Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1905-10-04
SERVING A SUMMONS


deed. when she was eighteen sne was
engaged to Edgar Adams, receut
graduate from the United States Mill
tary academy. But her father was
very much opposed 10 the match.
Adams was beloved by every one, but
be was a good deal OF a scapegrace.
Franklin Swift, the son OF a wealthy
man. having manifested desire to
marry Bernice. Colonel Church per
suade1 her to break with Adams and
accept Swift.
When Adams received notice OF the
fact he simply remarked: THAT makes
Inc bachelor for life. Let's have a
bottle of wine" The only change no
ticed In his demeanor was that he
fought harder than before.
Ten years passed. Adams. now a
captain. secured a years leave OF alb
sence for the purpose of studying cav
airy improvements abroad, and ON his
way called upon his old flame. He
found her In great trouble. Her hus.
band was in a mire of debt. one of her
children was very I'll. she was herself
In bad health. and. TO cap the climax,
her husbands father was al the point
Of death The condition OF affairs re-
qulred that the husband get away in
order to escape service for awhile from
his creditors. Upon the death of his
father be would inherit a fortune that
would enable him to extricate himself.
But to leave under the circumstances
was next TO impossible. The result of
all this was that Captain Adams. with
the help OF an ingenious lawyer. as
sumed the debt and went into hiding.
The case could not go ON without
Adams being summoned.
For month Adams. who was an ex-
pert at Indian stratagems. found II
easy to elude the bailiffs. Then they
became as foxy as he. Having tracked
him TO the country place of one of his
friends they set their wits TO work to
get him where they could read the sum
mons to him. One evening just before
dark Adams heard a furious firing In
the grounds. and, true to soldiers In
stlncts. rushed out with IA revolver;
but, seeing a man coming for him with
a paper In his hands. the captain fred
several bullets over his head. checked
his career and retreated to the house.
Soon after this attempt to serve him
Adams was standing one morning at
window when company OF the state
militia marched down the road not far
from the house Their commander In
trying TO have them countermaTch got
them into confusion. Adams threw up
the sash and called the proper direc-
tons While he was shouting the or.
ders a man emerged from behind a
tree, ut the same time fumbllng in his
side coat pocket. Adams caught sight
of him just as he drew a paper and
closed the sash.
This escape made him more cautious
for a time, but confinement was irk
some to him, and he made an occasion
al sally In disguise. One evening at a
restaurant a man at a neighboring ia
bic made offensive remarks TO him. and
Adams, going over to where he sat.
slapped his face The man did not at
the time seem disposed to follow up
the affair, but the next day Adams re-
ceived n challenge from one Tucker.
Adams naturally inferred that the
man was the one he had had the quar-
rel with, but wondered how the fellow
knew who he was However. he was
too much Of a fighter to avoid any en-
counter and accepted promptly. He ut
once sent for a brother officer, and the
affair was arranged to come OF at
dawn In order TO avoid the bailiffs.
Before leaving the house the grounds
were searched. and the coast being
clear the party drove away In closed
carriage. Finding the others already
at the appointed place. the ground was
paced of and the principals placed In
position. Suddenly from behind neigh
boring trees q number of men stepped
forth and surrounded the combatants.
Then Mr.. Tucker, throwing down his
weapon. pulled summons Adams.
Disguised at the turn the affair had
taken. raised his pistol. aimed at the
paper and put a hole through II, at
the same time sending IL foating on
the morning breeze. He then knocked
down three Of the men surrounding
him, but the paper was recovered and
read 10 him before he could get away.
The doughty captain returned to the
house he had been hiding in, much
disgruntled at having been the victim
of so well laid trick. The truth is
the man who had insulted him in the
restaurant WAS one of the detectives
watching for him. suspected his iden-
tity and had insulted him purposely
The captain had been Swallowed on his
way home and the challenge sent to
trap him, but on his return he found
telegram that Mr.. Swift, senior, was
dead and there was no further neces-
xity for his hiding
Thus IL was that Captain Adams
saved the fortune Of the man who had
taken the girl he loved from him, and
| by doing so kept the family from ruin.
AS soon as his services could be dis
pensed with he proceeded on his trip.
fofioxxad hv tho hiaeaiDoS IF thnca ha