Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1908-11-12

that he Jefkeu OUT udu TO HlIuselI he
whistled a few bars from comic opera
that was making record run on
Broadway His steps rang out vigor-
ously from the bare pine floor.
Watch the windows, Oscar. You
may forgive a general anything but a
surprise Isn't that so, Claiborne?
And those fellows must be pretty mad
by this time Excuse the coffee serv
ice. Claiborne. We always pour the
sugar from the paper bag original
package. you understand And see i
you can't find Captain Claiborne hat.
Oscar"
With a tin cup of steaming coffee in
his hand he sat on the table dangling
his legs, his hat on the back of his
head, the cartridge belt strapped about
his waist over a brown corduroy hunt
ing coat He was in high mood and
chaffed Oscar as to the probability OF
their hreakfasting another morning
IF we die. Oscar, it shall be in Il good
cause"
He threw aside his cup with clat
fer, jumped down and caught the sword
from the table, examined it critically
then sheathed it with click
Claiborne had watched Armitage
with growing impatience. 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 a 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"
I'm not going into the valley" roar
ed Claiborne, and I'm not going to
bed. I'm going with you
"But bless your soul, man, you can't
go with me! You are as ignorant as a
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
Il 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 a bag like prize potato with
cut taking whack at the man who
put me there
But If You should get hurt Clai
borne it would spoil my plans / never
could face your family again." said Ar
mitage earnestly Take your horse
and go"
I'm going back to the valley when
you do"
''Humph Drink your coffeet Oscar
bring out the rest of the. artillery and
give Captain Claiborne his choice
He picked up his sword again funs
the blade from the scabbard with a
swish and cut the air with it. hum
ming a few bars of German drinking
song. Then he broke out with:
II do not think drawer gentleman,
More aetiye-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 it to my shame.
l have truant been to chivairy-
Lord, Claiborne, you don't know
what's ahead of u.s. It's the greatest
thing that ever happened. never ex
peeted anything like this. not on my
cheerfulest days. Dearest jules is OUT
looking for telegraph Office to pull off
the Austrian end of the rumpus Well
little good it will do him. And Wei
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,
"All ready. sir" said Oscar briskly
ITS half past g They didn't get off
their message at Lamar because the
Office is closed and the operator gone.
and they will keep out of the valley
and away from the big inn because
they are rather worried by this time
and not anxious to get too near Mar
hof. They've probably decided to go to
the next station below Lamar to do
their telegraphing. Meanwhile they
haven't got mer'
They had me and didn't want me,
said Claiborne. mounting his own
horse
They'll have a good many things
they don't want in the next twenty
four hours. II l hadn't enjoyed this
business SO much myself we might
have had some secret service men post
co ell along the coast to keep look
out fox them. But it's been great old
Lark. Al.j now to catch themw
Outside the preserve they paused fol
an instant.
They're not going to venture fai
from their base, which is that inn and
postoffice, where they have been rum
maging my mail. l haven't studied
the hills for nothing, and know shor
cuts about here that are not on maps
They haven't followed the railroad
north, because the valley broadens too
much and there are too many people
There's trail up here that goes over