Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1904-02-18
Copyright. ,,ss. BY tn. sowEx-nERRilL COMPANY
By MAURICE

from base to roof. "What do you say,
Captain Farnswcrth? What do you
mean?'
The old man was transf0rmed. His
face was terrible to zee, with its mar
row, burning eyes deep under the
shaggy br0ws, its dark veins writing
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 spring.
| Farnsworth was made Of right SOL
dierly stuff, but he felt q distinct
shiver 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
him, while it stirred his heart with a
profound sympathy unlike anything he
had ever felt before.
Father Beret mastered himself in a
moment and, passing his hand over his
face, as If to brush away the excite
ment, sat down again on his stool. He
appeared to collapse inwardly.
"You must excuse the weakness of
an old man, my son." he said, in a
voice hoarse and shaking. But tell
me what is going to be done with
Alice. Your words-what you said-1
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 Beret. 1t
will be something devilish. however
something 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
tudinous dangers and all sorts of temp
tation, and who have learned the les
sons of self control, had an iron will,
and also an abiding distrust of weak
men. He saw Farnsworth's sincerity,
but he had no faith in his constancy,
although satisfied that while resent
ment Of Hamilton's imperiousness
lasted he would doubtless remain firm
in his purpose to aid Alice.
He listened in silence to Farms
worth's story. When it came to an
end he began to offer some but half
relevant suggestions in the form of
indirect cross questions, by means of
which he gradually drew out minute
description of Alice's prison, the best
way to reach it, the nature of it's door
fastenings. where the key was kept,
and everything, indeed, likely to be
helpful to one contemplating Jail de-
livery. Farnsworth was inwardly de-
lighted. He felt Father Beret's cum
ming approach to the central object and
his crafty method of gathering details
The shades Of evening thickened in
the stuffy cabin room while the con-
versation went on. Father Beret pres
emily lifted puncheon in one corner
Of the floor and got out large bottle.
which bore Il widowed and faded
! French label, and with it Il small iron
cup. There was just light enough left
to show Il brownish sparkle when,
i
a draft in the fresh cup and in his
own
| Eve may think more clearly. my son,
if we taste this old liquor have kept
it a long while to offer upon a proper
occasion. The occasion is here''
A ravishing bouquet quickly imbued
the air. 1t was itself an intoxication.
The brothers of st. Martin distilled
this liquor" Father Beret added.
handing the cup to Farnsworth. mot
| for common social drinking, my son,
but for times when man needs ex-
traordinary stimulation. 1t is said to
be surprisingly good because st. Mar
| tin blessed the vine.''
The doughty captain felt sudden
| and imperious thirst seize his throat
The liquor flooded his veins before his
lips touched the cup. He had been alb
staining lately: now his besetting ap-
petite rushed upon him. At one gulp
he took in the fiery yet smooth and
captivating draft. Nor did he notice
that Father Beret, instead Of joining
him in the potation, merely lifted his
cup and set it down again, smacking
his lips with gusto.
There followed silence, during
which the aromatic breath Of the bot
tie increased it's dangerous fascination.
Then Father Beret again filed Farms
worth's cup and said:
"Ah, the blessed monks little thought
that their matchless brew would ever
be slipped in poor missionary's hut
on the Wabash! But, after all, my
son, why not here as we'll as in sunny
France? Our object justifes any i'm.
sropriety OF time and place.
you are right, father. 1 drink tc
our object. Yes, say, to our object"
In fact, the drinking preceded his
speech, and his tongue already had a
loop in it. The liquor stole through
him, a mist Of bewildering and en-
chanting influence. The third cup
broke his sentences into unintelligibIe
fragments; the fourth made his under
Jaw sag loosely; the fifth and sixth,
taken In close succession, tumbled him
0mp on the dn0r where lNo alanf hiisa