Putnam patriot., 1908-11-27

,;. nipe mo a glow and watched Os- ..y screw the top on box of ointment rhieh be had applied to Armitage's am The little soldier turned and .,ood sharply at attention.
 -you are MT. John Armitage. sir. A r.n's name is what he says it is. It Is ,h. rule of the country"
 ~Tbank you, Oscar. Your words re- ..sure me. There have been times Is,sly when I have been in doubt my .eK You are a pretty good doctor"
 sFlrst aid to the injured. learned ,h. trick from a hospital steward. If rou are not poisoned and do not die rou will recover-yes?"
 Thank you, sergeant You are a eousoIing spirit, but l assure you on my honor as a gentleman that If die shall certainly haunt you. This is she fourth day. Tomorrow sLall throw away the bandage and be quite resdy for more trouble"
 If would be better on the fifth"
 aThe matter is settled You will noy 20 for the mail. and do take care that 10 one pots you on the way. Your death would be a positive loss to me, oscar. And If any one asks how my najesty is-mark. my majesty-pray ay that am quite well and equal to ming over many kingdoms"
 4Yes. sire.'
 And Armitage roared with laughter ss the little man. pansing as he buc- kled q cartridge belt under his coat, bowed. with fine mockery of rever- enee
 If man were king he could have deyilish fine time of it. Oscar
 He could review many troops, and hey would fire salutes until the pow der cost much money
 You are mighty right, as We say in Montana, and I'll tell you quite confi- dentialy. sergeant, that if l were out Of work and money and needed job he thought of being king might tempt ne. These gentlemen who are trying to stick knives into me think highly of ny chances. They may force me into he business" And Armitage rose and licked the farlng knot.
 Oscar drew on his gauntlet with a Jerk.
 They killed the great prime minis ser-yes?"
 They undoubtedly did, Oscar"
 II. h. great man." said Oscar slowly and wen. quickly out and closed the door softly after him.
 The life of the two men in the bun tuntine. Oscar was drilled in habits of ebseryation and attention, and he real led without being told that some seri- ous business was afoot. He knew that Armitage's life had been attempted md that the receipt and dispatch of diagrams was part of whatever CT nnd had brought his master to the Virginia hills. His occupations were wholly to his liking; there was simple food to eat: there were horses to tend. md his errands abroad were of the nature of scouting and in keeping with snes dignity who had been . soldier. He rose often at night to look abroad. and sometimes he found Armitage walking the seranda or returning from tramp through the wood. Armitage spent much time studying papers. and once, the day after Armitage submitted Dis wounded arm to Oscars care. he had seemed upon the verge of a conh- dence.
 To save life, to prevent disaster. to ce little good in the world, to do something for Austria-such things are 10 the souls credit. Oscar" And then Amitage's mood changed. and he had begun ehaffing in a fashion that was eefond Oscars comprehension.
 The little soldier rode over the hills Lamar station in the waning spring twilight, asked at the telegraph office 'or messages stuffed Armitage's mail mo bis pockets at the postoffice and .ufned home as the moonlight poured sewn the slopes and flooded the val kyx
 Al the gate Of the hunting park rounds he bent forward in the saddle - hft the chain that held it. urged his aeese Inside. bent dewn te refasten fl. ao as his fingers .ciutctad the iron a - Bose In the shadow Sf the little maef and elasped him at,sat the mid es The Iron chain swung free and nsned against the post. and the Aerse
 ofsed with fright. then at c word .'Vm Oscar was still. There was the s'esf second of waiting fin which the "ng arms frightened and tine great sus ef his assailant hung heavily .''at him: then he dug spurs into the .''ses Hanks. and the animal ieaped a0ard with snort of rage: jumped \. sa' or the rath and tore away through 'Ae woods
 ars whole strength was taxed to s'a his seat as the buriy figure thump- asalnsI the horse's Hanks. He had s*a to shake the man off. but the ssa1 arms still clasped him. The sit
 ''ea could not last Oscar took ad- .s.'Ase Of the moonlight to choose N " ih which 10 terminate It. He had earrings now. and as they crossed
 1-hlng in the wood he suddenly ea his grip on the horse and hlnself backward. His assail-
 p longer supported rolled 10 the saa' a with Oscar on top of him. and ,s ileea horse galloped away toward
 s''sa and tumble fight now fol
 e'scar's 1.-the. vigorous bots ..sAea ID the grasp of his antagonist. Il tFee. now ciasped by giant arms sAW each others faces plainly in ear moonlight. and at breathless in the struggle their eyes main tae state of war. At one in- = When both men lay with arms Se'i, half lying on their thighs,