Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1904-02-25

was gaming upon Alice ana
would soon overtake her, it
added fresh energy to his limbs. He
had quickly realized the foolishness of
what he had done in visiting the room
Of his prisoner at so late an hour in
the night. What would his officers and
men think? To let Alice escape would
be extremely embarrassing, and to be
seen chasing her would give good
ground for ridicule on the part of his
entire command. Therefore his first
thought, after passing through the pos
tern and realizing fully what sort of
predicament threatened him, was to re-
capture her and return her to the
prison room in the blockhouse without
attracting attention. This now prom
ised to be an easier task than he had
at first feared, for In the moonlight,
which on account Of the dispensing
clouds was fast growing stronger, he
saw her seem to- falter and weaken.
Certainly her fight was checked and
took an eccentric turn, as If some OBJ
struction had barred her way. He
rushed on, not seeing that as Alice
swerved man interviewed. Indeed,
he was within few strides of laying
his hand on her when he saw her make
the strange movement. 1t was as if,
springing suddenly aside, she had be-
come two persons instead of one. But
instantly the figures conceded again,
and in becoming taller faced about and
confronted him.
Hamilton stopped short in his tracks.
The dark figure was about five PAGES
from him. 1t was not Alice. and a
sword flashed dimly but Enthusiastically
in a ray of the moon. The motion Wis
tble was that Of an expert swordsman
placing himself firmly on his legs. with
his weapon at guard.
Alice saw the man in her path Just
In time to avoid running against him.
Lightly as a flying bird when it whisks
itself in short semicircle past tree
or bough she sprang aside and
swslng around to the rear of him.
where she could continue her course
toward the town. But in passing she
recognized him. 1t was Father Beret.
and how grim he looked! The discov-
cry was made in the twinkling of an
eye. and its effect was instantaneous.
not only checking the force of her
fight. but stopping her and turning
her about to gaze before she had gone
five PAGES farther.
Hamilton's nerve held, startled as he
was, when he realized that an armed
man stood before him. Changing the
rapier. which he held in his right
hand, over into his left. he drew q
small pistol from the breast of his
coat and fired. The report was sharp
and loud, but it caused no uneasiness
or inquiry in the fort owing to the
fact that Indians invariably emptied
their guns when coming into the town.
Hamilton's aim, although hasty, was
not bad. The bullet from his weapon
cut through Father Beret's clothes be-
tween his left arm and his body, slight
ly creasing the flesh on rib. Beyond
him it struck heavily and audibly.
Alice fell limp and motionless to the
soft, wet ground, where cold puddles Of
water We're splintered over with ice.
She lay pitifully crumpled, one arm
outstretched in the moonlight. Father
Beret heard the bullet hit her and
turned in time to see her stagger back
ward with hand convulsively pressed
over her heart. Her face, slightly up
turned Us she ,reeled. gave the moon a
pallid target for Its strengthening rays.
Sweet beautiful. its rigid i. features
dashed for u second and hen half
turned from the light and . down.