The Washington herald., 1909-10-25
By
MEREDITH
NICHOLSON.
CHAPTER XVIII.


that horrid person in real jail! Well
we shan't miss him! We have been kept
up all night by the arrival here Of other
prisoners-brought in Ike parcels from
the grocer's.'
More prisoners" shouted Ardmore.
Dragged here az an unearthly hour Of
the morning, and flung into the most i'm
possible places by your soldiersi You can
hear them yelling without much trouble
from the drawing-room, and we had 10
give up breakfast because the racket
they are making was so annoying
The captain OF the battery whose guns
frowned upon the terraces came up and
saluted.
Mr. Ardmore," he said. Il have been
trying for several hours 10 see Gov. Dan
gerheld, but this lady tells me that he
has left Ardsley."
THAT is quite true; the governor was
called away last night on official business,
and he will not return for an hour or
two. You Will kindly state your bust
ness 70 me"
The captain was peeyish from loss Of
sleep. and by no means certain that ne
cared 70 transact business with Mr. Ard
more. He glanced at Miss Dangerfield
whom he had met often at Raleigh, and
the governors daughter met the situation
promptly.
Capt Webb. what prisoners have you
taken and why are they not gagged TO
prevent this hideous nOise?'
Seemingly from beneath the ample
porte-cochere. where this colloQuy oc-
Cured rose yells. groans. and curses.
and the sound OF thumPs, as Of the i'm
pact OF human bodies against remote
, subterranean doors.
They're trying 20 get loose. Miss DAN
gerheld, and they refuse 20 stay tied.
| The hercest row is from the fellows
chucked into the coal bins"
IT'S excellent anthracite, the best I
can buy; they ought 70 be glad it isn't
soft coal, replied Ardmore defenslvely.
who are they?"
They're newspaper men. and they're
most terribly enraged," answered Capt.
Webb we picked them up one at
time IN different places on the estate.
They say they're down here locking for
] Gov Dangertield."
Collins Erinned his delight
"Oh. perfect hourw he sand Wen
/ keep them until they promise 10 be good
and print what we tell them. The little
squeaky voice you hear occasionally
/ hark,-thats Peck, Of the Consolidated
! Press. He scooped me once on a lynch
/ ing. and here is where I get even with
him"
You have done well. Capt Webb"
said Jerry with dignity. and I shall
urge your promotion upon papa Al the
/ earliest moment possible. Are these news
| paper gentlemen your only prisonersr'
NO, we gathered up two other parties
| and one OF them Is In the servants laun-
1 dry; the other. a middle aged person.
/ / lodged In the tower. where he can en-
I Joy the scenery"
| lie pointed 70 the tower. from which the
I flag OF North Carolina waved gently IN
/ the morning breeze
/ The prisoner up there made an awful
rumpus. He declares he viii ruin the
/ whole State Of North Carolina for this
/ Here is his card, which. In a compare
/ lively lucid Interval, he gave me 20 hand
/ you at the earliest possible moment.
/ and Capt Webb placed a visiting card
IN Ardmore's hands.
A smile struggled for possession OF
Ardmore's countenance. but he regaIned
control Of himself promptly, and his face
grew severe.
lie gave the card 10 Jerry, who handed
II 70 Mrs. AtchiSon. and that lady laughed
merrlly.
/ p Billings. secretary Of the Bronx Loan
and Trust Company. OF New York. What
was he doing when you seized him7'' de-
manded Ardm0re-
He was chasing the gentleman who's
resting on the anthracite he chased him
and chased him. around a tea house out
here somewhere on the place; and finally
this person IN the coal hole fell. and they
both rolled over together. The gentle
man IN the coal hole declares that he's
Foster. the state treasurer Of North
Carolina, but his face got so scratched
on the shrubbery that he doesn't look In
the least like Mr.. Foster"
II have sent him witch-hazel and court
plaster. and we can get a doctor for his
wounds. II necessary % said Mrs. Atchison.
A sergeant rushed UP in hot haste with
a demand from Col Daubenspeck. Of the
North Carolina First. 10 know when Gov
Dangerfeld could be seen.
The South Carolina pickets have been
withdrawn, and our officers want orders
from the governor IN person, said the
messenger.
"Then they shall have orders roared
ArdmOre IF our men dare abandon
their outposts-"
He turned and rode furIously toward
the border, and In his rage he had
traversed 1000 yards before he saw that
Jerry was close behind him. As they
passed the red bungalow the crack oil
scattering rife shots reached them.
GO back! Go back The wars be.
gun" cried Ardmore; but, though he
quickened the pace OF his horse. Jerry
clung TO his side.
II there's war, and I hope there is,
shall not shrink from the firing line, Mr.
Ardmore."
AS they dashed into their own line:
they came upon the regimental officers
seated in comfortable chairs from the
red bungalow, calmly engaged in game
Of cards.
Great God. men" blurted Ardmore
why do you sit here when the States
honor is threatened Where was tha
firing?"
you seem rather placid. gentlemen. Il
say the last" added Jerry, coldly bow
, ing to the officers. who had risen at he
approach. Unless I am greatly mis-
taken, that is the flag Of South Carolin'
, I see Haunted in yonder field" And sh
, pointed with a gauntleted hand to a pal
, metto flag beyond the creek.
1T is, Miss Dangerfleld" replied tn
colonel politely land you can see thei
, pickets occasionally. but they have bee
: drawn back from the creek. and 1 appre
bend no immediate advance"
NO advance, who are we to wait 10
= them to offer battle? Who are we {
!. play bridge and wait upon the pleasur
OF q cowardly enemy?' And Jerry gaze
upon the furious Ardmore with admira
ton as he roared at the officers, VIII
stood holding their caps deferentially be
fore the daughter Of their commander
in-chief Ardmore. it was clear, the
8 did not take very seriously, fact whic
: she inwardly resented
! 'I don't think II would be quite fair,
said the colonel mildly, 10 force issue