The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1910-02-10

49,
when there was peace In the land. Many
things happen In a siege"
Many delightful things. One minute
and III be down at the door,"
hurried downstairs. but before
could open the front door l heard Bar
bara's voice crying. Wait. walt p
Rodney jumped from his couch and
Joined me. He as well as I had slept h
his clothes. What Is it. Felixf" he
asked
Miss Graham is outside snd wants to
come In. but she's just called to me TO
wait. I'll open the little side window
6rst."
I slid the window-bolt and looked out.
Two men. the disagreeabls chap Of our
drst meeting and another surly-faced indi-
vidual. stood some twenty feet back Of
Barbara. I placed my revolver on the
window ledge.
Now. then. what do you men want7"
I demanded.
I'VE don't want the lady to 90 IN the
disagreeable-locking one replied
Does the lady want tot" I asked
"She does" said Barbara. IN a most de-
termined lone Of voice.
Then she shall. Slide back the bolts,
Rodney" 1 whispered. "Now II any one
chooses to interfere with her entering my
house. he can reflect that he's looking In
to a straight steel barrel"
The door opened. and Barbara. her
head high. walked in. l shut the small
window and put the revolver in my peck
ct. There's a pretty ~mad-looking pair
out there" I said. -Welcome to the log
house =
But Barbara was not regarding me.
why. Rodney" she exclaimed. what
has happened to your arm7 They didn't
shoot you. did theyf" She had caught
sight Of Rodney's arm in a sling
ITS nothing. Barbara" be said. beam
Ing "only a scratch. l might have been
potted BY that badly shooting snipe-"
She looked at him. her face all admi-
ration Its like you to speak lightly.
but you've been in danger. and partly on
my account, for you'd never rave laid
eyes on Monsieur Duponeeau II it hadn't
been for me-"
/ would have drifted out OF the room II
! could. but 1 was caught between them
4 I'd the door
Rodney smiled; I could imagine how
pleased he must be feeling.
We've had several scraps on the
Ship" he explained. and when our food
gave out we came up here"
You poor dearsr she exclaimed. and
this time was included In her words.
I've been thinking Of you every minute
Of tho last two days. and wanting to
come over to Join you. Well, I've stolen
away at last, for a morning ride. and now
I'm going TO stag here with you"
Stay here with usI" VIZ both exclaim-
ed In amazement-
Until after breakfast I'm going to
set your table. and pour your coffee, and
fix your rooms. and show you In general
what a woman can do in a house"
We both bad had visions Of that al
ready, / fancy. l caught Rodney's eye;
smiled, and the color rose to bis face.
where's CharlssY" Barbara demanded
I led her into the kitchen, where Charles
was busted, and Rodney and I sat on the
dresser tand watched while Barbara roll
ed up her sleeves, pinnep a napkin over
her dress as an apron, and proceeded to
direct Charles as to the cooking things.
Either one Of us would have been SUI
premely happy II the other had not been
there.
When the table was set, and the break
fast on its way from the kitchen TO the
dining-room, Duponceau appeared, for
the first time free of the cloak be had
worn on the Ship, but still all in black,
save for his gold chains. and still snvel-
oped in that peculiar air of mystery
which instinctively set him apart from all
bel e. Barbara curtsied to
him. and he raised her hand to his lips
kissed It with the Eracs Of the old
time school
I'VE are not quite forgotten by the out
,ids world" he said. with almost a tfnge
royalty In his voice, very far indeed
forgotten, when 20 charming an ems,
AIRY Joins us-'
Barbara looked pleased; / could see
hat Duponceau was still her paragon Of
.omnnce.
~Wil YOU take the head Of the tsbIs,
nonsisur7 T. she asked. He carefully seat
d her behind the cofee-urn, took his own
,lacs, and Rodney and I sat at the sides.
was the first state breakfast ny cot
age had ever known.
Barbara contrived that we should all
that We were cooped up In a log
She smiled at Rodney and at me
mpartially, and listened attentively TO
vsrything Duponceau said. Even Charles
cit her influence. l could see him lfnger 4,
q this doorway on the alert to serve her. !,
Breakfast came to an end, and Barbara
on bandaging Rodney's arm
hink he was sorry that she should know
ow slight the wound really was, for he
cmurred. though with a look Of great !
abstraction; but be finally consented to {
oil up his sleeve. / drew Duponceau
way TO my den, and the two were left
for a long h~alf-hour. Monsieur 4
'ierrs and I discussed matters Of defense
When we returned to the living-room
face was flushed, and Rodney's
we're red. His arm was wound +
a new bandags and . little gold pin
H. =
"WTI you take me over 20 the house,
sked Barbara, Jumping mp; and now It
my turn to gloat. for she insisted on .
oking into every nook and Granny, o !,
how tive men left 10 their own =
lived. and on improving what she
,und. I, who had oncs been averse TO .
influence about a house, surren- !,
red. She straightensd the pictures, re- =