Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1903-01-29

| slowly. half stunned by the event, il was
to meet the pale drawn face Of Bart.
"Do they know, captain" he whisper
ed, mcaningy.
For few moments Humphrey did not
realize the import Of his question. till he
turned and gazed down once more upon
the stern, handsome face fixing rigidly in
death
mo-" he said. quickly as he drew a
handkerchief from his breast and softly
spread it over the face OF the dead. at
is our sccrct-ours alone"
"lla" sighed Bart and he drew back
for a moment, and then gave Humphrey
an implorng look before advancing once
more going down upon his knee. and TAX
ing and kissing the cold hand lying across
the motioness breast.
Captain Humphrey Armstrong,
Think said the officer of the rescuing
party
Yes" said Humphrey, in dreamy
way.
1--WE were just in time, it seems
Yes" said Humphrey, with a dazed
look
I'm glad you are safe, sir; and this
He had not finished his sentence when
one of Black Mazzard's men yelled out:
The commodore-our captain-sir"
"Once!' said Humphrey reused by the
| rufian's words. and gazing sharply
round; but one who spared my life, sir
and with this poor fellow here defended
| me from that dead scoundrel and his
gang"
| AS he spoke he spurned the body of
| Black Mazzard, who had hardly stirred
since he received Bart's bullet
II am at your service, Captain Arm
| strong" said the officer, "and will take
| my instructions from you"
For the wretches taken in arms, sir,
| have nothing to say; but for this poor
wounded fellow, | ask proper help and
protection. ! will be answerable for
him"
Bart looked at him quickly and reeled
slightly as he limped to his side.
THANK ye, captain" he said. II ought
to hate you, but she loved you, and that's
enough for me. If don't see you again,
sir-heaven bless you, and good by!'
But we shall see each other again,
Bart and hope-here, quick! he cried
help here; the poor fellow is fainting
from loss of blood"'
Bart was borne away to be tended by
the surgeon, and Humphrey Armstrong
stood gazing down at the motionless form
at his feet
He did not speak for some minutes,
and all around respected his sorrow by
standing aloof but he turned Mt last to
the officer:
! II ask honorable burial, sir, for the
dead-dead to save my life"
The officer bowed gravely, and then
turned away TO give a few short, sharp
orders to his men, who signed to their
prisoners.
These were rapidly marched down to
the boats, two and two, till it came to
the turn of Dinny, who stood with Mrs
Greenheys clinging to him, trembling
with dread.
Now. my fine fellow" said the war
rant officer who had the prisoners in
charge; this way"
Sure, and yen let me have a wurrud
wild the captain first? Sure, an he'd like
to shpake to me wan wurrud," said Din
ny. Wouldn't ye, sorY'
Yes" said Humphrey, turning to the
officer in command; "a very good friend
to me, sir, and one who would be glad to
serve the king"
Gently to him"
Let him tend his companion" said
Humphrey. "He is Il good nurse for a
wounded man."
Mistress Greenheys caught Humphrey s
hand and kissed it.
That night, covered with the English
: flag, which she had so often defied the
so-called Commodore Junk was borne to
the resting place selected by Humphrey
Armstrong.
1t was solemn scene as the roughly
made bier was borne by lantern light
, through the dark arcade of the forest
, and the sailors looked up wonderingly al
/ the strange aspect of the moderns old
; pile.
But their wonder increased as they On
l tered the gloomy temple, and the yellow
l light of their lanterns fell upon the flag
draped coffin in the center, and the weird
; looking figures seated round.
( Side by side with the remains of hel
' brother, Mary Dell was laid and ther
. draped with the same flag spread b,
Humphrey Armstrong; own hands, tn,
, picture exciting the wonder of the office
q in command, to whom it all seemed mys
D terious and strange. Greater wOndp
10 than ALL though, was that Humphre,
Il Armstrong, lately a prisoner of the fam
4 GUS buccaneer who had been laid to "est
. should display such deep emotion as h
70 slowly left the spot.
a AS he stepped outside volleys were fire
a by the men, and as the reports of tn
pieces rumbled through the antique build
y ing, and echoed in the cavernous ccnot,
: the reverberation looscned some porto
e of the roof over the vast reservoir, a