The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1910-05-10
NlNEfTE'S PRISONER.


stile block for glimpse OF Loren's
hussars, he was splendid and grand,
though she would not have told him
I so for half the gold In tfes wuria
No. Far more apt was she to call him
| peacock-strutter or rainbow stupid
and Ninette smiled al the thought,
making 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 with.
In the enemy's lines, he laughed "A
deuce OF a sharp-tongued, pretty, lit
tie patriote"
Great clown" she called. Thick
head. Six-eolored popinjay! Loren's
hussars will pull that waxed.up mus
taehe for you until foolish milkmaids
will never look at them!"
| The trooper turned uneasily. 'sLor
ems hussars!" he exclaimed. They're
a hundred miles away, my little
| Aimeel"
They're not-they're at began
Ninette, then bit her red lips. And
don't call me Aimee!"
Ninette had conceived scheme.
If 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
crazily-patched quilt, she smiled en-
chantingly at the twinkling trooper.
Thanks, little Helene" he chaffed.
I'll just get down and kiss you--lf
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 It is not my
namei"
The trooper scrambled down, laugh,
Ing contagionsly, and clambered UP
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 sun"
"Kisses!" stormed Ninette. "You
talk of nothing else--and my name
Is not Mignonl"
Then name myself and quick!"
urged the messenger. For | must
gallop on. Az for the kiss. why ri
take that" And he bent over and
kissed Ninette, fun on her cherry.
ripe lips before she could say yea OF
na5.
"Oh!" cried Ninette. and banged
his big ear with her clenched fist. Il
hate you! hate you! p
A clatter on the highway had
them both alert.
"Lorens 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 a rat In a trap"
muttered the trooper. "Is there no
hiding placer
Ninette shook her head, very much
frightened, now that her strategeni
seemed likely to succeed.
THE quilt! The quilt" whispered
the trooper He slipped beneath the
ample. gaudy folds and coiled at
Ninette's 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 aud
I Will kiss you once more when all
is we'll"
"lmpudent," cried Nlnette. Il win
tell them OF you" She kicked gent
ly at the concealed soldier.
The column cantered up and halt.
ed at sight OF the grazing cavalry
steed. The grim, gray colonel, Lion.
ell, looked sternly at the trembling
Ninette..
"A mount of the Kratz Dragoonsi"
he growled. And where is the rider
charming one?"
Ninette swallowed hard, while her
pretty face checkered in embarrass.
ment. lido not know she an.
swered.
But the horse" persisted the col.
onel. THE rider cannot be far away
THE horse came unridden from the
direction OF Lalannes,' said Ninette.
more easily. 1T has grazed there
for an Lour."
The hussars. satisfied, secured the
troop horse and tangled ON their
way, And little Ninette shed tiny
tear for the country she had served
but poorly.
When the column had clattered
out of sight In cloud OF dust, the
trooper OF Kratz emerged from his
Insecure retreat.
Well done, little Margot," he
whispered. And now 1t is to kiss
the man whom you have saved"
And Ninette kissed the trooper OF
Kratz. hardly knowing why. "My
name is Ninette," she whispered
back: "call me that."--Stuart B.
Stone