The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1912-07-18

over the opposite sex, held up in their
own domain by a couple of men.
"a Daniel come to judgment" said.
II beg your pardon, SIR" said the
woman
nothing"
In the hall heard Mrs. Leitrim 8
voiced raised in plaintive, almost fearful
protest. eff you want our money, take
it and 60, please CO."
Without waiting for the reply flung
open the door.
Seated around the room in a senior
Gle were some score or more of women,
their hands raised high above their
heads; on their faces varied expressions,
in which fear and physical pain at their
position were pathetically mingled.
The men were standing motionless,
one at each end of the semicircle. In
their right hands they carried revolvers
with which they covered the women.
They were tall, dressed in black, with
dark colored masks which totally OBJ
scured the upper portion Of their fea-
lures.
Mrs. Leitrim, who was the center of
the semicircle, looked up as l entered.
"Dick!" she cried and stretched out her
arms imploringly.
The two men turned sharply around as
the door crashed open and faced me.
Then in a second they had rushed past
me. AS they fled by aimed a terrific
blow at the one nearest me. BY skill
full movement he evaded it.
ran after them and entered the hall
in time to see them vanish into the
grounds. | followed and saw them di-
vide as they reached the road. For some
reason, unknown to myself at the time
or now, l gave chase to one who had
turned to the right. He was a good run
ner and it taxed my strength to the ut
most to keep him in sight.
The lane along which we sped was a
long one, leading straight for miles int
the open country As far as eye coulo
reach there was no one in sight.
We had covered perhaps quarter of
a mile, the man was a hundred yards in
front, when suddenly he slowed down,
then stopped for me to catch up.
''You scoundrel!" / cried, as l drew
near, "you COMPOUNDED scoundrel!"
The man laughed. 'My dear Dick, "
he said, ''don't lose your temper, and
and do put down that stick; it looks
ugly"
l tore the mask from his face. There
stood my cousin, smiling at me as if it
was the best joke in the world.
stared at him in amaZement, speech
less for the moment. ''You young black
guard" Numbered. ''Is this the way
you repay my kindness-you come and
stay with me and take advantage of my
absence from home to hold up house.
full of women?'
'New women" corrected Jack.
l ignored his remark. Your compan-
ion was young Cusant, suppose?"
My cousin was still smiling in most
aggravating manner.
Eyes," he replied, nonch alantly, 'It
was Cusant."
l seized him by the arm. 'I've got
one of you," l said; you'll ONE to the
police station with me-
Jack shook himself free. ''Don't be
absurd, he said, sweetly; IF you do that
you'll go and spoil your own game. Play
your cards better than that, old chap"
my game, play my cards better
what do you mean?" l said, thunder
stuck.
He looked at me whimsically. Cant
you see?"
Pm hanged if l cam" replied an
Well my giddy young knight Grant
you re in love with Mrs. Leitrim, sup
pose you know that?"
1--WE will leave that lady's name out of
it."
my wordl'' Jack is singularly puerile
N of
l must explain more fully. You are in
love with Mrs. Leitrim, think. In fact,
| really belive you are. Only you are
too bashful to propose. Her house, the
birthplace of the beloved club is broken
into by two ruffians. You appear;
before your mighty sword-rather, stick
they flee; by the way, you nearly
killed me. In short, you rescue the
ladies. You are looked upon as hero.
You propose to Mrs Leitrim-if you
have sufficient courage for that-result,
wedding bells. Comprenez vous?"
"But Mrs. Leitrim?" | said, Still du-
bious.
She's waiting for you to propose.
1t took me exactly five minutes to dis
cover that fact. Like most heroes you
are singularly dull witted.'
Jack" l said, severly, "you have
behaved shamefully."
You run along and propose, old
man," he replied.
But suppose a stranger had passed
by before me?"
Then the servant wouldn't have ask
ed him."
My cousin winked shrewdly and jim
gled some coins he had in his pocket.
"Then she was in it as well? Jack,
you're fiend, perfect fiend."
He danced joyful pas-seul in the
road. mo I'm not; I'm Cupid, up to
date" he retorted.
left him in the snow covered road,
exhorting me to be brave. When /
reached the clubhouse, the lights were
on in all the rooms and babel of voices
greeted me as the door was opened.
Mrs. Leitrim met me on the threshold.
"Dick," she, said, chow can l thank
your"
'No thanks are needed, Kitty" re-
piled as she introduced me to the other
women.
1--WE have just passed a resolution
that some of your sex are of some use
after all" said one of the members, a
merry faced girl whom knew very we'll
by sight.
1t was false position in which to be
placed, and an awkward one. l would
have given much to have had my cousin
with me. 81 am glad have been able
to SO successfully uphold the honor of my
sex I mllrmured