Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-05-09

other quickly with a flicker of steel In his
gray eyes.
The Dutchman flushed at the home
thrust.
Il see. You are one of those fools who
think it better to be divorced from life
than from honor. The greater BOBBY you!
What is honor but name? viii 1t bring
back the breath of life into your body after
they have hanged you in the orchard TO-
morrow morning? Himmel, no! lis
naught but a man-made convention TO De
abided by when the wind blows 1alr-lol
otherwise
'Tis a thing a man may carry with him
into the next world along with good con-
science answered the other evenly.
Hamburg paced up and down the cell with
furrowed brow. He wanted to rid himself
of his rival, but he preferred to accom-
plish his end without sacrificing the life OF
the American. The Hessian captain heia
in his hands the proofs that Major Arundel
was not a spy. He knew the Nirginan had
ventured through the British lines only
because the report had reached him that
Kate France was dying from wounds re-
ceived in a runaway accident, and that ne,
Fritz Hamburg had it in his power TO
make this clear to the commanding gen
eral. The captain was not heartless by
anv means but he was interruptions and
he meant to make this stubborn colonial
step aside in the race for the hand OF
Catherine France.
Man. ware fool. Tomorrow you may
walk out an exchanged prisoner into the
warm sunshine. If for once you yield on
a point of honor, as you call it, none need
ever know
II shall know"
We'll, and If you do? A man must bend
to the wind when it blows against him over
hard There come times when it were the
worst OF folly to stand hard and fast on
the narrow line of conduct which at other
times rules him. When life and death are
in the balance nice points of honor must go
by the board.
Arundel smiled. Must they?''
The Hessian turned him a face hard
as iron. They must, or you must hang,
he returned brutally.
which brings us back to the point from
which we originally started. We must
agree to disagree. | fear.
Then YOU will die a fool.
II believe you mentioned that before
retorted the American quietly. Il have no
answer for IT. except that had rather die
a fool than live knave. May offer you a
glass of wine before you leave? General
Howe has kindly supplied NE with enough
to last me till l shall no longer need any.
No? The saying is current In our army that
a Hessian is always thirsty. 1 shall brand
II libel-or rather should II were going
to reioin the army" he finished with his
easy, rather wistful smile
Hamburg did not rise TO the occasion.
His instinct told him that this colonial Of
fieer who to be hanged on the morrow
was of the stuff out of which gentlemen
are made. and that he himself was fashion
ed OF a different warp and wool. His rage
Bonner! Your blood be on your own
head" he cried Il have given you your
chance: If you are gawk to let it slip Fritz
Hamburg is not to blame
so that you will now be able to sleep
with an unruffied conscience. ! have had
my chance; ! reject 1t; one cannot expect
more of YOU" answered the major with q
gentle irony. Don Quixote himself could
do no more l have made my bed; tomor-
row l lie in it. If 1t he somewhat overnar-
row for comfort you to blame"
The HeSsian laughed, and In the SOUND
was something sinister and cruel.
1t pleases you to make sport OF me, Major
Arundel. Very well. | advise you laugh
while you can. for by himmel! this time to-
morrow you will be beyond all laughter"
LAS God pleases. Neither you nor know
which of us will then be alive, Captain
Hamburg" said the American lightly.
II can guess" retorted the other brutally.
And with that he turned on his heel. But
even as he wheeled around the door swung
open to let in a cloaked and hooded lady
nized her for the moment. She stood in the
doorway. blinking in the uncertain light.
Kate! cried Arundel in glad amaze
ment while the Hessian let slip out q
Dutch oath between his set teeth.
She went straight toward her lovers out
stretched arms as a tired child to its moth
err He tried TO comfort her, not with
speech--he haired not trust himself to speak
but In the sweet ways a lover has al
command. Presently she explained in q
pathetic little broken voice:
~ made General Howe give me pass