Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1906-09-12

ing him to his knees. Bfandishing .
knife, he held it ,threateningly over
him, then turned to Charles with an
air of inquiry. which said as plain as
words: What shall do with him?"
It was all done as lightning flash.
But at Winslow's sharp command the
Indian relaxed his hold, permitting tho
terrified soldier to rise.
"Forgive the zeal of my friend here"
Charles said, lightly; ''only be careful
to treat me we'll when he is about"
Turning to his champion he said,
aside: "Take this note to her"
Then to the soldier: II will not
go with you tamely to some God
forsaken hole, there to rot through
the stupidity of the law. Escort me
first to your officer-in-chief, whoever he
is. want to inquire into this high
handed proceeding"
Cowed by his experience with the
Indian, the sergeant consented with
out demur, and they went direct to
the deputy's house.
Here they waited in a gloomy room
where prevailed neither pioneer sim
plicity nor the real comforts of civ
ilization, but an incongruous blending
of both. Here were small barred win
dows that seemed rather to imprison
the cold, damp air within than to af-
ford opening for the sunlight. A few
formal chairs Knocked the visitor from
circle about'a fireless hearth.
Announced by a cough, and loud
clearing of his throat, there entered
the man temporarily in authority.
Tall, military and aggressive in ap-
pearance, yet with good humor BEAM
ing in his kindly eyes, and around the
corners of his childishly curved mouth.
No American born, evidently, but q
soldier of fortune whose skin was not
more changed by many sums than his
heart by service under many flags.
He acknowledged the sergeant's sa-
lutte by a flourish of condescension, and
addressed Winslow. Bon soir, mon
sieur, the matter-what may it be-"
Winslow answered, holly: "That Is
what I came here to find out, sir
With shrug the other said: But
cannot give you light, monsieur, l
am here only pour passer lie temps,
while the real deputy removes himself
elsewhere. M. lie Gen. Wilkinson is
absent"
1t was on the point of Winslows
tongue to criticise the management
which would leave the arrest Of per-
sons, innocent or guilty, to unfamil-
lar hands, but he refrained, and the
officer said, his accent curious mix
ture of French and Spanish: II am
told, however, that you are a danger
GUS man who comes here on service
of-how you call HMM. Burr?"
The tone and manner was apologize,
but the words opened old sores. With
fire in his eyes, his voice shaking with
suppressed emotion, Winslow told his
story frankly, concluding: "Now
you know, sir, why am beginning to
feel like an Ishmaelite. l meant be-
fore to have disclosed my business,
but was denied opportunity. It is evil
dent some babbler has preceded me,
prating to ears already prejudiced by
political bias, against man whom
the nation should delight to honor"
From beneath elevated brows his
nearer smiled. There is verify in
your remarks, monsieur, but until this
expedition matter is settled our orders
are to detain you. We will make it as
pleasant as possible for you, mon
sieur," he fastened to add. 1T is only
that your presence with us seems de-.
sirable-for the present. am not able
to say that so distinguished a person
should at once be free, though, sans
doute, it should be so. May l have
your parole d'honneur to remain with
us in St. Louis until we have word
from the powers that be?''
Winslow hesitated for an instant
only, then his brow cleared. "You
have my word of honor, your excel
lency" (and at the title the other
coughed with gratided vanity, ."and
must thank you for even this much
courtesy. From the Jail threatened by
this man here (and he made a slight
ing gesture toward the sergeant) lis
escape enough for the present. But
by the way, monsieur, will you kind
ly tell me where Gen. Wilkinson is?"
The deputy coughed again-this time
deprecatingly. In the south, making
light upon the plans of your friend,
Burr"
Winslow knitted his brows. Doing
what, monsieur?'
As we'll as his imperfect English,
and vague knowledge permitted, the
deputy explained the reason for Will
kinson's absence, but one fact alone
was clear-the general was on an er-
rand that BODIED no good to the plans
of Aaron Burr. Indeed, from what
little he could CLEAN from the non
committal Frenchman, Winslow re-
allied that Burr was mistaken in
reckoning upon the friendship and
cooperation of the general To be
sure, there might be a mistake on the
part of the deputy, or he might. him
self, mistake the latter's meaning.
Nevertheless, so long as there re-
NAMED doubt of Wilkinson's atti-
tude so. long was it unwise to further
acquaint him with Aaron Burr's de-
signs.
All this went through his mind as
he listened to the foreign's muddled
explanation. The packet Of letters was
in his pocket-"and they shall stay
there" was Winslow's mental COM
ment, as he grimly buttoned his coat.