The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1911-02-07

mad been driven to the point of mad
ness by Ardmore's apparent dullness.
The prisoner realized that he must
launch thunderbolt II he would dis
turb se(f-possession so complete-a
tranquility as sweet as the fading
afternoon.
Mr.. Ardmore, l dislike to do it, but
your amazing conduct makes 1t nee
essary for me to disclose my identity"
and the mans manner showed real
embarrassment.
Il knew it; l knew it," nodded Ard.
more, folding his arms across his
chest. you're either the king of Siam
or the prince of Petosky. AS either, !
salute you!"
moi" roared the captive, beating
impotently against the door of the
cage with his hands. mo! I'm the
governor of South Cardinal"
This statement failed, however, to
produce the slightest effect on Mr..
Ardmore, who only smiled slightly, a
smile less incredulous than disdainful.
"Oh, pshaw; that's nothing" he re-
piled I'm the governor Of North Caro-
lina!" and mounting his horse he
gravely lifted his hat to the prisoner
and galloped away.
While Mr.. Ardmore was securing
his prisoner in the corn-crib it may be
interesting to return for moment to
the haunted log cabin on RaccOon
creek, the interior of which was
INIT ,frr hi f,,v ich I'D
Above were two small sleeping rooms
and beside the bed in each stood a
suitcase and hand-satchel. In each
room hung, on convenient hooks, q
long, black frOck-cOat, pair of trOu
sers of light cloth, and broad-brim
black felt hat. Coat, trousers and hat
were exactly alike.
In the room below sat a man in his
shirt-sleeves, his feet on a cheap deal
table, blowing rings from cigar. He
presented a picture of the greatest
ease and contentment, as he occasion
ally stroked his short brown beard
or threw up his arms and clasped his
hands about his head or caught lazily
at the smoke rings. On the table lay
an array of playing cards and poker
chips.
ITS too good to last forever" the
lone occupant reflected aloud, sitting
a yawn, and he reached out, with
careless Indifference, toward bun
die of newspapers tied together with
a piece of Irvine and drew one out
and spread it across his knees. He
yawned again as though the thought
of a world whose affairs were
stamped in printers ink bored him i'm
mensely; and then the bold headlines
that shouted at him across half q
quarter of the sheet caused him tc
gasp, and his feet struck the bare
| floor of the cabin resoundingly. He
now bent over the paper with the
| greatest eagernesS, muttering as he
read, and some of his mutterings
were, it must be confessed, not with
out profane establishment.
TWO COWARDLY GOVERNORS
MISSING.
Scandal Affecting Two State Execu
tives-Is the Appleweight Case Re
onsible?-Rumors of Fatal Due
on State Line.
He. read breathlessly the startling
| story that followed the headlines
| then rose and glanced anxiously at his
watch.
Am l drunk or mad? l must find
nd ~f &c,
He leaped to the open door, and
| gazed into the forest from a little
| platform that commanded all sides OF
the cabin. And there, to his utter
amazement, he saw men in KHAKI
emerging cautiously from the woods
They were Enthusiastically soldiers Of
some sort. for an officer was giving
sharp commands, and the line opened
out like fan along the creek. The
observer of this maneuver mopped his
head with his handkerchief as he
watched the alert movements of the
| figures in khaki
He was so absorbed that he failed
to hear stealthy steps at the rear Of
the platform, but he was now rudely
aroused by two uniformed youngsters
with S. c. N. G. on their caps, who
sprang upon him and bore him with
| a crash to the puncheon floor
You're our prisoner" shouted one
of them. rising when he found thai
the prisoner yielded without resist
ance.
What for?" blurted the captive
sitting up and rubbing his elbow
For being Bill Appleweight, alias
Poteet. Get up, now, and come with
us to headquarters, or my instructions
are to break your head"
"Who in the devil are your painted
the prisoner.
well, if it's anything to you, we're
the South Carolina militia, so yout
better get up and climb"
(TO BE CONTINUED)