Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1904-02-03

bloody murraln seize the whole racer
That's what I say" chimed in the
lieutenant. with sly look at Helm.
."They have been telling me a cock
and bull story concerning the affair at
the Roussillon cabin" Hamilton said.
changing his manner. What Is this
about a disguised and wonderful man
who rushed in and upset the whole of
you? I want no romancing. Give me
the facts"
Barlow's dissolute countenance be-
came troubled.
1.-THE facts" he said, speaking with
serious deliberation, ''are not clear. It
was like q clap Of thunder the way
that man performed. As you say, he
did fling the whole squad all Of a heap,
and it was done that quickly" he
snapped his thumb and finger demon
strauvely with sharp report, nobody
could understand it,
Hamilton looked at his subaltern
with smile of unlimited contempt and
said: ..<...:
"a pretty officer of his majesty's ar
my you are, Lieutenant Barlow! First
q slip of a girl shows herself your su-
perior with the sword and wounds you,
then a single man wipes up the floor Of
q house with you and your guard, de-
priving you at the same time OF both
vision and memory, SO that you cannot
even describe your assailant!"
HE was dressed like priest" NUT
tered Barlow, evidently frightened at
his commanders scathing comment.
''That was all there was to see.''
"A priest! Some of the men say the
devil l WONDER Hamilton hesitated
and looked at the floor. "This Father
Beret, he Is too old for such a thing,
isn't hep
II have thought Of HINT was like
him-but he is, as you say. very old
TO be SO tremendously strong and &C
tive. Why, l tell you that men went
from his hands against the walls and
floor as If shot out of mortar. 1t was
the strangest and most astounding
thing I ever heard Of"
A little later Barlow seized favora-
Bile opportunity and withdrew. The
conversation was not to his liking.
Hamilton sent for Father Beret and
had a long talk with him, but the old
man looked so childishly inoffensive in
spirit and SO collapsed physically that
It seemed worse than foolishness to &C.
cuse him Of the exploit over which the
entire garrison was wondering. Farms
worth sat by during the interview. he
looked the good priest curiously and
critically over from head to foot, re-
membering, but not mentioning, the
most unclerical punch In the side re-
ceived from that energetic right arm
now lying so fabbily across the old
mans lap.
When the talk ended and Father Be
ret humbly took his leave. Hamilton
turned to Farnsworth and said:
"What do you think Of this affair?
have cross questioned all the men who
took part in it, and every one Of then
says simply priest or devil. I think ole
Beret Is both. but plainly he couldn't
glance"
Farnsworth smiled, rubbing his side
reminiscently. but he shook his head.
"I'm sure it's puzzling, indeed"
Hamilton sat in thoughtful silence
for awhile, then abruptly changed thu
subject.
II think, captain, that you had bet
ter send out Lieutenant Barlow ant
some of the best woodsmen to kill some
game. We need fresh venison, and, BY
George, I'm not going to depend upo1
these French traitors any longer.
have set my foot down. They've got tt
do better or take the consequences
He paused for breath, then added
''That girl has done too much to escape
severest punishment The garrison will
be demoralized if this thing goes or
| without an example Of authority rig
idly enforced. am resolved that there
shall be startling and effective public
display Of my power to punish. She
shot you. You seem to be glad of it
but 1t was grave o6ense. She ha.
stabbed Barlow. That is another se
rious crime; but. worst Of all, she aid
ed spy and resisted arrest. She mus
be punished.
Farnsworth knew Hamilton's nature
and he now saw that Alice was IL
dreadful danger Of death or something
! even worse. No sooner had he lef
headquarters and given Barlow his in
structions touching the hunting exped1
ton than his mind began to wander
amid visions and schemes by no means
consistent with his military obligations
In order to reflect undisturbed he wen
forth into the dreary, lanelike streets Of
Vincennes and walked aimlessly here
and there until he met Father Beret.
Farnsworth saluted the old man ant
was passing him by when, seeing {
sword in his hand half hidden in thu
folds Of his worn and faded cassock, ht
| turned and addressed him:
"Why are you armed this morning
father?" he demanded very pleasantly
| "Who is to suffer now?"
| II am not ON the warpath, my son,
replied the priest. 1T Is but rapiel
that l am going to clean of rust spots
that are gathering on its blade"
rs 1t yours, father? Let me see it.
He held out his hand.
! mo: not mine."
| Father Beret seemed not to notic'
Farnsworth's desire to handle tn,
weapon, and the young man instead O
repeating his words reached farther
nearly grasping the scabbard.
II cannot let you take it, my son,
said Father Beret you have its mate
That should satisfy you"
mo; Colonel Hamilton took it,
Farnsworth quickly replied. "1f