davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1912-06-07
Pageant Notes.

The stocks used in the Arms Tavern
episode are owned by the museum in
Northampton and were loaned for the
pageant They saw service in the pre-
Revolutionary days.
On account of the rain yesterday the
performance of the pageant was post
poned to this afternoon. The production
of 1.-THE Contrast" set for this afternoon
has been postponed indefinitely.
Main street merchants made a very
creditable showing of natnonal flags,
hardly a place of business being with
out one. large number of private resi-
dences displayed "Old Glory"
While boy was caring for one of the
horses behind the scenes Wednesday
evening a stone was thrown by some
one in the darkness who could not be
seen. 1t hit the animal, which bucked,
throwing the lad over his head. Elk
cept for the jar OF the fall the boy was
not hurt.
Handsome programs for the pageant
are sold for 10 cents each, They were
furnished by the board of trade, are 10
inches long by seven inches wide and
consist of 80 pages besides the cover,
which is printed in two colors and en-
bossed. The program contains an out
line Of each episode, the names of the
participants, a number of halftone pic
lures OF BrattleDOTO soHie
facts concerning the town and its at
fractions.
The stage coach used in the Boston
street scene and the early stage coach
days of Brattleboro has seen more than
so years of service. 1t is owned by Mr..
White of Chesterfield. II makes daily
trips between Spofford lake and Keene
during the summer season and despite
its age apparently is good for many
more years. The springs are of leather
and those now in use have been used
continuously more than 20 years. The
fortune teller's wagon, the one with the
large white top, was built in Kansas and
was given to a preacher of that state
by his parish. His health demanded
that he live out of door and before he
died In Walpole, n. H., the wagon trav-
eled through many states and the min
lister delivered many sermons to wayside
crowds, The ancient peddler's cart Ii
familiar to many residents in this To-
calty as 1t was but a few years age
that A. w. Bartlett retired from ped
ding and gave to the wagon a WELL
earned rest. 1t had covered countless
miles of highways in the New England
states and when Mr.. Bartlett gave ur
the business he did not unload the wag-
on, leaving behind its locked doors
many of the articles which he used In
trading. They sim remain in the wag-
on
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1912-06-07
PAGEANT Committees,


Executive-Dr Henry d. Hoton, Major
c. Houghton, w. A. Shumway, c. l..
Stickney, Mrs L. F. Adams, Mrs How
ard C. Rice, Mrs. c. L. Stickney, Mrs. ].
Gray Estey Mrs. C. S. Pratt.
Director of the Pageant-Margaret
MacLaren Eager.
Historical Censor-Miss Mary R. Cab
OF.
Information-F. w. Childs.
Guarantee-Dr. II. d. Holton, Dr. G.
r. Anderson, G. L. Durham, c. E.
Gldden, L. L. Durham. j. G. Unery, C.
H. Pratt, Major c. Houghton, A. B.
Clapp, J. NJ. Tyler ]. C. Estey, G. C.
A Boyden. C. R. Crosby, NJ. ]. Moran,
Mrs j. j. Estey, Mrs. G. S. Dowley,
Mrs. C. W. Durham, II. P. Webster
Publcity-C. C. Fits. DR., Smaller E.
Lawton, w. A. Gilbert DR.. G. F. Barber,
C. o. Robbins. E. Burr Smith, Mrs. H.
A. Staten (Vernon), Mrs. Georgia NJ.
Love (South Newfane), Mrs. George C.
Wright (westminster). Mrs. Mary F.
Stakeholder, Miss Mary Fits, E. ]. Fen
ton, Rev. Roy NJ. Honghton, w. H.
Bracket. C. A. Harris.
Advertising-H. C. Rice, w. f. Hub
bard, George E. Fox, M. j. Moran, Mar
tin Austin, w. B. Smith.
Program-Mrs C. C. Fits, Mrs. G. L.
Durham, Miss L. V. Whiting, Miss EN-
ma Houghton, o. l.. French, Mrs. Harry
c. Freeman, Mrs. Arthur H. Brasor,
Miss Ruth w. Chiljs.
Grounds. C. Estey, F. A. Thomp-
son, DR.. F. H. o'Connor. A. D. Wyatt.
John c. Howe, G. A. Boyden. Rev. D.
e. Trout, ]. H. Estey, C. H. Thompson.
Lighting-E. NJ. Adds. L. C. White.
Treasurer and Tickets-H. P. Webster.
Finance-Charles G. Staples, c. L.
Stickney. Mrs. George E. Warner.
Properties-Dr. G. r. Anderson, Mrs
Smaller E. Lawton, Miss Mary Cox, D.
H. Gilman, H. R. Brown. c. NJ Miller,
w. %. Cooley. L. d. Taylor.
Costumes-Mrs. C. H. Thompson, Mrs.
C. o. Robbins, Mrs. H. L. Waterman,
Mrs. ]. Harry Estey. Mrs. F. A. Thomp-
son, Mrs. G. B. White, Mrs. H. H. Cros-
by. Miss Amy j. Hines. Mrs. NJ. NJ.
Tucker. J. c. Sutherland. DR.. A. l.
Pettee. Miss Addie shattuck, Mrs. NJ. C.
Houghton, Miss Florence NJ. Hemenway.
Musie-E. H. Crane, F. C. Adams. Miss
Emma ], Gregg. Miss Harriet Holden.
MISUNDERSTANDING Haskins. Mrs.
Levi X. Fuller. Mrs. ]. ]. Estey, Mrs.
G. w. Hooker, Mrs. George S. Dowley.
Mrs. ]. NJ. Tyler Mrs. Frank w Weeks,
Miss Susan E. Clark, Mrs. w. H. Big
Glow, Mrs. N. l. Hawley. o. ]. Pratt,
C. w. Wilcox.
Episoje-Mrs. C. F. Barber, Mrs. H.
r. Brown, Mrs. l.. d. Greene, Mrs. E.
B. Smith. Mrs. ]. j. Estey, Mrs Fran
els Blake, Mrs, L. F. Holden, Mrs. John
D. Barrows, Mrs. Fred l. Swift. Mrs.
Charles A. Harris Mrs Wilfred F. Root,
Mrs. j. L. Stockwell. Mrs. J. c. Dewitt,
Mrs. W. E. Haskell II. r. Lawrence,
o. F. Benson.
The pageant chorus consists of Mrs.
E. v. Morse. Mrs. A. l.. Maynard, Mrs.
A. II. Brasor. Mrs, Eric Landry, Mrs.
w. H. Bassett, Miss Florence Hidreth'
Miss Harriet Rallion, Miss Katharine
Martin. Miss Cora Liscom, Mrs. Cola
Morse. Miss Miriam Childs Mrs. Elbridge'
Knowlton, Arthur L. Maynard, Walter s.
Stearns. Fred c. Adams, F, H
O'Connor. G. NJ. Clay f. NJ. Adds, e.
" Morse, F. S. Knight, A. W. Peach,
A. L. Clapp. C. B. Crowell w. III. Lane
Eric Landry.
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1912-06-07
THE CONTRAST
First American Play, Written by a Brat
tleboro Man, Finely Presented In the
Pavilion Last EvenInu.

