Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-09-21
Y MEREDITH WICHOLSOX

Il w
ing chair and tell you fairy stories till
morning we can all be happy. Is It a
bargain-or-must still hang your
head down the well till get through"
''Marhof may go to the devil! He's
lot more mysterious than even you,
| Armitagc. These fellows that broughs
| me up here to kill me In the belief thai
| was you cannot be friends of Mar
hof's cause
"Tlaey are not. assure you they are
not. They are blackguards OF the black
est dye"
II believe you, Armitage."
"Thank you. Now your horse is al
| the door. Run along like = good feE
low
| Armitage dived into his room, caught
| up cartridge belt and reappepred
| buckiing 1t on.
Oscar" he yelled. bring in thni
coffee, with cups for two"
He kicked OF his boots and drew On
| light shoes and leggings.
flight marching orders for the rough
places. Confound that buckle
He rose and stamped his feet to set
tie the shoes.
'Your horse is at the door. That ras.
cal Oscar will take OF the blanket for
/ you. There's bottle OF fair whisky in
the cupboard. II you'd like nip before
starting. Bless me, forgot the coffee!
There on the table. Oscar and never
/ mind the chairs" he added as Oscar
| came in with tin pot and the cups on
piece OF plank.
.I'm taking the rifle. Oscar, and be
| sure those revolvers are loaded with
the real goods"
There was great color in Arlni-
! taGe's face as he strobe about prepar-
Ing to leave Els eyes danced with ex-
element, and between the sentences
that he jerked out half to himself he
whistled few bars from comic opera
TINT was making record run on
Broadway. His steps rang out vigor-
ously from the bare pine floor.
Watch the windows. Oscar. You
may forgive general anything but a
surprise. Isn't that so, Claiborne?
| And those fellows must be pretty mad
by this time. Excuse the coffee sery.
Ice, Claiborne. We always pour the
i sugar from the paper bag original
package, you understand. And see II
you can't find Captain Claiborne hat,
Oscar"
With tin cup of steaming coffee In
his hand he sat on the table dangling
his legs, his hat on the bnck Of his
! head. the cartridge belt strapped about
his waist over brown corduroy hunt
ing coat He was In high mood and
chafred Oscar as to the probability Of
their breakfasting another morning
"If we die, Oscar. 1t shall be In a good
| cause"
He threw aside his cup with clat
ter. jumped down and caught the sword
| from the table, examined 1t critically.
then sheathed 1t with click.
Claiborne had watched Armitage
with a growing lmpatience. He re-
sented the idea of being thus ignored.
| Then he put his hand roughly on Armi
tage's shoulder.
Armitage. intent with his own affairs,
had not looked at Claiborne for several
minutes, but he glanced at him now as
though just recalling duty.
'Lord, man, didn't mean to throw
you into the road! There's a clean bed
| in there that you're welcome to. Go
! In and get some sleep"
"Tm not going into the valley roar
ed Claiborne, land I'm not going to
| hed I'm going with you"
"But bless your soul, man. you can't
| go with me! You are as ignorant as
babe Of my affairs, and I'm terribly
busy and have no time to talk to- you.
! Oscar, that coffee scalded me. Clai-
borne, If only had time, you know,
but under existing circumstances"
II repeat that I'm going with you. ]
don't know why I'm in this row, and
don't know what it's all about, but /
believe what you say about it. and
went you to understand that can't be
put in bag like prize potato with
out taking whack at the man who
put me there"
"But il you should get hurt, Clai-
borne, it would spoil my plans. never
/ COulO 1dCc yOuL luAAAy 0Gd4A' SeAAN a.
mitage earnestly. "Take your horse
| and CO."
.I'm going back to the valley when
you do"
"Humph! Drink your coffee! Oscar.
bring out the rest Of the artillery and
give Captain Claiborne his choice"
He picked up his sword again. flung
the blade from the scabbard with q
swish and cut the air with 1t, hum
ming few bars of German drinking
song. Then he broke out with:
II do not think Drawer gentleman.
More active-valiant or more valiant
young.
More daring or more bold Is now alive
| To grace this latter age with noble needs.
For my part. / may speak 1t TO my shame.
/ have a truant been to chivalry-
"Iord, Claiborne, you don't know
what's ahead Of us. It's the greatest
thing that ever happened. never e1.
pected anything like this, not on my
cheerfuiest days. Dearest Jules is out
looking for telegraph office to pull of
the Austrian end Of the rumpus Well,
little good it will do him. And we'll
catch him and Durand and that Ser
Wan devil and lock them up here till
/ Marhof decides what to do with him
We're OFF,"
Cali ready, sir" said Oscar briskly.
cts half past g They didn't get of