Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-01-19
CHAPTER XIv.-(Continued.}

Cling with the strange charm OF Snny
encounter. Head bent, hands Sclasped
behind me. I walked the floor, striving
to anaiyze this oma who had now
twice crossed me. on the trail of fate,
this fair woman whose bright eyes
were q menace and a challenge and
whose sweet, curved mouth was set
there al eternal p~rovocation to saint
and sinner.
There came a timid scratching at the
door. I opened 1t, and Mount sided in.
He regarded me doubtfully, but sat
down when hidden and began to COM
plain:
sNow, ii, you are minded to chide me
for taking, the road Pm going out
again. l can't bear any more, lad, that
/ can't-what with Cade gone and me
in rags! I'm done with the highway
save to pat 1t smooth with my feet.
Lord, lad, IT'S not for the money, but
for sport. And soon there'll be fighting
enough to fill my stomach. Mark me,
the crocus that buds white this spring
will swither red as blood ere it's fou1ed
petals fall!
Warp 1 asked, thrilling to hear
him.
He rose and gazed at me most ear
nestly.
AYE, surely, surely in the spring.
Cad! Boston is that surfeited with
redcoats now that when they cram
down more next spring she can but
throw them up to keep her health.
Waltz Bostonsis sick in bone and body,
but In the spring she takes her purge.
Oh, I know" he cried, with a strange,
prophetic stare in his eyes. II have
word from Shemuel. Now he's off to
Boston with the news from Cresap.
And I tell you, lad. that the first half
moon Of April will start q devil loose
In this broad land that state or clergy
cannot exorcise!
"Not a DEVIL" he corrected himself
slowly; "no, not a thing from hell, but
that same swift angel sent to chasten
worlds with fire. Dunmore. will burn,
and Butler. AS for, the, rest, the hon.
est, the rascals, the wit1ess, the soul
less, thieves, poltroons, .usqrers. and
the vast army of well meaning loyal
fools. they wifi be cleared out g this
our worldwide temple whose roof is
the sky and whose pillars are our high
pines-clenred out, secured out, up
rooted, driven forth like those same
money changers in the temple scourg-
ed by Christ-nnd God is witness I, a
sinner, no blasphemy, spite Of
all the sweating load O. guilt I bear"
Where got you such phrases, Jack?'
! asked. ut is not jack Mount who
speaks to me like a crazed preacher IN
the south who shouts the slaves around
him to repent"
Mount looked at me. The dazed, Ia
natic light in his eyes faded slowly.
~ have a book here" he muttered-
ID book I purchased in Johnstown of
q man who sold many to patriots.
Doubtless grief for Cade and my pri-
vations and my coming this same
book while starving make me light
headed yet"
What book is thatT" I asked.
TIE Rights OF Man."
RI also would be glad to read It"
"Read, lad! 'Tis fodder for King
Georges cattle, such as we. And the
little calves our wenches cast, they,
too, shall feed on it, though they can
not utter. moo for their own mothers
milk!'
Jack, JOCK cried, you are strange
" changed! Why did you desert me,
JackT' I asked, sitting chin on hand
to watch him smoke the pine which no
kind fate had filed for him since he
left Johnstown.
Faith, I hung about with Cade, do
ing no harm, sitting in the sun to wait
for news from you. Mr.. Duncan, q
kind officer, gave us news and made
us welcome on the benches in front Of
the guardhouse, and Mistress Warren
would have us to a with her, only l
was ashamed. But Cade went and
supped with her"
"What did Sir John doT I asked,
growing red. Surely he thanked you
and Cade for saving his kinsman's life.
Surely he made you welcome at the
Hall, JACK"
Surely he did nothing of the kind"
erunted Mount. putting his pipe. "Sir
John sent word to the guard that we
had best find quarters in Johnstown
taverns and not set the hounds bark
ing in his kennels.
1t was like a blow in the face to me.
Jack saw it and laughed.
$50 we went to Rideup's old camp"
he continued; "a fair inn where a man
may drink to whom he pleases and no
questions asked nor any yokel to bawl
God save the kins!' or turn your ale
sour with Tory whining. And there 1
lay and tippled, lad. I'll not deny it.,
no! Like a fish in sweet water my
gills did open and shut while the ale
flowed into me day and night.
'Cade never drank. Cad, how that
man changed since he saw your sweet
Mistress Warren there on the hillock
at Roanoke. plain! Mad, lad, quite
mad. But such a dear, good comrade.
IL an scarce speak O him but I wink
with tears"