tleboro Man, Finely Presented In the
Pavilion Last Evening.
An audience of about 300 persons sat
In the dancing pavilion on the island
last evening and enjoyed a revival of
the hrst American play written and pro-
duced by professional actors, THE Con-
trast," the author of which was Judge
Royal Tyler of Brattleboro. The stage
represented the old John Street theatre
in New York city, where THE Contrast"
was first produced in 1887. The comedy
is of subtle sort and in several ases
might be called suggestive. Many of the
Jokes surely are relations of those So
called comedies which have been pre-
sented even within the past season. 1t
is said that Judge Tyler wrote the play
within three weeks after his first visit
to playhouse, and IL he did he was a
man of wonderful talent because 1t is
well constructed and the language used
by some of the principal characters is
of the purest English. Although the pre-
sentation did not begin until about $50
o'clock and was not over until II 10 1t
was enjoyed by everyone, despite the
long winded speeches in several of the
acts. N.
A feature which was not on the pro-
gram and which was a delightful sur
prise to the audience came in the first
scene Of act four when Mrs. Mary Howe
Burton sang Coming thro' the rye"
playing her own accompaniment on the
spinet. Despite the continued applause
she sang but once, but that once was a
treat long to be remembered
The action of the play revoves about
the engagement of Maria to Mr.. Dimple
an INSCRIPTIONS flop of American birth
and an ape of English manners and GUS
toms, and the love of good Colonel Man
ley for Maria and the love returned by
her. The comedy ends happily with the
lovers betrothed, the william worsted and
the father showering his blessings upon
the happy young people.
Cast for 1.-THE Contrast"
Charlotte, Ethel Osgood
Letita, Mrs. Edward G. Chace
Maria, Elsa Eager
Jenny, maid to Maria, Mary F. Cox
Sally Bloomsbury. Mrs. j. Gray Estey
Chloe, maid to Charlotte,
Mrs; H. D. Walker
| Colonel Manley, Edward G. Chace
Mr.. Van Rough. &C. R. Fink
| Mr.. Dimple, Samuel w. EAGER
Jonathan, Col Manley's waiter
Samuel w. Eager
Jessamy, Mr.. Dimple's servant,
Fred C. Adams
Mr.. Indigo, Linn D. Taylor
The individual work of the players
| leaves nothing to be desired From the
| leading characters down to those who
TOOK minor parts nothing but praise can
| be melted out for their work in the re-
vival of The Contrast" Everyone en-
! tered into the spirit of the play. Indi-
vidual praise or criticism is needless as
| all put something into their work which
showed more than ordinary mateur tall
ent and proved source of delight to the
audience. The minuet in act four was
especially fine. The actors participating
in it with stateliness and precision while
| Miss IZetta M Stewart played the spin
ct, loaned by Chickering & Sons of Bos-
ton. The costumes in all the five acts,
especially those of the women, were
beautiful creations. The dress of Colo
NAL days was carried out to the most
| minute detail.
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1912-06-07

