Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1904-01-30
CHAPTER XXI
SOME TRANSACTIONS IN scALps.

historians nave their way, and
doubtless it would be thrilling
Romantic at every turn If the novel
were able to control it's current.
artunately neither one nor the other
has much influence, and the result in
Nf long run is that most novels are
Dcliingly tame, while the large body
ty history Ia loaded down with picfur-
uc incidents which If used in fiction
buld be thought absurdly romantic
"a improbable.
Mere our simple story of old Vim
bnes Il mere fiction we should hesi-
"a 20 bring in the explosion Of mag
lne at the fort with a view to sud
- confusion and by that means dis
citing attention from our heroine
lie she betakes herself out of sit
lion which, although delightful
tDugh for blessed minute, has quick
VI become an embarrassment quite un-
iurable. But we simply adhere to
established facts in history. Ow-
20 some carelcssness there was in
tfed an explosion of twenty-six o
tbund cartridges, which made a mighty
br and struck the newly installed
rrison into a heap, so to say, scatter
"a things terribly and wounding six
I'm, among them Captains Bowman
ID Worthington.
After the thunderous crash came a
Nomentary silence, which embraced
Hth the people within the fort and the
Bid crowd outside. Then the rush
Dd noise were indescribable. Even
bark gave way TO excitement, losing
Dmmand OF himself and Of course of
Is men. There was a stampede to-
Yard the main gate by one wing of the
toops in the hollow square. They lit
rally ran over Beverley and Alice,
Inging them apart and Jostling them
lther and yonder without mercy. or
tourse the turmoil quickly subside@
flark and Beverley got hold OF them.
Selves and sang out their peremptory
prders with excellent effect It was
ike oil on raging water. The men
fbeyed in struggling way, getting
back into ranks as best they could.
'Ventrebleur squeaked Oncle Jazon.
'Ef didn't think the ole world had
busted into million piecesw
He was jumping up and down not
three feet from Beverley's toes, waving
bis cap eXcitedly.
But wasn't skeertl va, va, va!
rlve la bannlere dAlice Roussillon!
give Zhorzh Vasintonw
Hearing Alice's name caused Bever-
icy TO look around. Where was she7
IA the distance he saw Father Beret
hurrying to the spot where some OF the
hen burned and wounded by the ex-
plosiOn were being stripped and cared
IDr. Hamilton still stood like a statue.
1e appeared TO be the only cool person
ID the fort.
"Where Is Alice - Miss RoussillOnl
Where did Miss RousslIlon goT Bev-
erley exclaimed, staring around like a
'pst man. "Where is shsP"
"D'know," said oncle Jazon, resum
bog his habitual expression Of droll dig
nity. "She shot apast me Jes' as thet
hing busted loose, an she went like er
hummin bird. skitch-jes' thet way
M didn't sec 'er no more, cause l
Fas skeert mighty nigh inter seven fits;
Bpect that 'splosion blowed her clean
twayl Ventrebleu! Never was so
bum outen breath an dead crazy weak
bein' afeard~
Lieutenant Beverley" roared Clark
b his most commanding tone, "go TO
he gate and settle things there! That
bob outside is trying to break inF'
The order was instantly obeyed, but
Beverley had relapsed. Once more his
tOul groped in darkness while the
Fhole Of hia life seemed unreal, a wav-
|ring, misty, hollow dream. And yet
Bis military duty was all real enough.
He knew just what 10 do when he
'eached the gate.
Back there at onceF he command
IA, not loudly, but with intense force,
hack thereg' This to the inward surg
ng wedge OF excited outsiders. Then
b the guard:
''ShOOt the first man who crosses the
Ineg'
"Ziffl me yoicil Moi! Gaspard Rous-
'lllon. Lalssez-moi passer, messieurs."
A great body hurled itself frantically
ast Beverley and the guard, going out
'hrOugh the gateway against the wall
q the crowd, bearing everything be
ore II and shouting:
Back, fools! You'll all be killed. The
.Owder is on fre! ziff! Run"
Wild as a March hare, he bristled
gith terror and foamed at the mouth.
BE stampeded the entire mass. There
Eas wild howl, a rush IN the other
Erection followed, and soon enough
|he esplanade and all the space back to
he barricades and beyond were quite
Deserted
Alice was not aware that a serious
eeeident had happened. Naturally she
thought the great, rafting, crashing
boise OF the explosion mere part or
he spectacular show. When the rush
Followed. separating her and Beverley,
y was a great relief TO her In some
way, for a sudden recognition OF the