Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1904-07-28

love Alce RolSSiIiOn.
Love il holy thing. my son Amare
divinum est ct humanum."
Father Beret. can you help me"
Spiritually speaking. my SOM"
Il mean can you hide Mile Roussii-
lon in some safe place If take her out
of the prison yonder? That's just what
l mean. Can you do it?'
Your question is a remarkable one.
Have you thought upon it from all d.
rections, my son? Think of your po-
sition, your duty as an officer"
A shrewd polemical exp I beam
ed from Father Beret's :. and a
very expert hysicgnomist might have
suspected duplicity from certain lines
about the old mans mouth.
81 simply know that / cannot stand
by and see Alice-Mlle. Roussillon-
forced to suffer treatment too beastly
for an Indian thief. That's the only
direction there Is for me to look at Ii
from, and you can understand my
feelings IL you will. You know that
very well, Father Beret When q man
yves a girl he loves her; that's the
tl.oie thing"
The quiet, inscrutable half smile
Eickered once more on Father Beret's
face, but he sat silent some time with
a sinewy forefinser lying alongside his
nose. When at last he spoke it was
in q tone of voice Indicative of small
interest in what he was saying. His
words rambled TO their goal with the
effect Of happy accident.
There are places in this neighbor-
hood in which human being would be
as hard to find as the flag that you
and Governor Hamilton have so dill
gently and unsuccessfully been In
quest Of for the past month or two.
Really. my son, this is a mysterious
little town"
Farnsworth's eyes widened and a
dush rose in his swarthy cheeks.
Hang the fagv' he exclaimed. Let
II lie hidden forever. What do / care?
l tell you. Father Beret. that Alice
Roussilon Is in extreme danger. Gov
ernor Hamilton means 10 put some
terrible punishment on her. ;Ic has a
devils vindictiveness. He showed 1t
to me clearly aWnlle ago.
"You showed something of the same
sort to me, once upon n time, my son."
Eyes, | did, Father Beret, and / got
IL load OF slugs In my shoulder for 1t
from that brave girls pistol She
saved your life. Now | ask you to
help me save hers, or II not her life
what Is infinitely more, her honor"
Her honorv cried Father Beret,
leaping to his feet so suddenly and
with such energy that the cabin shook
from base to roof. "NYhat do you say,
Captain Farnsworth? What do you
meanH
The old man was transformed. His
row, burning eyes deep under the
shaggy brows, its dark veins writhing
snakelike ON the temples and forehead,
the projected mouth and chin, the hard
lines Of the jaws, the iron gray CLEAN
from all the features-he looked like an
aged tiger stiffened for a spring
Farnsworth was made OF right sol
dierly stun, but he felt distinct
shlver fit along his back. His past
life had not lacked thrilling adventures
and strangely varied experiences with
desperate men. Usually he met sudden
emergencies rather calmly. sometimes
with phlegmatic Indifference. This
passionate outburst on the priests
part, however, surprised him and awed
him, while It stirred his heart with a
profound sympathy unlike anything he
had ever felt before
Father Beret mastered himself in n
moment and, passing his hand over his
face, as II TO brush away the excite
ment, sat down again on his stool. He
appeared to collapse iDwardly.
"You must excuse the weakness Of
an old man, my son." he said, In
voice hoarsc and shaking. But tell
me what IL going TO be done with
Alice. Your words-what you saId-I
did not understand"
He rubbed his forehead slowly, as
one who has difficulty in trying to col
lect his thoughts.
II do not know what Governor Ham-
ilton means to do. Father Eeret. II
VIII be something devliish, however,
that must not happen" said
Farnsworth.
Father Beret, like most men Of strong
feeling who have been subjected to
long years OF trial, hardship. multi
tudlnous dangers and all sorts OF temp
tation, and who have learned the les
sons of self control, had nn iron will,
and also an abiding dlstrust OF weak
men. He snw Farnsworth's sincerity.
but he had no faith In his constancy.
although satisfied that while resent
mcnt OF Hamilton's imperiousncss
lasted he would doubtless remain firm
In his purpose TO aid Alice.
lie listened In silence TO Farms
worth's story. When II came to an
end he began TO offer some but half
suggestions In the form OF
Indirect cross questions, by means Of
which he gradually drew out minute
OF Allcc's prison. the best
wny TO reach It, the nature of It's door
where the key was kept,
and everything. indeed, likely TO be
helpful TO one contemplating a Jail dc
livery. Farnsworth was inwnrdly do.
lighted. He felt Father Berct's cum
ming approach 10 the central object and
his crafty method OF gathering details.
The shades Of evening thlckened I'm
the stulry cabin room while the con
vcrsatlon went on. Father Bcrct pres
entity lifted puncheon in one corner
Df the floor md got out large bottle,
which bore n mlldewcd and faded
French label and with II small Iron
rup. There was just light enough left
10 show brownlsh sparkle when,
utter popping out the cork. he poured
4 draft IN the fresh cup and In his
Jwn.
1--WE mny think more clearly. my son,
n we tnste this old liquor. have kept |
L long while to offer upon proper |
,ccnslon. The occasion Is here"
A rnvishlng bouquet quickly imbued |
he mir. II was itself nm lntoxicntion.
Tho brothers OF 81. Martin distilled |
his liquor" Father Bcrct added, |
handling the cup 10 Fnrnsworth. mot |
'or common social drinking. my son.
,ut for times when man needs OK
stimulation II In said 10
20 surprisingly good because ~. Mar
in blessed the vine"
The doughty captain felt n sudden
Ind inperjous thirst seize bis throat.
rhc liquor flooded his veins before his
ips touched tho CUP. He hnd been nb. ]
tainlua lately; now his bcscttiDg mp
,etlte rushed upon him. Al one gulp
10 took In the fiery vet smooth md !