Wallowa County chieftain. [volume] (Enterprise, Or.) 1909-1911, 1909-09-02

rut hodney's portrait In the locket.
ana the locket where you would find IL"
You did? why?o
Oh. just to see what you would do
and you did It,"
Yes. l did" I admitted. ''Then vop,rs
to me.
Monsieur Duponceau was as polite as
ne could be, and laughed at all nv pro-
rests on the way home. but think he
was running into some danger on nv ac-
count believe he has come to Alastair
to hide"
Il know he has"
"Oh, tell me all about It ~ she heered
know very little. He's an adventur-
er' and he's fed from Europe, and there
are people very anxious to take him back,
and he's going to live in the Ship. More
over it seems reasonably certain that
there's going to be trouble"
rs there?' she cried, half in excite
ment half in delight "Oh, let's help
him"
l found that l only needed this chance
to avow myself openly.
We will. I've decided to stand by
him, whatever happens"
barbara looked exceedingly delighted
If / were only a man. she exclaimed.
AS it is, I'll have to do everything by
proxy"
"You can help us a lot"
How"
BY coming to see US often and bring
ing US news of the outside world" l
instantly identified myself with Dupon-
ceau. THAT is if it doesn't begin to look
too dangerous" l added.
She turned to face the ocean again.
Il should like TO do something to help
him" she said, because l like him. Sup
pose we 20 to see him now."
l picked up my easel and paints on the
cliff. and we boarded the Ship.
At the foot of the cabin stairs Barbara
saw the silver-mounted pistols blazing in
the sun.
oh" she said, looking at Duponceau.
who stood in the door very tall and
straight. "Shall you use those!'
II should not be surprised" he an
swered gravely.
Against whom? l haven't seen an
enemy on the beach,"
You will see," he answered. ''They
will -secretly-perhaps tonight"
Tonight" :" she echoed. "And how
many will there be?"
There was a grim little smile about his
lips now. II cannot tell; perhaps a doz-
en-, possibly score; that depends on how
resoute a man they think me-"
II think you very resolute," she said
soberly; quite the bravest man l have
ever SEEN"
Unquestionably there was no logic in
this remark, and yet 1 couldn't but own
that agreed with Barbara.
Tonight" she mused her eyes deep
with the deliberation of a general. How
will YOU defend the Ship-one against a
dozent'
"You forget Charles and me-" l put in.
"Will you fight, too?" she asked.
"Surely. l looked up my weapons this
morning and put them in order. l will
bring them on board this afternoon and
add them to Monsieur Duponceaus."
"And you, too, believe in the enemy?"
she inquired.
Most certainly / saw one of them
this morning"
Barbara sat down on one of the chairs
I had left "To think" she said, that
CAPTAIN Kidd should come to life again !!
But where is the buried treasurer"
| thought of the chest | had seen car
ried into the woods on the night Of the
storm. but said nothing. When ! glanced
at Duponceau he was smiling at Bar
bara. This is a very desperate matter
for me-" he said, "but even the most des-
perate affairs are frightened by a wom-
an. You are my good angel, mademoi
selle."
He said it in such a way that Barbara
could not but be pleased.
'Thank you, monsieur; and what plans
have you made for defense"
Duponceau outlined his plans. First
of ali he would stay well hidden from
sight then if his enemies should find
him. there were three points OF attack
from the open sea, from the cliff above
the causaway, and from the beach be-
yond the protecting circle of rocks. We
studied each in turn, and planned how
three men, well armed, could hold the
Ship against score. II should like more
ammunition than have" Duponceau con-
fessed.
"There is plenty in my cottage" ! told
him.
Lets get it now," cried Barbara, "and
some of the guns"
We went TO the cottage. and Barbara,
in her interest, forgot what she would
have termed the proprieties, and entered,
and looked about my dining-room while ]
collected cartridges and pistols. She in.
sisted on helping Charles put up guam
tity Of food to carry to the Ship. At last
we started forth again, she with the pro
visions. | with a shotgun and two revol-
vers. Half way down the beach two men
came out of the pines and walked down
to meet us.
"Where are you going with those
ounsqv one of them, a surly faced chap,
demanded.
"What business is that Of yours"
asked.
He changed his tactics. Were look
ing for a man who's reported to have
landed somewhere on this beach night
or two ago.
"Yes." ] said pleasantly, gazing absent
ly at the sky.