The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1909-04-14
NINETTE'S PRISONER.
BY Stuart 3. Stone.


The trooper sat, straight and stiff
In his saddle. a modern Mars, slashed
and deckcd with vivid colors. To
Ninette, who had stolen out To the
stile block for a glimpse of Loren 5
hussars, he was splendid and grand,
though she would not have told him
so for half the gold In the world. No.
Far more apt was she to call him pea
| cocksstrutter or rainbow-stupid-an
Ninette smiled at the thought, making
a pretty picture as she sat stitching
at the huge craZy-quilt In the sun.
How far TO Lalannes, little one?"
demanded the trooper, twirling his
| fierce mustache
Find out, great one!" retorted
Ninette, tossing her sunny-gold head.
| For all that he was leagues within
the enemy's lines, he laughed "A
deuce OF sharp-tongued, pretty.
little patriot"
Great clown!" she called. Thick
head! Six-colored popinjay Loren's
hussars will pull the waxed-up mus
tache for you until foolish milkmaids
will never look at them!"
The trooper turned uneasily. "Lor-
ems hussars." he exclaimed. They're
hundred miles away. my little
Aimee!'
They're not-they're at"--began
| Ninette. then bit her red lips. And
don t call me 'Aimee!'"
Ninette had conceived a scheme. II
she could hold this hulking, saucy
dragon until Loren's gay hussars
cantered around the bend in the road.
she would have done her part In this
great war. Looking up from the Graz
| ily-patched quilt, she smiled enchant-
ingly at the twinkling trooper.
Thanks, little Helene he chaffed.
"I'll Just get down and kiss you'll
Loren's clumsy cavalry Is on the next
vine-clad hill"
! Ninette bridled again. How dare
you talk of kissing-and how dare
you call me Helene when II is not my
name,"
The trooper scrambled down, laugh
ing contagiously, and clambered uT
beside the blushing Ninette.
And now, little Mignon." he muir
INJURED, the kiss. For a courier may
not tarry with every pretty knitter In
the SUM-"
"Kisses" stormed Ninette. "You
talk of nothing else--and my name Is
not Mignon!"
Then name thyself-and quick,
urged the messenger. For l mus;
gallon on. AS for the kiss. why I'll
take that" And he bent over AM
kissed Ninette, full on her cherry-ripe
lips before she could say yea or nay
oh" cried Ninette, and banged
his big ear with her clinched fist. u
hate you. hate you! p
A clatter on the highway had them
both alert.
"Loren's hussars!" murmured Nj
nette.
The dragon bounded up. A sharp
command rang from behind the wood
clump at the end of the road.
Surprised like rat in trap!
muttered the trooper. us there nc
hiding placer"
Ninette shook her head. very much
| frightened. now that her strategem
seemed like to succeed.
THE quilt! The quilt" whispered
the trooper He slipped beneath the
ample, gaudy folds and coiled at MI
nettes feet. The gay, ranting hus
sars OF Loren tangled around the turn
in the road.
BE COOL little jeanne" whispered
the hidden dragon. BE brave and
will kiss you once more when all Is
WELL"
"Impudent." cried Ninette. Il will
tell them OF you" She kicked gently
at the concealed soldier.
The column cantered up and halted
at sight Of the grazing cavalry steed
The grim, gray colonel, loren. looked
sternly at the trembling Ninette.
"A mount OF the Kratz Dragoons!
he growled. And where is the rider
charming oneT"