Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1905-03-16

D'ri and |
By IRVING BACHELLER
Author Of Ebsn Holden" Darrell Of
the Blessed Isles" Etc.
1901, by IothTop Publishing Company.
CHAPTER XIII.-CoNTINuED.


Some seconds of brief silence fol-
lowed. | could hear them slowly drip
ping out of eternity in the tick of
watch near me. | felt the stare of
many eyes invisible to me. A broad
beam of bright light shot through the
gloom, resting full upon my face. |
started back upon the strong hands
behind me. Then | felt my muscles
tighten as began to measure the fall
end to wonder if | could clear the
bayonetS. | had no doubt | was to
die shortly, and it mattered not to
me how, bound as | was, so that it
came soon. For breath of silence my
soul went up to the feet of God for
help and hope. Then | bent my knees
and leaped. saw much as my body
went rushing through the air an
empty grave, its heap of earth be-
side it, an island of light, walled
with candies, in sea of gloom,
faces showing dimly in the edge
of the darkness. Thank Cod!
/ shall clear the bayonets." |
thought, and struck heavily on a soft
mat, covered over with green turf, a
little beyond that bristling bed
staggered backward, falling upon it.
TO my surprise, it bent beneath me.
They were no bayonets, but only shells
of painted paper. | got to my feet
none the worse for jumping and as
dumfoundeG as ever man could be.
l stood on lot of broken turf with
which a wide floor had been oyerlaid.
Boards and timbers were cut away, and
the grave dug beneath them. [ saw
Cne face among others in the gloom
beyond the candle rows-that of his
lordship. He was coming up a little
flight of stairs to where | stood. He
moved the candles, making a small
passage, and came up to me.
You're a brave man." said he, in
that low, careless tone of his.
And you a coward" was my an
sWer, for the sight of him had made
ME burn with anger.
Don't commit yourself on a point
like that said he, quickly, for, you
know. we are not well acquainted. |
like your pluck, and | offer you what
is given to few here-an explanation"
lie paused, lighting a cigarette. |
stood looking at him. The cold DO
likeness OF manner with which he had
taken my taunt, his perfect self-mas-
terry, filled me with wonder. He was
no callow youth, that man, whoever
he might be. He was boring at the
floor with the end of a timber cane
as he continued to address me.
Now, look here" he went on, with
a little gesture of Lis left hand be-
tween the fingers of which a cigarette
was burning. You are now in the
temple OF patriotic society acting with
no letters patent, but in the good cause
of his Most Excellent Majesty King
George Ill, to whom be health and
happiness"
AS he spoke the name he raised his
hat, and a cheer came from all sides
of us
1T is gathered this night" he con-
ttnued, ITO aVenge the death of Lord
Ronley, friend of his Majesty, and of
many here present, and an honored
member Of this order. For his death
you, and you alone are responsible,
"'"' We SUSPECT, uiuci circumstances
of no credit to your sword. Many of
our people have been cut off from
their comrades and slain by cowardly
stealth, have been led into ambush and
cruelty cut to pieces by overwhelming
number, have been shut in prison and
done to death by starvation or by
stabs of knife taarn in your country.
Not content with the weapons of a