The Whitefish pilot. [volume] (Whitefish, Mont.) 1904-current, 1910-09-01

rurgoIuen, nad taken MS book ana Sc
creted himself under the table, in
which city of refuge he hoped to fol-
low without interruption the further
adventures of his two heroes With all
child's adaptation to environment it
was not long before he became com
pletely absorbed in the romance Pres
emily vague and disturbing cries came
stealing in through the open window
and these he impa tiently shook off. for
natural inquiSitiveness as to their orr
gin was trivial compared to the fate
of the two princes. But the voices re-
fused to be thus lightly dismissed. Ex-
cited cries of: HE went this way,
Look in that courtyard. He turned
this corner" certainly merited the
earnest attention and searching inquiry
of every healthy eight-year-old whose
native inquisitiveness cannot be damp
ened by being dragged from bed be-
fore dawn or discouraged by the pros
pect OF an all day journey. After all.
exciting fact is superior to exciting tic-
ton. for the former is but temporary,
while the latter is comparatively per-
manent-to be used as stimulant or
sedative when real life is lacking in
appeal.
Turning around and looking up from
under the table. the Generals iuuuir-
my eyes met those OF Cameo Kirby,
who. standing mOtlOnlpSS by the cur
tn ms pil
For a long nnment man aud boy mute
ly estimated each other. too surprised
to speak "Come: cheer up" said Kirby
at length. unronsciously employing
his characteristic phrase. "Don't Le
afraid
General. creeping cautiously from un.
der the table.
Does the roof of this house touch
the roof of the house next dOor?" pur-
sued the gambler. with a reassuring
smile.
NO" said the child, round eyed.
"Are there people upstairsY
Eyes. there are"
Kirby considered. no hint of his d.
lemma in voice or bearing. He felt
that he could rely upon this child, who,
with all the cOmpOsure of a self pos
sessed adult, evinced no alarm or
amazement at the sight of an over
heated and disarranged young man en-
tering strange house via the win
dow.
Does that lead to the street?" h.
asked. pointing to door on his right
The General nodded He was breath,
less and terrified with joy. Are you
somebody making hairbreadth es-
capeY be stated rather than asked
II hope So" admitted Kirby. with a
smile do you want to be somebody
helping me TO do it?''
Eyes, of course. What do do?"
Go out on the balcony" Kirby
gravely explained. land look as if
nothing was the matter Lean your
elbow on the railing and tell me what
you see." He drew aside the curtain
as the child. with flushed cheeks and
shining eyes. Obeyed
There are men up on that corner.
announced the General at length.
Don't point" warned the man in
the room. How many menu"
Five Two of them all got guns"
"All right. Don't turn your head
when you speak to me-"
'"There's more men hunting through
the garden across the street." piped up
the boy. wallOwing in the satisfying
knowledge that at last. by some mirac-
ulous Intervention of a beneficent prov
idence, he had become an indispen
sable character in a very real adven-
ture which promised to eclipse the
most thrilling hairbreadth escape be
had ever read.
Are any of the men looking up
here?" whispered Kirby mo? Come
in. then-quick" The boy obeying. he
cautiously closed one part of the win
dow. but refrained from dra wing the
curtain.
Il think" impressively announced
the General. approving of these pre-
iiminary maneuvers. ''that this is bet
ter than where the good princes trusty
friend cuts his bonds. Which one are
you?"
(which what am II" asked Kirby,
with a perpleXed smile.
81 mean are you the good prince or
the bad princeY'
"Oh. ! see. Well, I'll try to be the
good prince for few minutes if you'll
help me to get away. Suppose you find
me hat. eh?"
The General. with that lively disre-
gard for another's property which
every loyal servitor of unfortunate
princes must possess. instantly seized
Nj. Veaudry's hat. which was reposing
on an adjacent chair
'Thank you," said Kirby gravely.
covertly examining the pistol In his
breast pocket This door leads to Tie
street. you say: And there, are five
men on the corner. two with gunS?'
Yes. What do we do now?" briskly
asked the boy.