The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1910-04-09
CHAPTER XVIII.
The Battle Of the Raccoon.

Your conduct, Jerry Dangerfleld. is
beyond words!" she exclaimed, seiz-
ing the girls hands. "And so you real
ly locked that horrid person in a real
Jail! Well, We shan't miss him! We
have been kept up all night by the
arrival here Of other prisoners
brought in like parcels from the gro
GERS"
"More prisoners!" shouted Ard
more
The captain Of the battery whose
guns frowned upon the terraces came
UP and saluted.
"Mr. Ardmore," he said. ~ have
been trying for several hours to see
Gov Dangerfeld, but this lady tells
me that he has left Ardsley."
THAT Is quite true; the governor
was called away last night on official
business, and he will not return for
an hour or two. You will kindly state
your business to me-"
The captain was peevish from loss
of sleep. and by no means certain that
! he cared to transact business with Mr.
Ardmore. He glanced at Miss Danger
|
and the governors daughter met the
situation promptly.
Capt. Webb, what prisoners have
you taken. and why are they not
gagged to prevent this hideous noise''"
Seemingly from beneath the ample
porte-cochere. where this colloquy oc
Cured. rose yells. groans and curses.
and the sound of thumps, as of the
impact Of human bodies against re-
mote subterranean doors.
They're trying to get loose. Miss
Dangerfield, and they refuse to stay
tied. The flercest row is from the
fellows we chucked into the coal bins"
cts excellent anthracite. the best
I can buy: they ought to be glad 1t
isn't soft coal" replied Ardmore de-
fensively. who are they?"
"They're newspaper men, and
they're most terribly enraged." an
swered Capt. Webb. I'VE picked them
up one at a time In different places on
the estate. They say they're down
here looking for Gov Dangerfield."
"You have done well. Capt. Webb"
said Jerry with dignity, land ] shall
urge your promotion upon papa at the
earliest moment possible. Arc these
newspaper gentlemen your only pris-
oners?"
mo: we gathered up two other. par
ties, and one Of them Is IN the serv-
ants laundry: the other. middle
aged person. I locked in the tower,
where he can enjoy the scenery. The
prisoner up there made an awful rum
nus. He declares he will ruin the
whole state Of North Carolina for this.
Here is his card. which. in a COM
paratively lucid interval. he gave me
to hand you at the earliest possible
moment" and Capt Webb placed a
visiting card in Ardmore's hands.
A smile struggled for possession OF
Ardmore's countenance, but he re-
gained control of himself promptly,
and his face grew severe.
He gave the card to Jerry. who
handed it to Mrs. Atchison. and that
lady laughed merrily.
Your prisoner, Capt. Webb. Is
George P. Billings. secretary Of the
Bronx Loan and Trust Company of
New York. What was he doing when
you seized him." demanded Ardmore.
"He. was chasing the gentleman
who's resting on the anthracite. He
chased him and chased him. around
teahOuse out here somewhere on the
place: and finally this person in the
coal hole fell. and they both rolled
over together. The gentleman in the
| ~
the state treasurer Of North Carolina.
but his face got SO scratched on the
shrubbery that he doesn't look in the
least like Mr.. Foster"
"I have sent him witch hazel and
court plaster, and we can get doc
tor for his wounds, If necessary" said
Mrs. Atchison.
A sergeant rushed up in hot haste
with q demand from Col. Dauben-
speck, of the North Carolina First. to
know when Gov. Dangerlleld could be
seen.
1.-THE South Carolina pickets have
been withdrawn, and our officers want
orders from the governor in person.
said the messenger.
"Then they shall have orders"
roared Ardmore. "If our men dare
abandon their outposts--"
He turned and rode f,lriously to-
ward the border, and in his rage he
had traversed thousand yards before
he saw that Jerry was close behind
him. AS they passed the red bunga-
low the crack OF scattering rif1e-shots
| reached them
Go back! Go back! The wars
begun" cried Ardmore; but, though
he quickeneh the pace Of his horse.
Jerry chung to his side.
"If there's war; and ] hope there IL.
] shall not shrink from the firing line,
Mr.. Ardmore."
AS they dashed into their own lines
they came upon the regimental Off
GERS, seated in comfortable chairs
from the red bungalow. calmly en-
gagged in a game of cards.
Great God men!" blurted Ard
III bor