Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-05-29
ga they had nothing to fear.
Get your order in tonight be delivered carly

! ga they had nothing to fear. k But ashamed lest she be thought over-confident. she said only: Let uf not worry about Owatoga; only let us go as soon as we can"
 <, Then you approve of the French leave?"
 Strongly. sir; don't you, mother 9 and she sank to the stool at her moth. CTS feet-all the drowning impatience gone from the beautiful face. i Mrs. Creighton spoke softly, twist. ing the tiny curls on the fair, bent head at her knee. From a selfish point of view. daughter, I certainly do If Nr. Winslow stands trial, he will be detained here indefinitely, and we with him, or adrift without him. It is char. acteristic of his generosity that he lets 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 ev!ls-as are most things in this complex world" She ended be- tween smile and tear.
 "A hard choice. truly" Lavender agreed. with 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 abet- ting malefactors!"
 
 All joined in the laugh. and winslow felt his spirits rise as with new and strange elixir. "A thief in the night be it, then!" he said, in mock heroics.
 Then soberly the plan of action was agreed upon. They were to say noth- 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 grate. LAven- der dropped the dispatches on the heart of the coals. Slowly the edges uncurled in last mischievous attempt to reveal the secret; then a greedy flame deyoured the papers.
 'Ashes!" Lavender exclaimed, in tri- umph. Then. turning to wlnslow: "There is nobody now to call you spy or traitor!"
 CHAPTER VII.
 A few days later, attended by . small military escort, the party left the fort
 winslov explained to the command CT that there was double reason for haste-in their unwillingness to further trespass on his hospitality. no less than in the impatience of the ladies to join their relatives Reasons which. though with all hospitable intent. the colonel supplemented by the practical suggestion that they take advantage of the present frosty condition of the trail A little later. when the spring thav had set in, the swamp lands would be we'll nigh impossible.
 There being no available guides at the fort. 1t was decided that the sol- diers accompany them to the nearest Indian village. a half days march away. where they could obtain ponies and . guide for the journey north.
 The little party arrived al nirhtfaIl within the Indian settlement. and the soldiers returned to the fort. having made arrangements with the chief of the village for their safe conduct
 Left to themselves fn the Kioosny vfgvam. the travellers had much ado to be eheerTul The place vu fIl- smelling and close. and the fickerins freight but served to bring into bold CT relief the grntesqus shadows that fouted them from every corner.
 The Ioose-httins skins of vhich the xaiIs were mats. ersstsi szd sapped