Washington State journal and Adams County news. [volume] (Ritzville, Wash.) 1906-1907, 1907-07-17
CHAPTER XXI.

and starlit but there was no moon and
outside the immediate neighborhood Of the
main streets, the darkness was enough
to favor our hope Of escaping notice with
out being SO intense as to embarrass our
footsteps. Everything, In fact, seemed to
be on our side, and l was full of buoy
ant condolences As 1 put my revolver in
my pocket and, on the stroke Of midnight.
stole from my lodgings. l looked up to-
ward the bank and dimly deserted three
or four motionless figures, whom took
to be sentries guarding the treasure. The
street itself was almost deserted, but from
where I stood l could see 6he Piazza
crowded with a throng of people, whose
shouts and songs told me that the Colo
nel's hospitality was being fully appre-
ciated. There was dancing going on to
the strains of the military band, and ev-
cry sign showed that our good citizens in
tended, in familiar phrase, to make
night of it.
walked swiftly and silently down to
the jetty. Yes, the boat was all right! l
looked to her fires, and left her moored by
one rope ready to be launched into the
calm black sea in an instant. Then
strolled along, by the harbor side. Here
I met a couple of sentries. Innocently
/ entered into conversation with them,
condoling on their hard fate in being kept
on duty while pleasure was at the helm
In the Piazza. Gently deprecating such
excess of caution, pointed out to them
the stationary lights of The Songstress,
four or five miles out to sea, and with
respectful smile at the Colonels uneasi-
ness. left the seed I had sown to grow IN
prepared soil. dared do no more, and
had to trust for the rest to their natural
inclination to the neglect Of duty.
When I got back to the bottom o. LAD
erty street, l ensconced myself In the
shelter Of a little group Of trees which
stood at one side Of the roadway. Just
across the road, which ran at right an
giles to the street, the wood began, and q
quarter Of an hours walk through Its
shades would bring us to the 5etty where
the boat lay. My trees made perfect
screen, and here stood awaiting events.
For some time nothing was audible but
an ever-increasins tumult OF joviality
from the Piazza. But after about twenty
minutes awoke to the fact that q con-
slant dribble of men, singly or In pairs,
had begun to flow past me from the FL
azza, down Liberty street, across the road
behind me, and into the wood. Some were
in uniform, others dressed in common
clothes; one or two recognized ~ mem
bers Of Johnny Cars missing band. The
strong contrast between the prevailing
rsvelry and tho stealthy, cautious air OF
these passers-by would alone have sug-
rested that they were bent on business
putting two and two together, I had not
the least doubt that they were the Presi-
dents adherents making their way down
to the waters edge to receive their chief.
So he was coming; the letter had done
its work! Some fifty or more must have
come and gone before the stream ceased,
and 1 reflected, with great satisfaction,
that the Colonel was likely to have his
hands very full In the next hour or two.
Half an hour or so passed uneventful-
"; the bonfire still blazed; the songs and
dancing were still In full swing. 1t was
close upon the fateful hour Of two, when,
looking from my hiding place. saw 4
slight figure in black coming quickly and
fearfully along the road.
I recognised the Signorina at once, as
I should recognize her any day among
thousand, and as she paused nearly oppo-
site where 1 was, I gently called her
She ran to me at once.
rs It all right?" she asked, breath
lessly.
I'VE shall see In a moment" said I.
THE attack 10 coming OF: Il will begin
directly"
But the attack was not the next thing
We saw. We had both retreated again to
the friendly shadow whence We could zee
without being ssen. Hardly had We Set
tiled ourselves than the Signorina whis-
psred 10 me, pointing across the read to
the wood:
whats that Jack?"
l followed the line Of hsr finger and
made out . row Of figures standing mo
tionless and still ON the very edge Of the
wood. 1t was too dark to distinguish In
dividuals; but even - We looked the d.
lent air waited to our eager ears Q low
voicsd command:
"NinA, not . sound till I give tAs
word"
xUo EeolOeutI excSA1m0Q S0o Ul8.
norma, In . loud whisper.
"Hush, or he'll hear" said I, and
we're DONE"
Clearly nothing would happen from that
quarter till It was called forth By events
In the opposite direction. The Signorina
was strongly agitated; she chung 10 me
closely, and I cav with alarm that the
very proximity Of the man she stood IN
such awe Of was too much for her CON-
posture. When had soothsl, and I fear
half-frishtsnsd. her into stiffness, again
turned my syss toward tie Piassa. The
Gre had at last Aickersd cut and tie rsvsls
seemed On he waAs. Suddenly . body u
nsa apDsarsd In closs order, MARCHING
Down he street. tswa.d Tie baAk. We
stsod perhaps Q hundEsa yards from tAat
building. Which Wa, IN h turn, about twc
hunArsA frsn lie Piasaa. 0tsaAily thsy
nAs along; ~ ssuad rsacAsd a. frs1
Tie WE'D. s4
This u ssttias Interesting" said.
'Thers'll b trouble so0.",
A. near - I could ~, the Colensi'a
benA, for such Il was no doubt, did not
nuabAR mere than avs-ald-twenty at tn
outside. New they were at tAs bank. !
could hardly ~ what happened, but thers
seemed to b q noosnt's pause; probably
Someone had kreckeA and they wore wait.