The Washington herald., 1909-10-24

a major incredulously. Ills policy has
always been to let old Bill alone
IT'S only a ripple of the general re-
form wave that's sweeping the country.
suggested ArGmOre chcerfully Turn
the rascals out; put the rascals in; keep
the people hopeful and the jails full.
That's the Dangertield watchword
We'll I guess Dangerheld knows how
to drive the hearsc If there's got to be
funeral" observed the Quartermaster.
''The governors not man TO ride inside
II he can find another corpse
And they all laughed and accepted the
situation rs promising better diversion
than they had expected from the sumner
maneuvers
The militia officers gave the necessary
orders for breaking the half-formed
camp. and then turned their attention to
the entertainment of their guests. Ard
more kept track of the time. and prompt
iy at 10 o'clock Collins rose from the log
by the roadside where they had been
sitting.
eve must obey the governors orders
gentlemen. said Collins courteously
and march at once to Ardsley. 1, you
understand. am only courier, and your
guest for the present
IF YOU please asked Cooke, when the
line had begun TO move forward, what
is that wagon over there
lie pointed TO a mule team hitched to
a ouartermaster's wagon that a negro
was driving into position across the
rough field 1t was piled high with lug
gage. pyramid that rose black against
the heavens One of the militia officers,
evidently greatly annoyed. bawled to the
driver 10 get back out OF the way.
Pardon me-" said Collins politely.
but is that your personal baggage, gem
tlemen?"
That belongs to Col. Gillingwater,"
remarked the quartermaster. The rest
of MS have a suitcase apiece
do you mean" demanded Ardmore,
that the adjutant general carries all
that luggage for HIMSELF
THAT is exactly it, But" continued
the quartermaster Loyalty. you never
can tell what win happen when YOU take
the field this way. and our chief is not
q man to forget any Of the details Of
military life.'
I'm Washington we all think very
highly of Col. Gillingwater," remarked
Collins, with noble condescension. "and In
case we should become involved in war
ne would undoubtedly be called 20 hish
rank in the regular establishment"
q
drew aside and waited for a battery of
| light artillery to rumble into place be-
hind the infantry, ITS TOO bad. Collins,
/ that ii didn't occur 10 YOU 20 imDersonate
/ the president OF the French republic or
/ Emperor William. You'll DC my death
before we finish this job.
This won't be so funny when Dan
gerdeld gets hold of u.s. grinned the re-
norter. WED better cheer up all We
can now. We're playing with the state
OF North Carolina as though II were
bean bag But what's that over there
/ The pvramidal baggage wagon had
gained the road behind them, and lingar-
/ ed uncertainty with the driver asleep
and waiting for orders. The coaspl2-
] tors we're about 10 gslloD eoT"aru 10
the head of the moving column when
: Collins pointed across the abandoned
{ campground 10 where horseman, VINO
had evidently made a wide detour or
the advancing column, rode madly TO-
ward the baggage wagon
THE gentleman's trying 70 Kill his
horse I should Judge" murmured Ard
more. by Jove"'
ITS Gillingwater"" choruscd the trio.
The rider I'm his haste had overlooked
the men in the road lie dashed through
the wide opening In the fence, left by
the militiamen. took the ditch by the
I roadside at a leap. Weakened the sleeping
driver on the wagon with roar, and
himself leaped upon the box and began
turning the horses.
What do you think he's doing?' asked
Cooke
He's IN a hurry 10 get back to moth
er's cooking" replied Ardmore. He,
seen Miss Dangerfeld and learned that
war is at hand. and he's going TO gel
his clothes out Of danger. Lordy. Listen
to him slashing the muies!'
"But YOU don't think
The wagon had swung around. and al
ready was in rapid flight Collins howlet
in glee.
Come on! We can't miss a show like
this"
Leave the horses. them There's g
hill there that will break his neck. Wed
better stop him If We CAM cried Cooke
dismOunting.
They threw their reins to the driver
Of the wagon, who had been brushed
from HIS scat by the impatient adjutani
general, and was chanting weirdly C
himself at the roadside.
The wagon, piled high with trunks anC
boxes. was dashiug forward, Gilling
water belaboring the mules furiously
and. hearing the shouts OF strange pur-
suers, yelling ~ the team IN a voice
shrill with fear.
!. Come on. boys" shouted Ardmore
thoroughly aroused, catch the spy anC
traitorr
The road dipped down into the SHADOW
Of a deep cut. where the moons din
> rays but feebly penetrated. and wher'
! the fow OF springs had softened tn
fs.H m
! by the rumble of the wagon, whicl
+ swung from side 20 side perilously, tn
! boxes swinging about noisily and top
! ping threateningly at the apex. Down
, the sharp declivity the wagon plunge,
! like a ship bound for the bottom Of TIT
sea.
] The pursuers bent gamely TO their tasl
, IN the rough road, with Cooke slight.
! in the lead. Suddenly he shouted warn
ingly 10 the others, as something Tos
- darkly above them like a black cloud
e and a trunk fell with a mighty crasl
4 only a few feet ahead of them The to-
had been shaken Off in the fall, and int
D it head first plunged Ardmore.
? There's another cOmingl" yelled Col
S Inns, and a much larger trunk struck ant
Z split upon a rock at the roadside. Cloth
j ing Of many kinds strewed the highway
e A pair of trousers, flung hercely into tn
e air, caught on the limb of a tree, shool
= free Ike a banner. and hung there som
berry etched against the stars.
3 Ardmore crawled out of the trunk
g screaming with delight. The Fragrance
h OF toilet water broke freshly upon tn
= air
t Its hts ammunition bawled Ard
more rubbing his head where he hat
struck the edge Of a tray. His seen
Q bottles are smashed, and it's only b
4 the grace Of Providence that I haven
u cut myself on broken glass"
n 'Thump! Bump" sounded down III
[ road.