Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-11-18

ArdmOre, collins and cooke rode |
rapidly away through the wide gates
of the estate along the Sapphire road, |
over which, by the last bulletin, the
adjustant general of North Carolina
was marching his troops. They had
left Cookies men with Paul's foresters
to guard the house and to picket the
banks of the Raccoon in the immedi-
ate neighborhood of the camp of the
South Carolinians.
81 guess those fellows can hold 'em
till morning" said Cooke. We've got
to clean up the whole business by TO-
morrow night You can't have two
states at war with each other this way
without shaking up the universe, and
If federal troops come down here to
straighten things out, it won't De
funny"
They had ridden about a mile, when
Cooke checked his horse with an ex-
clamation.
There's somebody coming like the
devil was after him. 1t must be GIL
lingwater."
They drew rein and waited, the
quick patter of hoofs ringing out
sharply in the still night. The moon
light gave them a fair sweep of the
road, and they saw at once horseman
galloping rapidly toward them.
"Lordy, the mans on fret" gasped
Ardrnore.
"By George, you're right muttered
Ardmore, moving nervously in his sad
die. cts a human sunburst."
tits only his gold BRAID" explained
the practical Cooke.
| "He must have on solid gold armor,
then" declared Collins.
| Seeing the three men drawn across
| the road, the horseman began to check
his fight.
"Men!" he shouted, as his horse
paved the air with its forefeet sis
| this the road to Ardsley?"
Right you are" yelled Cooke, and
| they were aware of flash, glitter
that startled and dazzled the eye, and
| Colonel Rutherford Gillingwater thun-
dered on.
Ardmore looked at his watch
He's undoubtedly a man Of action,
! If ever saw one; and | think we are
to be congratulated on having SO gal
liant a commander for our troops said
the master of Ardsley; but the sight
of Rutherford Gillingwater had filled
his soul with jealous forebodings. He
| had heard that women are prone to
fall in worship before warriors in their
battle armor, and he was sure that
jerry Dangerfield was girl of inf
nitely kind heart, who might not, when
face to face with the issue, subject the
man she had engaged to marry to any
severe test
They rode on. however, and saw
presently the lights of camp-fires, and
a little later were tremendously halt
ed at the roadside by an armed guard.
| 1t had been arranged that Collins,
| who had once been second lieuten-
ant in the Georgia militia, should be
presented as an officer of the regular
army, detailed as special aide to Gov
ernor Dangerfield during the encamp-
ment, and that in case Gillingwater
failed to return promptly he should
take command of the North Carolina
| forces.
| An open field had been seized for
the nights camp, and the tents already
shone white in the moonlight The
three men introduced themselves to
the militia officers, and Collins ex-
pressed their regret that they had
missed the adjutant general.
Governor Dangerfeld wished you
to move your force on to Ardsley
should we fail to meet Colonel Gil
lingwater; and you had better strike
your tents and be in readiness to adj
vance in case he doesn't personally re-
turn with orders"
Captain Collins, as he had designat-.
| ed himself, apologized for not being
in uniform.
1.oo froJ a
laughed, land Governor Dangerfield is
so anxious not to miss this opportunity
to settle the Appleweight case that l
/ hurried out to meet you with these
gentlemen"
"Appleweight!" exclaimed the group
of officers in amazement.
None other than the great Apple
weight! responded Collins. "The
governor has him in his own hands at
last, and Is going to carry him across
! the border and into South Carolina
bastile, as a little pleasantly on the
governor of South Carolina. .
Hes had a sudden change of heart
If he's captured Appleweight," remark
ed a major incredulously. His policy
has always been to let old Bill alone. '
Its only a ripple of the general re,
form wave that's sweeping the coun'
try suggested Ardmore cheerfully
Turn the rascals out; put the rascals
in: keep the people hopeful and the
jails full. That's. the Dangerfield
watchword."
well, ] guess Dangerfeld knows
how to drive the hearse if there's got
to be a funeral" observed the quar-
!, termaster. 1.-THE governors not mai
to ride inside if he can find another
r corpse"
And they all laughed and accepted
} the situation as promising better di
: version than they had expected from
/ the summer maneuver.
The militia officers gave the neces
r sary orders for breaking the half-fornl
: ed camp. and then turned their atten
, tion to the entertainment Of thei
! guests. Ardmore kept track of tn
time, and promptly at ten o'clock Col