The Holly chieftain., 1905-10-27
CHAPTER XVI.
Under One Flag.


crmstances is to keep on the watch
and guard against the approach of a
train.
So, while the senor and Smithers
walk down the line dozen or so
yards, with the avowed intention of
building bonfire there, Jack, Ah Sin
and the guard start upward to do the
same above the stalled carriage.
AS the light from this is thrown
around, dispelling the gloom, it will be
easier work collecting the wood.
Ah Sin proves master hand at this,
and his employer is quite content he
should have charge of the fires, once
they get going, since 1t will keep the
Chinaman away from the carriage,
and hence lessen the danger of his ap-
pearance arousing sudden suspicion in
the mind of the senior.
Besides, Jacks curiosity has been
aroused, and he longs to know what
magic the wonderful Smithers has ex-
ercised in order to make such de-
voted ally out of the guard.
The opportunity comes when he can
address the chap, and he does not hes
itate: for he has already learned that
the guard has fair comprehension of
English as she is sroke."
You have seen my friend. you I'm
derstand the truth. Is 1t so?" he asks.
and the guard with smile and a
shrug makes answer, as he involun-
tarily raises hand to his throat,
which doubtless still feels the effect
of the detectives hard fingers.
"Hola, senior, understand. Any
thing he says, that will l do. We are
as one. When man saves the. life
of Pedro Agrilla, there is nothing
would not for him do. And you are
his friend, senior; have no fear that
the truth will ever tell"
All, Smithers has therefore told him
about the dreadful doom from which
he has been snatched, as it were, by a
miracle, and for the present, at least,
the fellow in his gratitude is ready and
willing to serve them faithfully. What
he might do when the idea grows a
little more familiar to him remains to
be seen.
Jack moves down toward the others,
as All Sin may be trusted to keep
| things going. AS he passes the car
riage he sees two heads at the open
door, and needs no spirit of divination
! to tell him who the interested spec
tators may be.
While he is just in front of them,
one of the girls asks him II there is
any danger. Evidently they are dis.
turbed, as the bravest feminine mind
might well be-"
Juanita does most of the question
ing, but her Scotch stepsister OCCASION
ally introduces a few words, and evil
IDENTIFY grasps the situation far better
than Jack had believed possible.
He is more than charmed with her
apparently brave demeanor in the face
of danger, and not forgetting his de.
sign of keeping his identity secret,
answers as gruffiy as possible. Selling
the first opportunity. he hurries down
to where the others are engaged.
Another form can be seen fitting
about in the light Of the fires-evi-
IDENTIFY Col. Spencer has been aroused
from his nap in the cozy corner of the
carriage, and brought to realization
of the deadly danger menacing them
in case train comes along.
Long ere now Howard Spencer has
learned of his fallacy with regard to
the death Of Jack Travers., Senor Ro-
blado has regaled him with full and
exceedingly vivid account of the singu-
lar events that followed so fast upon
his accident in the Canongate. Hence
he knows Jack is alive, and that
through the most peculiar freak of
fortune in the world he was permitted
to wed sweet Jessie Cameron, Just as
the outrageous will and and testament
of his Quixotic relative required. This
being the case, 1t may be safely as.
sumed that Spencer nurses an addi-
tional grievance against the man he
has wronged, and that when the very
first opportunity springs up he will
avail himself of it in the hope of win
ming Squire Johns widow.
AS to that, Jack hopes to have
voice in the matter himself
The three are apparently discussing
some knotty question connected with
the peculiar situation when Jack
comes up.
They turn to him as though resolved
to have his idea on the subject. and
Jack experiences an itching Of the fn-