Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-10-16

or his inward comments, Hamilton re- garded the incident as rather serious. He knew that the French inhabitants were secretly his bitter enemies, yet probably willing, if he would humor their peculiar social, domestic and com mercial. prejudices, to refrain from ac- tive hostihties, and even to aid him in furnishing his garrison with a large amount, of needed supplies The dan- ger just now was twofold- his Indian allies were deserting him, and a hotilla loaded with provisions and ammunf- ton from Detroit had failed to arrive. He might, if the French rose against him and were joined by the Indians, have great difficulty defending the fort. It was clear that M. Roussillon had more influence with both creoles and savages than any other person save Father Beret. Urgent policy die tated that these two men should some how be won over. But to do this it would be necessary to treat Alice in such way that her arrest would aid, instead of operating against the de- sired result-a thing not easy to man age.
 Captain Farnsworth took his fair prisoner straightway from Hamilton's presence to small room connected with considerable structure in dis tant angle of the stockade. Neither he nor Alice spoke on the way. With a huge wooden key he unlocked the door and stepped aside for her to enter. A dim lamp was burning within, it's yell Jewish light Mckering over the scant furniture, which consisted of com fortable bed, a table with some books on it, three chairs, a small looking glass on the wall, a guitar and some ar ticles of mems clothing hanging here and there. A heap of dull embers smoldered in the fireplace. Alice did not faIter at the threshold, but prompt ly entered her prison.
 f'I hope you can be comfortable" said Farnsworth in low tone. Its the best can give you"
 s'Thank you" was the answer, spoken quite as if he had handed her glass of water or picked up her handker- chief.
 He held the door moment while she stopped with her back toward him in the middle of the room; then she heard him close and lock it. The air was al- most too warm after her exposure to the biting wind and cold dashes of rain. She cast off her outer wraps and stood by the fireplace. At glance she comprehended that the place was not the one she had formerly occupied as prisoner, and that it belonged to a man. A long rife stood in a corner. bullet pouch and powder horn hanging on projecting hickory ramrod. A heavy fur topeoat lay across one of the chairs.
 Farnsworth, who had given Alice his own apartment, took what rest he could on the cold ground under leaky shed hard by His wound, not yet alto gether healed, was not benefited by the exposure.
 Tn due time next morning Hamilton ordered Alice brought to his office, and when she appeared he was smiling with as near an approach to affabflity as his disposition would permit. He rose and bowed like a courtier.
 'sI hope you rested well, mademoi- selle," he said in his best French. He imagined that the use of her language would be agreeable to begin with.
 sI am sorry, monsieur, that cannot say as much to you," she giibly re- sponded. "If you lay upon bed of needles the whole night through, your rest was better than you deserved. My own sleep was quite refreshing, thank you"
 Instantly Hamilton's choler rose. He tried to suppress it at first, but when he saw Alice actually laughing, and Farnsworth, who had brought her in, biting his lip furiously to keep from adding an uproarious guffaw, he lost all hold of himself.
 tI might have known better than to expect decency from wench of your character" he said. "I hoped to do you favor, but see that you are not capable of accepting kindness politely" 1"
 T am sure, monsieur, that have but spoken the truth plainly to you. You would not have me do otherwise, hope"
 Her voice, absolutely witching in it's softness, freshness and suavity, helped the assault of her eyes, while her dim pleS LWIukiCu dnu uSf ndlE SlOu0. Hamilton felt his heart move strangely, but he could not forbear saying in Eng fish:
 If you are so very truthful, miss, you will probably tell me where the flag is that you stole and hid"
 It was always the missing banner that came to mind when he saw her.
 Indeed, T will do nothing of the sort" she promptly replied. 4When you see that flag again you will be q prisoner, and I will wave it high over your head.'I
 She lifted hand as she spoke and made the motion of shaking a banner above him. It was exasperation sweet ened almost to delight that took hold of the sturdy Briton. He liked pluck, es- pecially in woman, all the more if she was beautiful, yet the very fact that he felt her charm falling upon him set him hard against her, not as Hamilton the man, but as Hamilton the commander at Vincennes.