Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1904-02-16
NUMBER 7.

gleam OF The telescope tube III III" 'Ooi-
hole.
81 never could shoot much" he mat
tered. and then little bullet sped
with absolute accuracy from his dis
reputable looking rife and shattered
the object lens just as Hamilton moved
to withdraw the glass. uttering an
ejaculation of intense excitement.
such devils OF marksmen.' said he,
and his face was haggard. THAT in
fernal Indian lied"
81 could have told you all the time
that the scalp Long Hair brought to
you was not Beverley's," said Helm
indifferently. II recognized Lieuten-
ant Barlow's hair as soon as saw IT.
This was another piece Of oifhand
romance. Helm did not dream that
he was accidentally sketching "A hOrri-
BILE truth.
"Rarlows exclaimed FarnswOrth.
Yes Barlow's. no mistake
Two more men reeled from port
hole, the blood spinning far ont Of
their wounds. Indeed. through every
aperture in the walls the bullets We're
now humming like mad hornets.
Close that porthole"' stOrmed Ham
iltOn. Then turning to Farnsworth he
added: We cannot endure this long.
Shut up every place large enough for
bullet tO get through. Go all around.
give strict orders t0 all See that the
men do not foolishly expose them
selves Those rutiians ont there have
located every crack
His glimpse OF Beverley and thu
sinister remark OF Helm had com
plctply unnamed him before his mel
fell Now il rushed upon him that II
he would escape the wrath OF the mad
dened cre0les and the en.cance OF
Alice's lover he must quickly throw
himself upon the mercy Of Clark. II
was his only hope. He chaf2d In
wardy. but bore himself with stern
cOolness. He presently sought Farm
worth. pulled him aside and suggested
that something must be done TO pre-
vent an assault and a massacre. The
sounds outside seemed to forebode
gathering for desperate rush, ana In
his heart he felt all the terrors Of aw
| full anticipation.
I'VE are completely ut their mercy;
that is plain" he said. Struggling his
shoulders and gazing at the wounded
men writhing in their agony. What
| do you suggest:
Captain FarnSworth Was = Hhr"wd
| officer. He r2col!cctcd that Philip De
| lean. Justice of Detroit. WAS on his
| WAY down the Wabash from that post
| and probably near at hand with a ilo-
tilla of men and supplies. Why not
ask for a few days of truce: 1t could
do no harm and ii agreed 10 might he
their salvation. Hamilton jumped ut
the thought and forthwith drew up 4
| note which he sent out with white
hag. Never before in all his military
| career had he been 50 cOmfortcd by Il
| sudden cessation of lighting. His soul
would grovcl in spite of him. Alice's
cold face now had Beyerley's beside IL
| in his field of inner vision-a double
assurance of impending doom. 1t SEEM
ed 10 him.
There was short delay in the arrival
of Colonel Clarks reply. hastily scrawl-
| ed on bit of soiled paper. The request
| for Il truce was fatty refused, but the
note closed thus:
"lf Mr.. Hamilton is DESTROYS OF a
| Conference with Col. Clark. he VIII
meet him at the Church with Captn.
Helms
The spelling was not very good ana
there was redundancy of capital let
| trrs. vet Hamilton understood il all
| and il WAS very difficult for him to
| conceal his haste 10 attend the pro-
| posed conference. But he was afraid
| To go Ia the church-the thought chilled
| him. He could not face Father Beret
who would probably be there. And
| what If there should be evidences or
| the funeral? What if?- He shuddered
and tried to break away from the
vision in his tortured brain.
He sent proposition to Clark TO
meet him on the csplanade before the
main gate of the fort. but Clark de-
clined. insisting upon the church. And
thither he ut last consented to 20. IL
was an immense brace to his spirit TO
have Helm beside him during that
walk. which. although but eighty yards
I'm extent. seemed To him matter of
leagues. On the way he had 10 pass
near the new position taken up by
Beverley and his men. 1t was hne
test Of nerve when the licutenants $
eyes met those Of the governor. Nei'
ther man permitted the slightest change
of countenancc to bctray his feelings
In fact. Beverley's face was as rigid IA
marble: he could not have changed II.
Father Beret was indeed present ut
the church. ms Hamilton had dreaded.
and the two duelists gave each other a
rapier-like eye thrust. Neither spoke
however. and Clark Immediately de-
mandcd a settlement OF the matter in
hand. He was brusque and imperious
to y degree. apparently rather anxious
To repel every peaceful advance.
fro BE CONTINUED