Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1904-06-23
CHAPTER XII.
. RArIER THRUST.

gard his parole.
He would be quite justified in do
ing it. You know that very WELL" said
Helm. with laugh. "And he's just the
man to undertake what is impossible.
OF course he'll get scalped for his
trouble. and that will cost you some
thing. I'm happy to say"
1T is a matter of sman Importance, -
Hamilton replied. ''but I'll wager you
the next teddy that he's not at the
present moment a half mile from this
spot. He may be Il fool-I readiiy
grant that he is-but even fool is not
going to set out alone in this kind of
weather to go to where your rebel
friends are probably toasting their
shins by the fire of green logs and half
starving over yonder on the Missis-
sippi."
Joking aside, you are doubtless
right Beverley is hot headed, and If
he could he'd get even with you quick
enough, but he hasn't left vincennes,
| think. Miss RoussilIon would keep
him here If the place were on fire"
Hamilton laughed dryly. He had
thought just what Helm was saying.
Beverley's attention to Alice had not
escaped his notice.
Speaking of that girl" he remarked
after moments silence, what am /
to do with her? There's no place to
keep her, and Farnsworth insists that
she wasn't to blame" He chuckled
again and added:
Its true as gospel. He's in love
with her too. Seems to be glad she
shot him. Says he's ashamed of him
self for ever suspecting her Of any
thing but being a genuine angel. Why,
he's got as fabby as a rabbit and num-
bles like fool"
"Same as You or | at his age" said
Helm, taking q chew of tobacco. "Shc
is a pretty thing. Beverley doesn't
know his foot from his shoulder blade
when she's anywhere near him. Boys
are boys. I'm sort of boy myself"
IF she'd give up that flag Id let her
60" said Hamilton. Il hate to coniine
her. 1t looks brutal and makes me feel
like tyrant."
Have you ever happened to notice
the obvious fact, Governor Hamilton
that Alice Roussillon and Father Beret
are not all the French in Vincennes|
what do you mean?"
81 mean that / don't for q moment
believe that either the girl or the priest
knows thing about where that flag is.
They are both as truthful and honor
able as people ever get to be. l know
nix
from under the priests floor. You may
depend upon that. If Miss Roussillon
knew where it is she'd say so and then
dare you to make her tell where it's
hidden"
"Oh, the whole town is rotten with
treason. That's very clear There's
not loyal soul in it outside of my
forces"
"Thank you for not including me
among the loyalists."
"Humph! / spoke OF these French
people. They pretend TO be true, but l
believe they are all traitors"
You can manage them If you try. A
little jolly kindness goes long way
with 'em. I had no trouble Willie l
held the town."
Hamilton bit his lip and was silent.
Helm was exasperatingly good tenn
pered, and his jocularity was irresist-
ible. While he was yet speaking a
guard came up, followed by Jean, the
hunchback, and, saluting, said to Ham
ilton;
"The lad wants to see the young lady,
sir"
Hamilton gazed quizzically at Jean,
who planted himself in his habitual
attitude before him and stared up into
his face with the grotesque expression
which seems to be characteristic OF
hunchbacks and unhedged birds-thc
look Of an embodied and hideous joke.
"Well, sir, what will you hayeE the
governor demanded.
81 want to see Alice, if you please"
"What for?"
81 want to give her book to read"
"Ah. indeed. Where is it? Let me
see it,
Jean took from the breast Of his loose
jerllin a small volume, dog cared and
mildewed, and handed it to Hamilton.
Meantime he stood first on one foot,
then on the other, gnawing his thumb
nail and blinking rapidly.
"Wel., Helm, just look here?'
"WhatT'
Haven't you ever read itT
"Read whatT
'This novel"
"Never read a novel in my life; never
expect to-"
Hamilton laughed freely at Helms
expense, then turned to Jean and gave
him back the book.
1t would have been quite military
had he taken the precaution to examine
| between the pages for something hid
den there, but he did not.
"Go give it to her." he said, "and tell
her l send by compliments, with great
| admiration of her taste in literature"
| He motioned the soldier to show Jean
to Alice. ITS French story" he
| added. addressing Helm, enough to
make a pirate blush. That's the sort OF
| girl Mile. Roussillon is''
; II don't care what kind of Il book
she reads" blurted Helm. shes a
fine, pure, good girl. Everybody likes
| her. She's the good angel of this mis-
! cradle frog hole of town. You'd like
| her yourself If you'd straighten UP
| and quit burning tow in your brain all
| the time. You're always so furious
| about something that you never have
chance to be just to yourself OF
| pleasant to anybody else"
"If 1 had got furious at you every
| time there was Overwhelming provoca.
| tion for it," Hamilton said, you'd have
been long since hanged or shot.
| fancy that / have shown angelic for
bearance. I've given you somewhat
more than prisoners freedom"
| $50 you have, so you have" assented
Helm. 1--WE often been surprised at
your generous partiality in my case.
Let's have some hot water with some.
thing else in it. What do you say?
won't give you any more advice for
five minutes by your watch"
"But want some advice Mt once"
"What aboutF
"That girl"
"Turn her loose. That's easy and
reputable"
"Tll have to, l presume, but she