Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1904-02-12

on the Richelleu, ana was grad enough
to take up this chance of finding you
farther to the West. And now, by the
Justice of heaven, as l have said, !
have found you easily"
And has Sir Arthur gone to sheriff
Ing? Has my friend become constable?
Is Sir Arthur a spy? Because, look
you, this is not London, nor yet New
France, nor Albany. This is Messa-
sebe! This is my valley. l rule here.
Now, If kings, or constables, or even
spies, wish to find John Law-why
here is John Law. Now watch your
people, and go you carefully here, else
that may follow which will be i'll ex-
tinguished."
l Pembroke flung down his sword upon
the ground in front of him.
You are lucky, Mr.. Law" said he,
lucky as ever But surely, never was
man SO eminently deserving of death
as yourself"
you do me very much honor, Sir
Arthur" replied Law. Here is your
sword. SIR" STOPPING, he picked it up
and handed it to the other. IT did
but i'll If refused to accord satisfac-
ton to one bringing me such speech as
that. IT'S well you wear your weap-
ons, Sir Arthur, since you come thus
as emissary of the Great Peace! know
you for a gentleman, and shall ask
no parole Of you tonight; but mean
time, let us wait until tomorrow,
when promise you shall be eager
as yourself. Come! We can stand
here guessing and talking no longer.
I am weary of it."
They came now to the gate of the
stockade, and there Pembroke stood
for a moment in surprise and perplex-
tty. He was not prepared to meet this
dark-haired, wide-eyed girl, clad in
native dress of skin, with tinkling
metals at wrist and ankle, and on her
feet the tiny, beaded shoes. For her
part, Mary Connynge, filled with
woman's curiosity, was yet less pre-
pared for that which appeared before
her-an apparition, as ran her first
thought, come to threaten and alright.
ling tongue but half forming the words.
Her eyes stared in terror, and beneath
her dark skin the blood shrank away
and left her pale. She recoiled from
him, her left hand carrying behinS der
instinctively the babe that lay a her
arm.
Sir Arthur bowed, but found no
word. He could only look questioning
ly at Law.
Madam" said the latter, "Sir Ar
thur Pembroke Journeys through as
the messenger of Lord Bellomont, gov
ernor at Albany, to spread peace among
the Western tribes He has by mere
chance blundered upon our valley, and
will delay over night. 1t seemed we'll
you should be advised
Mary Connynge, gray and pale, bag
gard and Mortified, dreading all things
and knowing nothing, found no manner
of reply. Without word she turned
and fled back into the cabin.
Sir Arthur once more looked about
him. Motioning to the others of the
party to remain outside the gate, Law
led him within the stockade. On one
hand stood Pierre Noir, tall, silent,
impressive as savage, leaning
upon his gun and fixing on
the red coat of the English uniform an
eye none too friendly. Jean Breboeuf,
his piece half ready and his voluble
te-e~~~l.~as4----.s he point at @hraakino..
over restraint, Law aquieted with a
gesture. Back of these, ranged in a
silent yet watchful group, their weap-
ons well in hand, stood numbers Of the
savage allies of this new war-lord.
Pembroke turned to Law again.
"You are strongly stationed, sir; but
do not understand"
at is my home"
But yet-why?"
"As well this as any, where one
leaves an old life and begins a new"
said Law. "Tis as good a place as
any if one would leave all behind, and
II. he would forget"
"And this-that is to say-madam?"
Sir Arthur stumbled in his speech.
John Law looked him straight in the
eye, slow, sad smile upon his face
"Had we here the plank of poor La
Sale his ship" said he, 1--WE might
nail the message of that other rene
gade above our door-'Nous sommes
tous sauvages!'"