Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1908-10-21

The man .Uds not John Armttage, but
Captain. Claiborne
the strap, drew of the bag and step
ped back toward the table on which
he had laid his revolver for easier &C.
cess.
mfr. John Armitage"-
Chauvenet, his revolver half raised,
had begun an ironical speech. but the
words died on his lips. The man who
stood blinking from the sudden burst
of light was not John Armitage. but
Captain Claiborne.
The perspration on Ciaiborne's face
had made paste of the dirt from the
potato sack, which gave him weird up
pAarance. He grinned broadly, adding
a fantastic horror to his vlsage which
caused Zmai to leap back toward the
door. Then Chauvenet cried aloud, a
cry of anger. which brought Durand
into the hall at a jump. Claiborne
shrugged his shoulders, shook the blood
into his numbed arms, then turned his
besmeared face toward Durand aud
laughed. He laughed long and loud
as the stupefaction, deepened on the
faces of the two men.
The objects which Durand held
caused Claiborne to stare, and then he
laughed again. Durand had caught up
from hook in Amitage's room a black
cloak, SO long that it trailed ut length
from his arms, its red lining glowing
brightly where It lay against the outer
black. From the folds of the cloak a
sword, plucked from trunk. dropped
upon the floor with CLEAN Of its
bright scabbard. In his right hand he
held silver box Of orders, and US his
nrm fell at the sight of Claiborne the
gay ribbons and cleaning pendants
flashed to the floor.
ut is not Armitage; we have made a
mistaken muttered Chauyenet tamsly.
his eyes falling from Claiborne's face
to the cloak, the sword. the tangled
heap of ribbons on the floor. i
Durand stepped forward. with an
oath.
"Who is the MANI" he demanded.
at is my friend Captain Claiborne.
We owe the gentleman an apology
Chauvenet began.
"You put 1t mildly" cried Claiborne in
English, his back to the fireplace, his
arms folded and the smile gone from
his face. II don't know your compan-
ions, NJ. Chauvenet. but you seem I'M
clined to the gentle arts of kidnapping
and murder. Really. Monsieur
at is a mistake! 1t is objectionable!
can only offer you reparation-any-
thing you ask!" stammered Chauvenet,
"You are looking for John Armitnge,
are your demanded Claiborne hotly
without needing Chauyenet's words.
"Mr. Armitage is not here. He was In
Storm Springs tonight at my house.
HE is a brave gentleman, and l warn
you that you will injure him at your
peril. You may kill me here or stran-
| gle me, or stick knife into me IL you
| will be better satisfied that way, or
| you may Kill him and hide his body
in these hills; but, by God. there will
be no escape for you! The highest
powers Of my government know that l
| am here. Baron Won Marhof knows
that am here. have an engage
ment to breakfast with Baron Won
Marhof at his house at o'clock in
the morning. and If am not there
every agency Of the government will
he put to work to find you. Mr.. Jules
Chauvenet. and these other scoundrels
who travel with you"
you are violent, my dear SIR" be-
gan Durand, whose wits were coming
back to him much quicker than
Chauvenet's.
81 am not as violent as shall be II
i get troop Of cavalry from Fort
AIyer down here and hunt you like rab.
bits through the hills. And l advise
you to cable Winkelried at Vienna that
the game is all Off"
Chauvenet suddenly jumped toward
the table. the revolver still swinging
at arms length.
You know too much"
| II don't know any more than Armi-
ltage and Baron Won Marhof and my
father and the honorable secretary of
state. to say nothing Of the equally