heart"
All this was not to the liking of the
captains companion. well. captain"
he put in, what yo' goin ter do?
Coin ter let him lay thar ter be cod
died by the fambly:'
'YO' hush" cried Jaqueline, with
suddenly flashing eyes. The man start
ed back. Possibly he was unused to
such quick transitions. "Yo' can't take
Linn away till his arm gets well.
S'pose he bleeds to death? You'd have
his blood on yo' hands. Just think Of
thatw
Considering that they had intended
to take me out and shoot me, the warn
ing was, to say the least, amusing.
Every one burst into laugh. Indeed,
I could hardly refrain from joining in
1t myself, notwithstanding my critical
situation.
You certainly don't want to commit
q gross blunder, captain" remarked.
You can at least give me some sort OF
trial"
Reckon I can refer the matter to
headquarters" he replied, fixing his
eyes on Jaqueline.
1t was delicate scale that balanced
life and death in wartime and often
required only a feathers weight to
turn it. 1t had been turned for the
time and turned effectually. The guards
were ordered back, and the captain
Eauntered away with my accuser, who
expOstulated as they passed out Of the
house on to the gallery. Pulling a
cigar out Of his pocket, Captain Beau
mont sat down in a rocking chair and
began to smoke as TRANQUILITY as if moth
ing had happened, listening composedly
to the rufiian who was trying to get
him to shoot me. But Beaumont was
now as difficult to move. as imper-
turbable, as he had been before irate.
and Jaycox at last went away disap-
pointed. He gave me a malignant
glance before going, which said plainly,
iii fix you yet"
The captain continued sitting where
he was, his head resting on the back OF
the rocker, looking dreamily up at the
waving branches Of a large tree set
against the blue sky. Supper was
ready, and Jaqueline, taking a rose,
went out and. fixing it in buttonhole
of his coat, led him into the dining
room. Before passing out Of sight she
turned and gave me a meaning glance,
accompanied by q wry face at her COM
panion. AS the captains back was
turned it was safe for me to indulge in
a smile. Indeed, fear l could hardly
have refrained had his face been to-
ward me. This little Jaqueline was
certainly unique.
! While they were at supper I was de-
.liberating upon the situation. 1t was
evident that my old enemies had either
stumbled upon me or had learned of
my presence in north Alabama and
were bent on my destruction. 1t was
desperate case. l was an officer In the
Union army, within the enemy's lines.
lin citizens dress and in that enemy's
hands. I was bounded by men who
would not scruple to use any means t.
get me In their power. If did not es
cape from the Confederates. shoule
hang; If did escape, l should be muir
dered.
Presently Jaqueline and the captaIi
came out from the supper room. Jaque
line in advance, the captains eyes fixet
on the pretty figure before him. Jaque
line was very graceful, very dainty.
Her every motion was charming. She
"0C eO l6Al OA AGI ACCt buht 6uc 6GcLus
ed scarcely to touch the ground. Though
she walked, she danced, while her eyes
DANCED with her body, her lips wearing
q perpetual smile. Once she took two
or three steps, turning half around-a
mere suspicion of a dance, q delicious,
tantalizing bit, like sip Of rare Wine
I'D like to meet yo' in ballroom"
remarked the captain languidly.
"Why sop
'Yo' would dance beautifully. Yo'd
make charming partner"
Il can sing"
"Can your
Eyes. and play. One day I was play
Ing Ginger's banjo behind the barn.
Papa called, 'Yo' Ginger, stop that in.
fernal twanging" Wasn't it funnyY
She laughed. The captain laughed.
[ laughed. There was something very
catching about the little mink that nei-
Their Of us could resist.
She drew an armchair close beside
the sofa on which was lying and in
sisted on the captain seating himself
In 1t. He demurred. but Miss Jack
would have 1t SO, and the man who
half an hour before had ordered me
out to be shot was sitting by me as
though We were excellent friends.
Jaqueline seated herself in a rocker d.
rectly in view of both myself and the
captain and, rocking vigorously all the
while, chatted like maybe. The cap
tain settled himself within his COM
Portable seat, asked permission to
smoke and. finding that he had but
one cigar. insisted ON my smoking 1t.
OF course l refused, but he was too
hnately well bred to smoke 1t himself
without another for me. Miss Jack
solved the problem by standing before
him with n lighted match till he was
forced to yield.
Then from without came the Jingle
Of a banjo. Jaqueline caught the
sound and stood listening, her head
poised on one side, her eyes sparkling
as though forgetful Of everything save
the music.
That's The Bonny Blue Flagv"
she exclaimed, and she hummed the
words in n sweet though by no means