Gloucester County Democrat., 1911-11-02

The Indian had picked up my lamp
and my pistol. The latter he thrust
into his belt; the former he kept in
his hand. He seemed sufficiently ia
miliar with its use and employed it to
light the way.
white mans eye" he said. Good
to see in night
As we entered the bushes he uttered
a whoop, which was Immediately an
swered by a shout, and in few min
utes we passed into small open
space where, without the aid of the
lamp, there was twilight enough to
have enabled me to recognize the
forms of woman and two men.
| heard the words, "Oh, my God, he
is taken!'' in the voice of Miss Gray
man, and she moved quickly toward
me. but a hand arrested her, and a
mans voice. singularly sweet and
thrilling with its strange. sympathetic
quality, which belied the irony of its
words. said: "Ah! Another little ro-
nance, / see, Miss Grayman. Your
suitors pursue you even in the wilder
ness. But we will have no tender
scenes here if you please. john" he
continued. addressing the Indian,
''hand me that lamp"
The Indian handed it over, and Pay
ton turned off the light.
1--WE want none of that here either
he said.
Then he approached me so near that
I could make out his features in the
dim light
'You are Lieutenant Allan" he said.
SIT may comfort your heart. heuten-
ant. which will not enjoy many more
thrills in this world. to hear that
learned your name from the lips of
the dear girl for whom you have sold
your life. Allow me to congratulate
you, by the way, on your excellent
plan of campaign and on your ability
in grand tactics as well as strate-
getics.
81 confess he continued, that do
not comprehend how you found us at
the lodge, but it is no matter. No
man ever had the better of Alfonso
Payton for long. and all who have
ever tried conclusions with him have
ended the same way"
During this speech, uttered with pitt
less sarcasm, but in a perfectly cool,
even voice, l saw Miss Grayman con-
vulsiyely cover her face with her
hands and heard her sob.
The sight and the sound gave me for
the moment the strength and fury OF
a demon. The Indian had let go Of me
to hand the lamp to Payton, but the
other man had taken his place.
threw this man off with sudden
lunge and then dashed at Payton with
lowered head.
l had been football player in my
student days, and knew how to break
the line. But Payton was as quick as
/. He stepped aside, and l found my
self plunged head first into the brush
on the other side of the little open
ing.
Not having the use of my hands, |
fell on my face, and instantly Payton
and the Indian were on my back.
struggled madly, but it was all in vain.
In a few minutes l was rendered help
less by cords bound about my arms
and legs.
.Take him up commanded Payton,
still in a cool voice, although he was
painting little from the exertion.
The Indian and the other man seiz-
ed me by shoulders and feet and be-
gan to carry me.
'It is too near the rocks to finish
him. said Payton. They make too
good a landmark. Carry him along,
and when we reach good place we
will put him where we put Mr.. Green,
who was so unreasonable not long
ago."
After | had become quiet, through
necessity. Miss Grayman, who was
close ahead of us and directly behind
Payton, who led the way, held back a
little and said to me in tones that went
to my inmost heart: Lieutenant Al
LAM ohn-if you die. shall die too.
Oh, I could never liver
/ knew what such words, uttered in
such a presence, must have cost her,
and I blessed her with all my soul.
The poor, poor girl! What terrible
situation for such a confession to be
forced from her lips! But she felt that
it might be the only opportunity that
she would ever have to utter the feel
ings of her heart, and / had made
plain enough to her where my heart
was.
Helen" I replied, God bless you
forever for speaking to me like that.
But do not think of dying. ann not
dead yet, and"
In an exasperatingly cool voice Pay
ton, without apparently turning his
head, broke in: Don't fiatter yourself
Lieutenant Allan. She'll forget you
soon enough. That is the way with
women. Why, it's only little while
since she was as cheerful as lark in
nv comnany.