Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1910-08-05
VIRGINIA
TIE AIR
BY
HERBERT Quick
CHAPTER II.

/ A HOsPITABLE BANDIT.
"HEODORE CARSON stared 70,
moment In amazement at thu
PROSTATE girl. then took hel
tenderly in his arms. carrying
her toward the hidden cabin. At thu
steepest spot Captain Harrod overlook
him. But the young man paid nt
heed to offers Of aid, wading steadily
on to- the door. which the captain un
locked and opened. standing aside fol
Carson and his interesting burden
Theodore took her into the large sin
gle room and laid her softly on q clean
looking bed.
"She is dead" said Theodore in d
hushed voice.
els her heart beating" the captain
inquired.
II don't know" cried Carson.
Carson laid his ear lightly to the
white blouse Some Huttering be
seemed to feel. but he could not be
certain. Harrod brought water in a
watering pot. which he seemed to have
planned to use as upon lily or rose. (,
do it beat?" he asked.
II can't tell" said Carson. NOR
whether it's my pulse or hers that
beats. Oh. / wish-what do they gen.
orally do. captain?"
"They's some paht o. they frock that
always has to be unrove amt they?'
inquired the captain anxiously.
Captain" said Carson. the perspira-
ton standing on his brow. I'm going
out on the gallery for air. You do
what has to be done, captain-or she
may die"'
Put some watah on huh face, sub"
said the captain. In judicious avoid
ance Of extreme measures. "Ah don't
reckon this hyah's a case TO- vi'ient o.
onconse'vative remedies. I'll oncork
that ha'tsho'n bottle!'
Carson pressed a wet towel to the
girls face. The captain held a bottle
labeled ammonia" to her nostrils.
She gasped. drew a quivering sigh and
opened her eyes. The older man was
looking at her in fatherly way. and
the young one was sponging her fore
head, his face near hers. She sat up
suddenly.
"You have had fall, madam" said
Carson. land are shaken up little.
But you are safe and among friends"
"Oh. thank you.'' she said. in tone
Of the most correct formality. TITS
ever so kind Of you. sir. I'LL oh.
l thought was lost! I thought L
Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh! O-o-o-h"
Suddenly. from the polite common
places Of speech. she broke into hys-
terical screaming. Captain Harrod
poured stin glass Of red liquid from
bottle. diluted 1t and took 1t to the
shuddering girl. who looked pathetical.
" up into his face for moment. swal-
lowed It obediently and coughed as IL
strangled by 1t.
"And now said Mr.. Carson. I'VE
will leave you. II you will excuse u.s.
Please feel at ease. You are quite
safe. and the cabin is yours. We are
in all ways at 20 service. The cap
tain here is my friend. and we belong
to race that sees a sister in every
helpless lady. think you will desire
to sleep. and I hope you may awake
refreshed. after which we shall place
ourselves mo- definitely under your
command"
She looked at him questioningly.
The softness Of his voice. his little
inconsistent lapses into dialect as he
uttered the old fashioned chivalric SEN
timents. won her trust.
"Ah'd lie down. ma am" suggested
the captain. ''ontil that medicine gifts a
chance to wuk. Goodby, ma'am."
Virginia lay back and closed her
eyes. but the potion brought no drow-
siness. Her face grew hot. and she
knew her eyes would shine II she
opened them with brilliancy quite
fascinating TO the young man with the
little black mustache. The fact that
she thought Of this startled her. Was
she growing fighty with fever? Why
this abnormal hilarity Of spirits. in the
exaltation of which all anxiety depart.
ed?
She rose and walked out unsteadily
upon the veranda and saw Mr.. Carson
and the captain sitting idly just be-
yond earshot Of the cabin. They came
to her respectfully.
II came out to thank you, sir" said
Virginia tightly. for your heroic be-
havior-heroic, romantic, medieval
behavior
II beg of you not to mention 1t.
madam" urged Mr.. Carson. with in
finite solicitnde. But may not In
sist upon your allowing me to escort
you back to your room p
The girl assented, and she was soon
asleep.
Theodore made broth of one quail,
peeped in to see If his guest were
awake. served the broth to the captain
ana made more. The sun wore to tho
west, the last quail was cooked. the
captain was providently gorged with
alternate courses OF bird and broth.
when Virginia. very stately and very
reserved, opened the door and walked
out upon the gallery. Carson shrank
back into the kitchen and showed the
captain into the breach.
'How do you do. ma'am?' he in
quired solicitously. "Ah .sho' hope yO'
bette aftah yO' Sleep
'Much better. thank you." she re-
piled.
1--WE have some partridge broth.
ma'am," he went on. with rice, and
a baked yam. and planked green
trout from the lake back hyah. and
some coffee. Sit down. ma'am. and