The Washington herald., 1909-10-24
CHAPTER XVI.
The Flight of G1Iingwater.

troops yourself. with Mr.. Cooke and that
amusing Mr.. Collins. There Is no telling
what effect my tidings WIN have on Ru-
therford. or what he will decide to do.
He has never before been so near trouble
as he IS now. and I may have 20 give
him first aid to the injured when he
finds out that the South Carolina troops
are on Raccoon Creek, all ready to
march upon our sacred SOIL
But suppose your adjutant general
shouldn't go back to his troops after he
sees you. then what am 1 to do?"
III you don't see him by ten o'clock
you will take personal command and
exercise your own discretion as 10 the
best method OF landing Appleweght In
a South Carolina jail After that we
must find papa, and Il will be up TO
him to satisfy the newspapers and his
constituents with some excuse for his
strange disappearance"
Collins had come from Raleigh on the
evening train. and he had solemnly
assured Ardmore that the present state
OF affairs could not De maintained an
other twenty-four hours He had ex-
hausted his professional resources, and
the North Carolina newspapers Of all
shades Of opinion were clamOring for
the truth. and were insisting that. for the
honor and dignity Of the state. Gov.
Daugerieid should show himself in
Raleigh Even the metropolitan press.
which Collins had filled for several DAYS
with bIithe stories OF the administration
vigorous policy Ia the Appleweight case,
had refused further matter from him.
We've got 10 find Daugerficid or bust.
Now. where Is that eminent statesman.
Ardmore2 You can't tell me you don't
konw; but N you don't Miss Dangerfeld
does, and she's got 90 tell"
she hasn't the slightest idea. hut n
the newspapers find out that he's really
and truly missing, he viii have 20 show
up; bat first we've got 10 take Apple
weight of that case OF Chateau Bizet and
lodge him IN the jail at Turner Court
House. and let Gov Osborne have the
odium Of incarceratng the big chief Of
The border. to whom he is under the
greatest political obligations"
'But it's all over the country now
that Osborne hasn't been seen in Column
bia since he and Daugerheld had that
row I'm New Orleans. CTanks are turn
ing up everywhere. pretending 90 be
governors of various States. and Old
Dangarfeld Is seen on all the outgoing
steamers. There's been nothing like It
since the kidnapping of Charley ROSS"
Ardmore drew on his riding gloves re-
hecuvely, and a delighted grin illumi-
mated his counteQanCc
Il caught q lunatic down on the Rae
coon this afternoon who said he was
the governor Of South Carolina. and 1
locked him up"
"Wen. he may be Osborne remarked
Collins. with journalistic suspicion.
"And he may be- a Swiss admiral or
the King of Mars I guess I'm a governor
myself-you can't fool me. I put this
imposter where he'll have a chance to
study astronomy tonight"
Then he isn't on that case Of Chateau
Blzet with AppIeweight2'
NO: I locked him up in a corn-crih
until / get time TO study his credentials.
Come along now
Ardmore. Collins, and Cooke rode rapid
IS away through the wide gates Of the
estate along the sapphire road. over
which, by HIS last bulletin. the adiutant
general Of North Carolina was marching
his troops They had left Cookies men
with PauTs forcsters to guard the house
and 10 picket the banks Of the Raccoon
In the immediate neighborhOOd of the
camp Of the South CarOlinans
Il guess those fellows can hold EN-
tin morning said Cooke We've got
TO clean up the whole business by to-
morrow night. You can't have two
Statcs at war with each other this way
without shaking up the universe. and Il
Federal troops come down here 10
straiEhten things out II won't be funny.
They had ridden about a mile wher
Cooke checked his horse with an ex-
clamation.
There's somebody coming Ike tn,
Il VA q i'm rr1rre no
water"
They drew rein and waited, the quicl
patter OF hoofs ringing out sharply il
the still night The moonlight gave then
a fair sweep Of the road. and they a.
once saw a horseman galloping rapid
IS toward them.
'Lordy, the mans on fret gaspeC
Ardmore.
by George. you're right" muttereJ
Collins, moving nervously IN his saddle
IT'S a human sunburst."
It's only his gold braid explained the
practical Cooke.
HE must have on solid gold armor
then declared Collins.
Seeing three men drawn across tn,
road the horseman began to check hi
flight.
Mem" he shouted. as his horse pave,
the air with its forfeit, lis this the roa,
70 ArdsIey2"
Right you are" yelled Cooke. an,
they were aware Of a flash. a glitte
that startled and dazzled the eye. an,
Col Rutherford Gillingwater thundere,
on
Ardmore looked at his watch
Hes undoubtedly q man of action,
I ever saw one: and I think we ar
TO be congratulated on having so gallan
L
master OF Ardsey: but the sight o
Rutherford Giilingwater had hIIed hi
soul with jealous forebOdings. He har
heard that women are prone to fall II
worship before warriors In their battl
armor, and he was sure that Jerr
Dangerdeld was a girl Of infinitely kin
heart, who might not, when face 10 fac
with the issue. subject the man she ha
engaged TO marry TO any severe test
They rode on, however, and saw pres
emily the lights of camp-fres. and a uttl
later were tremendously halted at IN
roadside by an armed guard.
Il had been arranged that Collins, VIII
had once been a second lieutenant In tn
Georgia militia, should be presented a
an officer OF the regular army, detaile
as special aid 10 Governor Dangerfel
during the encampment and that in cas-
Gillingwater failed 70 return promptly h
should take command OF the North Caro-
lima forces.
An open field had been seized for IN
nights camp, and the tents already shon
white in the moonlight The three me
introduced themselves 20 the militia Off
GERS, and Collins expressed their regre
that they had missed the adjutant gen
cral.
Gov. Dangerheld wished you to NOV
your force on to Ardsley should We ia
10 meet Colonel Gillingwater; and yo
had better strike your tents and be /
readiness 10 advance In case he doesn