The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-12-12


intensely interested, even the pale face of
Alice Dunscombe taking on slight tinge
of color. Katherine Plowden was the
first of the women to speak: 'Oh, II there
is to be any examination of prisoners let
us have it here-may we not. Colonel
Howard? May we not, Captain"
Certainly" responded the Captain,
provided Colonel Howard has no objec-
ton" The Colonel agreed and word was
sent to the sergeant to bring in his pris-
oners.
The three men who now entered tho
apartment appeared to be nothing daunt-
ed by the presence into which they had
been ushered, though they were clad In
the coarse and weather-beaten vestments
of seamen They silently obeyed the d.
rection of the soldier's finger and took
their stations in a distant part Of the
room.
1T trust ye be all loyal subjects" be-
gan Colonel Howard. but these are times
when things must be examined into. We
know that American ships have been
upon this coast and the audacity of the
rebels Is only equaled by their disregard
for the rights of their sovereign To use
a nautical phrase, whence como We and
whittier bound?'"
A low, deep voice replied, From Sum-
derland last and bound overland to
whitehaven.''
At the sound of that voice Alice Duns-
combe gave faint shrek and. half rising
from her seat. cried out did you hear
it? Or was 1t only q fancy?"
Are you i'll, Miss Alice7" asked the
Colonel
mo, no, only 1t was like voice from
the grave" replied the woman, and CIV
ing one quick and searching glance along
the faces of the arrested seamen, shs
turned to leave the room. Ceceha and
Katherine followed and assisted her, but
soon regaining her composure she re-
qussted that her companions return to
the Withdrawing room. As the young
ladies re-entered the room the examina-
ton Of the prisoners had been taken up
by Captain Borroughcliffe. what say
ye, men," the Captain was saying. will
ye take the shillingr'
you must excuse US, sir, but We are
used to long voyages on distant seas and
would pick out our own ship"
. "Shipr' cried Borroughcliffe, IF I am
not mistaken. there is one among W who
knows more Of soldering than Of sailor
ing" He seemed to muse q second, and
then, advancing toward the prisoners.
said in q voice of authority, Attention.
Right! Dressr' Ono of the men instinct
lively threw his head to right as II he had
been on a parade ground. Hal cried
the Captain, "see was right, my worthy
sailors; shall take tho liberty of detain-
ing you in security until tomorrow"
Assuming the real command Of his gar
rison now, the Captain had the three
strangers confined in three separate
rooms in a wing Of the house. and placed
a sentry before their doors. Then re-
turning to the Colonel. he requested that
after his strenuous labors another bottle
of the famous South Side be brought UP
and served in the dining room. The gal
liant veteran agreeing, the two warriors
resumed their discussion OF wines and
war; and the ladies, now left to them
selves, assembled for q hurried CONSUL
tation.
Each knew that the men who were now
under confinement In the Abbey were
from the American ships. The deep voice
which had 80 affected Alice Dunscombe
was that Of her old lover, John Paul. now
John Paul Jones. In the second man Ce-
celia Howard had recognised Edward
Griffith. Who the third man was. the
one who had answered with such readi-
ness to the command of Captain Bor-
roughcliffe mono of them knew That hs
was an officer of tho same nation and
that his life was in peril was certain. Mr..
christopher Dillon meanwhile had not
been idle. He also perceived that Amer