Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1905-01-06
mot ready fer YOU vet"

of the dark alley, and tied thick cloth
over my eyes.
"Good luck!" D'ri cried out as they
took me away.
For both," answered as cheerfully
as I could.
They led me through winding pas
sages and iron doors, with that horri-
BILE clank Of the prison latch, and up
flights of stone till I felt as lost as one
might who falls whirling In the air
from great height We soon came
out upon walk Of gravel, where I
could feel the sweet air blowing into
my face. A few minutes more and we
halted, where the guard, who had hold
Of my elbow, rang a bell. As the door
swung open they led me In upon q
soft carpet. Through the cloth could
see light.
Bring him In, bring him int" a
voice commanded impatiently-a deep,
heavy voice the sound of which I have
not yet forgotten. The guard was
afraid Of 1t. His hand trembled az he
led me on.
Take OF the blindfold," said that
voice again.
AS it fell away, found myself in a
large and beautiful room. My eyes
were dazzled by the light Of many
candles, and for little had to close
them. stood before two men. One
sat facing me at a black table of carved
oak-a man Of middle age, in the uni
form of British general. Stout and
handsome, with brown eyes, dark hair
and mustache now half white, and
nose aquiline by the least turn, he Inn
pressed me as have few men that
ever crossed my path. A young man
sat lounging easily in big chair be-
side him, his legs crossed. his delicate
fingers teasing thin mustache. mo-
ticed that his hands were slim and
hairy. He glanced up at me as soon
as / could bear the light. Then he
sat looking idly at the carpet.
The silence of the room was broken
only by the scratch Of quill In the
hand Of the general. glanced about
me. On the wall was large painting
that held my eye. I saw presently
it was that Of the officer had fought
in the woods, the one who fell before
me. turned my head; the young man
was looking up at me. A fine set
Of teeth showed between them.
| do you know him?" he asked cool
ly.
ri have not the honor" was my re-
ply.
What is your manner" the general
demanded In the deep tone I had
heard before.
Pardon me-" said the young man,
quietly. as If he were now weary Of
the matter, "I do not think 1t neces-
sary."
There was bit of silence. The
general looked thoughtfully ct the
young man.
eff your lordship will let me" he
went on.
my dear Sir" the other interrupted
in the same weary and lethargic man.
ner, II can get more reliable knowledge
from other sources. Let the fellow &c
back"
THAT will do" said the general K
the gaurd, who then covered my eye
and led me back to prison.
4 Lying there in the dark, told, DIR
all knew of my mysterious Journey
My account Of the young man reused
him to the soul.
"Wha' kind Nv nose he'd he?" he
inquired.
1 Uporooo ,oid
"Bent in at the pint leetle?"
eyes"
.'And black hair shingled shortf"
EYES,"
can tall, an a kind Nv a nasty
snookin,' mis'able-lookin' cuss?"
"Just about the look Of him,"I said
"Judas Priest! He g one o. then
sneks ct TUX me when you was fightir
e other Teller over there n the woods.
Looks rather bad for u.s." l re
marked.
Does hev ruther squeaky LUX tev
It," said he. Cali we got t dew is
keep breathin' jest as nat'ral n cas-,
es we can be till we fergit how. Ma.
fool 'em fust they know"
had high notion, those days, o
the duty of soldier. My father ha
always told me there was no create
glory for anybody than that of BRAY
death. Somehow the feeling got to
part Of me. While had little fear q
death, dreaded to be shot like
felon. But should be dying for m,
country, and that feeling seemed Il
light the shadows. When I fell asleep
after much worry, 1t was to dream o
my three countrymen who had falle1
to their faces there by the corn.
awoke to find the guard in our cell
and D'ri and he whispering together
He had come with our breakfast.
| call want" D'ri was saying, Is {
piece Of iron, with sharp end, hal
es long es yer arm"
He made no answer, that big, sullen
bulldog man w. brought our food t
us. When he had gone, D'ri lay owe
and began laughing under his breath
i Ills thinker g goin' LUX sawmill.
he whispered. Would MT wonder e
It KEEP i'm awake nights. He was ask
In bout tibet air tew thousand dol
lars. IF they II let us alone fer thre
days. we IL be out O. here. Now, 20,
mark MY word"
| Howe" 1 inquired.
"Jest leetle job o. slidin' downhill,
he said. There's big drain-pipe goe
under this cell-t' the river, prob'ly
He says it s bigger n barrel"
We saved our candle that day, an
walked up and down, from wall t
wall, for exercise. Our hopes were higl