Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1904-03-30
CHAPTER Xxx.
.ALICES FLAG.


ALICE's FLAG.
GOVERNOR HAMILTON rcceiv.
- ed the note sent him by Colo.
mel Clark and replied to it Will:
. curt dignity, but his heart was
quaking. AS Il soldier he was true to
the military tradition, and nothing
could have induced him to surrender
his command with dishonor
lieutenant Governor Hamilton.", he
wrote to Clark, ''begs leave to acQuaint
Colonel Clark that he and his garrison
are not disposed to bc awcd into any
action unworthy of British subjects.''
every brave words" said Helm when
Hamilton read the note to him. but
you'll sing mildcr tune before many
minutes or YOU and your whole gar,
rison will perish in a bloody heap.
Listen to those W i'll yells! Clark has
enough men to eat you all up for break
fast. You'd better be reasonable and
prudent. It's not bravery to court mas
sacre.'
Hamilton turned away without a
worl and sent the message, but Helm
saw that he was excited and could be
still further wrought up.
you are playing into the hands of
your bitterest enemies. the frog eat
ers," he went on. These creoles. over
HON you've held hot poker all win
ter, are crazy to be turned loose upon
you, and you know that they've got
good cause to feel like giving you the
extreme penalty. They'll give it to
you without finch if they get the
chance. You've done enough
Hamilton whirled about and glared
ferociously.
"Helm, what do you mean:" he de-
handed in voice as hollow as it was
full of desperate passion.
The genial captain laughed as if he
had heard good joke.
You won't catch any fish if you
swear, and You look blasphemous," he
said with the lightness of humor char
acteristic Of him at all times. You'd
better say prayer or two. Just re-
fleet moment upon the awful sins
you have committed and"-
A crash of coalescing volleys from
every direction broke off his levity.
Clark was sending his response to
Hamilton's lofty note The guns of
freedom rang out prophecy Of tri-
umph, and the kissing bullets CLICKED
sharply as they entered the solid logs
Of the walls or whisked through an
aperture and bowled over man. The
British muskeeters returned the fire
as best they could, with a courage and
q stubborn GOODNESS which Helm open
~ admired, although he could not hide
his satisfaction whenever one Of them
was disabled
"Lamothe and his men are refusing
to obey ORDERS" said Farnsworth lit
tie later, hastily approaching HamiI-
ton, his face flushed and a CLEAN of
hot anger in his eyes. "Theyre in a
nasty mood. I can do nothing with
them. They have not fired shot"
"Mutiny" Hamilton demanded.
mot just that. They say they do
not wish to fire on their kinsmen and
friends. They are all French, you
know, and they see their cousins, broth
ers, unclss and old acquaintance out
there in Clark's rabble. I can do moth
ing with them"
"Shoot the scoundrels, Them
1T will be toss up which of us
will come out on top if we try that.
Besides, If we begin a fight inside. the
Americans will make short work of
u.s.
"Well, what are we to do. then?'
"0h, fight, that's all,' said Farms
worth alphabetically, turning to small
loophole and leveling field glass
through it. 1--WE might make rush
from the gates and stampede them,''
he presently added. Then he uttered
an exclamation of great surprise.
"There's Lieutenant Beverley out
there" he exclaimed.
you're mistaken; you're excited"
Hamilton half sneeringly remarked,
yet not without shade of uneasiness
In his expression. you forget, SIR
"Look for yourself. Its easily set
tied" And Farnsworth proffered the
glass. Hes there, to a certainty. sir"
II saw Beverley an hour ago." said
Helm. II knew all the time that he'd
be on hand"
1t was white lie. Captain Helm
was as much surprised as his captors
at what he heard, but he could not re-
sist the temptation to be annoying.
Hamilton looked as Farnsworth d.
rected, and. sure enough, there was
the young Virginian lieutenant stand
ing on a 'barricade, his hat off, cheer
Ing hts men with superb show of
zeal. Not hair Of his head was miss
ing, 80 far as the glass could be relied
upon to show.
Oncle Jazon's quick old eyes saw the
CLEAN Of the telescope tube in the loop
hole
II never could shoot much" he NUT
tered. and then, a little bullet sped
with absolute accuracy from his dis
reputable looking rife and shattered
the object lens just lis Hamilton moved
to withdraw the glass, uttering an
ejaculation of intense excitement
"Such devils Of marksmen!'' said he,
and his face was haggard. THAT In
fernal Indian lied"
Il could have told you all the time
that the scalp Long Hair brought to
you was not Beverley's," said Helm
ipdiferentlx. y recognized Lieuten-