Courier Democrat., 1904-01-28

had no bnsiness with ye while your
parole held. I felt that it was best not
to tempt We to give me aid o. to let We
have knowledge Of me while was n
spy. I left two days before We did and
should have been at Kaskaskia by this
time if hadn't run across Jazon, who
detained me. He wanted to so with me,
and l waited for him to repair the
stock of his old gun. He tinkered ut it
tween meals and showers for half a
, week at the Indian village back yonder
before he got it just to suit him. But
l tell We he's wo'th waitin' for any
length of time. and I was glad to let
him have his way
keHton, who was still. a young man
in his early thirties, respected Bever-
ley's reticence on the subject upper
most in his mind. Nine. Godere had
told the whole story with famboyant
embellishments. Kenton had seen AL
! ice, and, inspired with the gossip and a
surreptitious glimpse Of her beauty, he
felt perfectly familiar with Beverley's
condition. He was himself victim Of
the tender passion to the extent of be-
ing an exile from his Virginia home,
which he had left on account of dan
gerously wounding rival. But he
was we'll touched with the backwoods-
mans taste for joke and banter. He
and Oncle Jazon, therefore, knowing
the main feature of Beverley's predica-
ment, enjoyed making the most of their
| opportunity in their rude but perfectly
generous and kindly way.
By indirection and impersonal de-
tails, as regarded his feelings toward
Alice, Beverley in due time made his
| friends understand that his whole am.
bition was centered in rescuing her.
Nor did the motive fail to enlist their
sympathy to the utmost. If all the
world loves lover all men having the
best virile instinct will fight for low
| er's cause. Both Kenton and Oncle ia.
zon were enthusiastic. They wanted
nothing better than an opportunity to
aid in rescuing any girl who had shown
SO much patriotism and pluck. But
Oncle Ja2on was fond of Alice, and
Beverley's story affected him peculiar
ly on her account.
"They's one question I'm a-goin' to
put to ye, young man." he said after lie
had heard everything and they had
talked it all over, "an' want We to an
swer it straight as bullet f'om yer
gun"
"Of course, Jazon. Go ahead" said
Beverley. Il shall be glad to answer"
But his mind was far away with the
gold haired maiden in Hamilton's pris.
on. He scarcely knew what he was
saying.
Air We expectin' to marry Alice
Roussillon:'
Beverley started as if blow had
been aimed at him. Oncle Jazon's
question indeed was blow as unex.
pected as it was direct and powerful.
II know it's pooty p'inted,'' the old
man added after short pause. IAN We
may think thet amt got no business
askin' it. but have. That leetle gals
a pet O. mine, an I'm a-lookin' after
her an expectin' to see thet she's not
bothered by nobody who's not goin' TO
do right by her. Marryin' is mighty
good thing, BUT
kenton had been peeping under tie
low hanging scr.b oak boughs while
Oncle Jazon was speaking these last
words. and ;jov. liz. suddenly interrupt
ed:
1.-The deuce! Look yonderv' he growl
ed out in startling tone. "Injunsw
1t was sharp snap of the conversa-
tions thread. and at the same time our
three friends realized that they had
been careless in not keeping better
lookout. They let fall the meat they
had not yet finished eating and seized
their guns.
Five or six dark forms were moving
toward them across little point of the
prairie that cut into the wood a quarter
Of mile distant.
'Yander's more Of em,' said Oncle
Jazon. as if not in the least concerned.
wagging his head in an opposite direc-
ton, from which another squad was
approaching.
That he duly appreciated the situa-
tlon appeared only in the celerity with
which he acted.
Kenton at once assumed command,
and his compa mons felt his perfect fit
ness. There was no doubt from the
first as to what the Indians meant, but
even If there had been it would have
soon vanished, for in less than three
minutes twenty-one savages were
swiftly and silently forming circle in
closing the spot where the three white
men, who had covered themselves as
best they could with trees, waited in
grim steadiness for the worst.
Quite beyond gunshot range, but near
enough for Oncle Jazon to recognize
Long Hair as their leader, the Indians
halted and began making signs to one
another all round the line. Evidently
they dreaded to test the craftsmanship
Of such rifemen as they knew most
border men to be. Indeed Long Hair
had personal knowledge of what might
certainly be expected from both Ken
ton and Oncle Jazon. They were terri
bic when out for fight. The red war
ySoss from Georgia to the great lakes
had heard of fhom: their names smack