Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1906-08-22


guard house, the delay and ill-fame of
trial, scarcely more than balanced his
horror Of any undetermined proceeding.
II will leave it to Fate" he thought.
as he knocked for entrance. And then:
mo, will leave it to her." was his Sec
ond resolve, as the door opened and
Lavender stood before him.
For in spite of the defiant sparkle in
her eyes, and the scarlet in each
cheek, there was about her an at
mosphere Of such absolute innocence
such fearless consciousness Of integ-
rity, that Winslow was ashamed Of his
own scruples. They seemed pusillani-
nous beside her instructive perception
OF the right.
"She is one of the few who can be
a law unto herself, and yet walA the mar
row path.' he thought.
Mrs. Creighton cane at once to the
subject uppermost in the minds of all.
Lavender has told me everything, Mr..
Winslow, and I have read the dispatch.
I can scarcely contain my Indignation,
my sympathy for you, or my personal
regret that you are brought to this
trouble through care for U.S.
She beckoned him to a seat beside
her, and her voice sank to a confiden-
tial tone; "but tell me what you think
best to do
Winslow hesitated. ''There ere two
plans which suggest themselves. One
is to go direct to the commander. ex-
plain all, and prove my innocence, if
possible, relying upon his justice. The
other" he paused, meaningly, and
lowered his voice. "The other-is to
take French leave at our first opportu-
nifty"
Mrs. Creighton smiled as she said,
sympathetically: "And you are at loss
how to act? I can well understand
it."
But Lavender, who was all this time
impatiently tapping her foot against
the andiron, turned her back to the
chimney piece, her whole figure vibrat-
ing with Indignation "You under
stand his hesitation, mother? Well,
confess don't! Why should we
give up these dispatches? It would
do nobody any good, and would cause
a great deal Of harm. Mr.. Winslow's
conscience is clear-what is to be
gained by the mockery of a trial? They
would find him guilty, Of course ="
then as her listeners started in sur
prise-"He is guilty of the only thing
of which he stands accused-connec-
ton with the Burr expedition. You
would not deny that. So you see it
was providential that we got hold OF
the papers first. And that reminds
me" her mood changed, and she
laughe merrily, If am not mistaken,
got hold Of the papers first
Here Winslow reminded her: "But
you have forgotten the Indian. There
is every reason to fear his explanation,
or, in any case, the Investigation he
may set on foot"
Lavender did not reply for a mo-
ment. She was thinking OF the In
idan's face when he said "Owatoga has
lost the dispatches OF the look In
his eye when he hid the empty KNAPP
sack. She recalled his silence later
when Intercepted by the corporal, and
her belief was strong that from Owato-
ga they had nothing to fear.
But ashamed lest she be thought
over-confident, she said only: LET ua
not worry about Owatoga; only let Us
60 as soon as We can"
Then you approve of the French
leave?"
Strongly, sir; don't you, mother?"
and she sank to the stool at her moth
er's fetal the frowning impatienoe
gone from the beautiful face.
Mrs. Creighton spoke softly, twist.
ing the tiny curls on the fair, bent
head at her knee. From a selfish
point of view, daughter, certainly do.
If Mr.. W1nslow stands trial, he will be
detained here indefinitely, and we with
him, or adrift without him. 1t is char
acteristic of his generosity. that he
let's two helpless women decide to
their own advantage. He may prefer
the more open course, and we must in
sist that he 'alone decide. It is a
choice of evils-as are most things In
this complex world" She ended be-
tween a smile and a tear.
"A hard choice, truly" Lavender
agreed, with a saucy tilt Of her chin.
| But think of the brave company you
would be in. Choose at once, sir-a
prisoner here, alone, or a thief in the
night with mother and me, the abet7
ting malefactors!"
All joined in the laugh, and Winslow
felt his spirits rise as with a new and
strange elixir. "A thief in the night
be it, them" he said, in mock heroics.
Then soberly the plan Of action was
agreed upon. They were to say moth
ing of the dispatches, but to seize the
first pretext to leave the fort.
"And in order that there may be no
backsliding, the bridges must be
burnt" and going to the CRATE, Laven-
der dropped the dispatches on the
heart Of the Goals. Slowly the edges
uncurled in, a last mischievous attempt
to reveal the secret; then a greedy
flame devoured the papers.
"Ashes!" Lavender exclaimed, in tri-
umph. Then, turning to Winslow:
There is nobody now to call you SPY
or traitor!"
ITO Be Continued