Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1905-08-10
! THE MASTER OF APPLEbY /
S<nA~AtNNNNNtAr&ApNNNeNNNe
cHAprER xxII.-continued.
by Francis Lynds.

ONv~SINovS~OVvO NvvSv~vvvvv~
CHAPTER xxll.-continued.
The effect of this fierce TRADE, poured
out in a torrent of hot words. was less
marked upon his helpless captive than
upon her tour would be defenders. 1t
moved us various!y, each after his
kind; nevertheless, think the
same thought lighted instantly
upon each of us. Though We
might not reach and rescue her, her
sharpest peril would be blunted upon
the quieting of this fiend-in- chief.
So Ephraim Yeates stretched himself
face downward in the damp grass and
brought his long rifle TO bear, while the
Indian sprang up and poised his hatch
ct for the throw. but neither lead nor
steel WAS loosed because the light was
poor, and hair's-breadth swerNlng
of the aim might spare the man ana
say the woman. AS for the two OF us
who must needs come within stabbins
distance the same thought set us both
to stripping coats and foot clogs tor
plunge into the barrier torrent. HUT
when we would have broken cover the
old borderer dropped his weapon and
gripped us with d hand for each.
NO, no; none O that he whls-
pered, hoarsely. "Yed drown like rats,
and we can't afford no sech foolish
/ sakerfices on the altar O Baal. bunker
down and lie clost: if there's any dying
to be done, We've got good half o the
night ahead of ye, and there's all o to-
4 morrow that amt teched get.
4 1t takes a pitiless avalanche of words
/ to spread these interhnear doings out
j for you. but you are to conceive that
/ the pause is mine and not the action $.
! While the old man was yet puiilng us
down, my fearless little lady had drawn
/ back a pace and WAS giving the villain
his answer
81 am glad know you now for what
YOU are, Captain F'alconnet. she said.
coldly And then: You can take me
with you. if you choose, HAVING the
brute strength to make good so much
of your threat. But that is all. You
cannot take for yourself what have
given to another"
Cannot, you say" He clapped his
hat on sinartly and whistled for his
horse holder; and when the man was
gone to fetch the mounts for the wom-
en-, he finished out the sentence. List
en- YOU, i'm Your turn. Mistress Spitiire.
shall take what list, and before you
see your fathers house again, you'll
beg me on your knees as other women
have. to marry you for very shame
sake."
1t was then that Cncanoola did the
skilfulest bit of jugglerN it has ever
been my lot to witness. Postunns IKE
one of those old Greclan discus throw
ers he sent his scalping-knfe handle
foremost to glide snake like through
the grass to stop at Marsery's feet
Though think she knew not how II
got there. she saw it, and the courage
of the sight helped her to say, quickly:
when it comes to that. sir, ! shall
know how TO keep faith with honor.
His laugh was the harshest mockefy
of mirth. You will keep faith with
me, dear lady; do you hear? Other
wise
He turned to take the black mare
from his man. At this my brave one
set her foot upon the weapon in the
grass.
Il have no faith to keep with you
Captain E'alconnet." she said.
He struck back viciously. Then, by
heaven, you'd best make the occasion
1t has happened. ere this, that lady
as dainty as you are has become :
plaything for an Indian camp. 1t lie:
with me to save you from that, III.
mistress"
She stopped To gather her skirts fo
mounting, and in the act secured ant
|, hid the knife. So her answer mad IN
the fine steadfastness of one who ma.
make desperate terms with death 70
honor's sake.
~ thank you for the warning. Cap
tain Faconnet,' she said, facing hin
hravely to the last. When the tim
comes. mayhap the dear God Will Civ
me leave to die as my mothers dauA 4
ter should"
BAH" said he; and with that h
Nhistled for his troopers; and Will
we looked, my dear lady and her tire
woman We're helped upon their horses
and at the leaders word of command
the escort formed upon the captives a
d center. A moment later the littl
glade, with the smoldering enbers O
the lodge fire to prick out its limit
III dusky red, was empty, and on IN
midnight stiffness of the forest TN
minishing hoofbeats of the horses cam
fainter and fainter till the distanc
swallowed them.
Then it was that my poor lad. fam
ine-,nad and frenZied, rose up I
curse me bitterly.
Now may all the devils in hell dra
YOU down TO everlasting torment!
John Ireton, for your cold hearte
good hope to win" he cried. "On
little hour ! begged for, and that hou
had fought her battle and set her free
But now"
He broke off in the midst. chokin
with what miserable despair ! kneV
and shared as we'll: and throwing him
self down in the wet grass. he Woul
exc out the bitter words with such ray
ings and sobbings as bubble up in shet
abandonment OF rage and misery.
XXII1.
HOW WE. KEPT THE FEAST @
BITTER HERBS.
You may be sure that Richard Je.
ni!ess bitter reproaehings came hon
to me in sharpest fashion, The MOI
since now ! saw how we had lost ol
chance by neglecting the conmone
> precautions. Having determined to a
tack. the merest novice of eener
: would have moved his forces to II
, nearest point; would have had h
scouts search out the ford beforehand
!. and, above all, would never have d.
layed the blow beyond the Garlic
:, moment of the enerny's unwatchfulnes
So now, when all was lost. ! fe!
r kneading out this sodden dough of af
!. erwit with Ephram Yeates but wh'
o | sought to carry off the blame as mil
A by right, the old borderer would n
j, give me leave.
!. Fair and easy, Cap'n john fair al
y easy" he protested. Lets give tn
old sarpent, which is the devil a,
Satan. his dues. EZ ! allow. there VI
ricollect all them things. TO he SUI
we had our warnings. mistrusting :
along that this here dad-blalne' hos
captain had his finger in the pie. III
= lawZee! we had ne'er man O O.
mongst US 10 rise up and prophe
what was a-going to happen if I,
. didn't get up and scratch gravel il
mejitly. if not sooner though woi
y aeny that Capn Dick did try his han
that-aWay.
III 4,