Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1904-02-04

captain F0fnSWOrtN TOOK us I0lf
prisoner straightway from Hamilton's
presence to a small room connected
with considerable structure in dis
tant angle of the stockade. Neither he
nor Alice spoke on the way. With
huge wooden key he unlocked the door
and stepped aside for her to enter. A
dim lamp was burning within, its gel
lowish light Pickering over the scant
furniture, which consisted of COM
Portable bed, table with some books
on 1t. three chairs. 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 falter at the threshold. but prompt
~ entered her prison.
II hope you can be comfortable"
said Farnsworth in low tone. "It's the
best can give you"
''Thank you," was the answer, spoken
quite as if he had handed her a 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
q prisoner, and that it belonged to a
man. A long rife stood in a corner. a
bullet pouch and powder horn hanging
on projecting hickory ramrod. A
heavy fur topcoat 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.
In due time next morning Hamilton
ordered Alice brought to his Office, and
when she appeared he was smiling
with as near an approach to affability
as his disposition would permit. He
rose and bowed like courtier.
II hope you rested we'll. mademoi-
selle," he said in his best French. He
imagined that the use Of her language
would be agreeable to begin with.
II am sorry, monsieur, that cannot
say as much to you.' she glibly re-
sponded. eff you lay upon a 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
Farnswortl. who had brought her in.
biting his lip furiously to keep from
adding an uproarious guffaw, he lost
all hold of himself.
expect decency from Il wench of your
character" he said. Il hoped to do
you favor. but see that you are not
capable of accepting kindness politely"
II 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 K:
softness, freshness and suavity, h"i. ed
the assault of her eyes. Willie hrr dim
pies twinkled and her hair shone.
Hamilton felt Ills llo;, IT move strangely,
but he could not ss0ibear saving in Eng
lish:
If you are SO very truthful, miss.
you Will probably tell me where the
flag is that you stole and hid
1t was always the missing banner
that came to mind when he saw her.
Indeed 1 will do nothing of the
Sort" she promptly replied. when
you see that flag again you will be a
prisoner, and l will wave it high over
your head
She lifted hand as she spoke and
made the motion Of shaking banner
above him. 1t was evaporation sweet
ened almost to delight that took hold Of
the sturdy Briton. He liked pluck, es-
pecially in a 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.
"You think to fling yourself upon me
as you have upon Captain Farms
WORTH" he said, with an insulting leer
and in tone Of prurient innuendo. Il
am not susceptible, my dear" This
more for Farnsworth's benefit than to
insult her, albeit he was not in nooa
to care.
''You are a coward and liar" she
exclaimed, her face flushing with i,cf
shame. "You stand here" she G'i -
added, turning fiercely upon FL y
worth "and quietly listen to such
words! You, too, are a coward if you
do not make him retract! oh. you Eng
lish are low brutesv'
Hamilton laughed, but Farnsworth
looked dark and troubled, his glance
going back and forth from Alice to his
commander as IL another word would
cause him to do something terrible.
II rather think I've heard all that I
care to hear from you, miss" Hamil-
ton presently said. Captain Farms
worth. you will oee that the prisoner ia