The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1903-01-30

4 bellicOSe fashion. His general desired
to make a remark to another general.
and writing it on a piece of thin yellow
paper, gave it to him to deliver. He rode
off to the tune Of axes-for a Maine regt-
ment was putting in an our in undo
ing the stately work of a hundred years
trotted fifteen miles peacefully enough,
delivered his generals remark, and
started back. Then came night and q
sticky mist. Then impossibility Of
finding the way. Aladdin rode on and
on, courageously If not wisely, and
came in time to the dimly discernible
outbuildings of a Virginia mansion.
They stood huddled dark and we i'll the
mist, which was turning to rain, and
there was no sign Of life in or about
them. Aladdin passed them and turned
into ar alley of great trees. BY look
ing skyward he could keep to the road
they bounded. AS he drew near the
mansion itself a great smell Of box and
roses filled the nostrils with fragrance.
But to him, standing under the pillared
portico and knocking upon the door,
came no word of welcome and no stir
of lights. He ave it up in disgust,
mounted and rode back through the
rich mud to the stables. Had he looked
over his shoulder he might nave seen
a face at n Of the windows of the
house.
He found a door Of one Of the stables
unlocked n went in, leading his horse.
Within there was a smell OF hay. He
closed the door behind him. unsaddled.
and fell to cropping about in the dark.
HE wanted several armfuls of that hay
and he couldn't find them. The hay
kept calling to his nose, Here I am,
here I am" but when he got there it
was hiding somewhere else. It was like
"a game of blindman's buff. Then he
heard the .m%unching OF. his horse and
knew that the sought was found. He
moved toward the horse, stepped on a
rotten planking, inc fell through the
floor. Something caught his chin vio-
lently as he went through, and in a
pool of filthy water, one leg doubled
night as TRANQUILITY as If he had been
dosed with laudanum.
Aladdin came to consciousness in the
carly morning. He was about as sick
as a man can be this side of actual dis
solution, n the pain in his broken leg
was as sharp as a scream. He lay
grooming and doubled in the filthy half
inch of water into which he had fallen.
About him was darkness, butloyerhead
a glimmer of light showed "a Jagged
and cruel hole in the planking of the
stable floor. Very slowly, for his agony
was ~unspeakable, he came to a realiza-
ton of what had happened. He called
for help, nj his voice was thick and
unresonant, like the voice of a drunken
a His horse heard him. and neighed.
Now and again he lapsed into semi-un-
consciousness, and time passed with
out track. Hours passed, when sud-
denly the glimmer above him bright
ened, and he heard light footsteps and
the cackling Of hens. He called for help
Instantly there was silence. It contin-
ued a long time. Then he heard a
voice like soft music, and the voice
said, who's there?"
A shadow came between him and the
light, n a fair face that was dark
ened locke down upon him.
For Gods sake take care" he said.
Those boards are rotten"
you're a Yankee, aren't you?" said
the voice, sweetly.
Yes" said Aladdin. "and I'm. badly
hurt"
The voice laughed.
Hurt, are you?" it said.
4 think I've broken my leg" said
Aladdin. Can you get some one to
help me out Of this"
Reckon you're all right down
there" said the voice.
Aladdin revolved the brutality of it
in his mind.
do you mean to say that you're not
going to help me?" he said.
Help you? Why should II"
Aladdin groaned, and could have
killed himself for grooming.
If you don't help me-" he said, and
his voice broke, for he was suffering
t%ortures, "Ill die before long"
A perfectly cool and cruel "Well?"
came bac to him.
You won't help me?"
mo"
Anger surged in his heart, but he
spoke with measured sarcasm.
Then" he said, will you at least
tween me and Gods light? If I die,
I may go to hell, but I prefer not to
see devils this side of it, thank you"
The girl went away, but presently
came back. She lowered something
to him on a string. 81 got it out Of one
of your holsters" she said.
Aladdin's fingers closed on the butt
of a revolver.
1t may save o a certain amount
Of hunger and pain,' she said. When
you are dead, we will give it to one OF
u men, and your horse too. He's a
beauty"
II hope to God he may" began
Aladdin.
Pretty" said the girl.
a Went away, and he heard her
cluckng to the chickens. After a time
she came back. Aladdin was waiting
with a plan.
Don't move" he said, "or you'll be
shot"
Rubbish" said the girl. She leaned
casually back from the hole, and he
could hear her moving away and
clucking to the chickens. Again she
returned.
Thank you for not shooting" she
said.
There was no answer.
Are Q dead?" she said.
When he came to, there was a brish,
light In Aladdin's eyes, for a lantern
swung just to the left of his head.
7 thorght you were dead" said the
girl, still from her point of advantage
The lanterns light was in her, face
too, and Aladdin saw that it was beau
tiful.
Won't you help me-" he said plain
lively.
Were you ever told that you had
nice eyes," said the girl.
Aladdin groaned.
1T bores you to be told that?"
MY dear young lady," said Aladdin
If you were as kind as you are beau.
tiful-"