The Industrial life of Brattleboro and
the stage coach days are the subject Of
episode seven. BY 1885 industrial life
here was well developed Flatboats
piled back and forth on the river be-
tween Hartford and Bellows Falls. On
the bank opposite the pageant grounds
stood the windlass by which the boats
were wound up" over the rapids be-
low. The town was a centre of stage
coach travel between Boston, Benning-
ton, Troy, Albany and other points I'M
til the coming of the railroad in 1S47,
and James Fisk's dry goods palaces on
wheels were interesting objects. In this
episode are seen a gathering on the
common, the arrival of stage coach
drawn by four horses, Sukey Barns, a
local character who told fortunes, fiat
boats on the river, and peddlers' carts.
The episode is in charge of Mrs. Err
nest j. Waterman and Miss Ruth w.
Childs.
Cast-Dr John Wilson (supposed to
have been Thunderbot), Wilfred Harris
DR.. Wilson's son, Truxton Britton; Jim
mic Barnes, John Lee; Sukey Barnes,
the fortune teller, Mrs. H.. d. Walker;
stage driver, George Wilcutt
Townspeople-Fred w. Reed, Glenn C.
Gould, John NJ. Lawton, ]. E. Rogers,
Rollin II. Brown, Charles r. Frink,
Carl F. Cain, John Atkinson, win
J. Cain, John j. Eckels. jr., Les
lie Parmenter, Mrs. Charles r. Frink,
Mrs ]. E. Rogers, Mrs. Rollin H. Brown,
Mrs Myron Davis; Mrs. Carl F. Cain,
Miss Gertrude Norcross, Miss Hope Boil
ton, Miss Pearl Gibson, Miss Winifred
Garfield, Miss Corona Bell, Miss Chris
label Garfield, Miss Marguerite N. Clark
Miss Harriet ]. Atkinson, Miss Ruth
Helyar.
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1912-06-07

tin, John T. Austin, Francis Dunlevy,
William ]. Fenton, NJ. ]. Hopkins, A. p.
Rollins, c. r. O'Connor, f. ]. Cavan-
augh, John Fenton, j. NJ Lee, ]. c. Nc
Carly, Z. NJ. Ferriter.
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1912-06-07

Although Vermont had a government
in full operation after 1877, Brattleboro
kept up the organization as a New York
town until 1881. Then sentiment in ia
vor of government under Vermont had
increased and at town meeting held
March ~. 1871, II was voted to make
Brattleboro a Vermont town. This did
not subdue or quiet all the adherents of
New York, however. Timothy Church,
who was colonel of the southern reg-
ment Of militia. arranged under New
York, was foremost in the opposition to
Vermont and resisted its authority on
every occasion. Many Of the people
followed his lead, and when the stocks
were placed in a public place in the
town as the laws of Vermont required
they should be there was a general re-
bellion. So frequent were the disturb
ances that Ethan Allen came with a
large number of mounted men, the Green
Mountain Boys. to enforce the authority
OF Vermont. This is portrayed in cpl
sode six, in charge of Mrs. A. L.. Pettee
and Mrs. F. p. Blake. He told the peo-
pie that unless they should submit
peaceably to this authority he would lay
their towns as waste and desolate as
Sodom and Gomorrah. General Allen
left detachment of troops in Brattle-
boro under command of Commanding
General Joseph Farnsworth and ordered
MS men u arrest COlonti 1nurcn ana
others and to take them to the common
gaol OF the county" Submission soon
followed in Brattleboro and elsewhere
and the authority of Vermont remained
undisputed.
This episode shows the gathering OF
townspeople In rebellion at the old Arms
Tavern. The town constable mounts a
box and reads the law requiring stocks
to be placed IN "a public place, where
upon the people decide to resist the law.
Gen. Ethan Allen and the Green Noun
tain Boys arrive on horseback and with
some picturesque oaths General Allen
orders the arrest of Church and the rest
and leaves militia to take charge Of the
town.
Cast-Ethan Allen, J. Willard Cobb;
Susanna Arms, Mrs. II. w. Sargent;
blacksmith "a Yorker), James M. Ad-
ans; Colonel Timothy Church. Samuel
w. Eager; town constable, J. G. STAFF
ford; Josiah Arms, landlord, Leslie AL
len; Mr. Townshend, a prisoner, ]. d.
Barrows.
Green Mountain Boys-H. r. Brown, F,
F. Clark, S. F. Abbott. II. A. Wood, G..
e. Gilman Oscar Guiheen, t. S. Bar
her. ]. p. Estey, Lawrence Sherman, j,
f. Helyar, Richard Brown, H. L. March,
A. A. Jones, w. c. Harris, l.. 1. Allen,
Harold Putnam. Hugh Agnew. John
Clune. DR.. III. W. Taylor. d. Gilman,
Francis Marion. Sanford Smith.
Townspeople-Mr. and Mrs. John Mich
OILS Mr.. and Mrs. Walter Robbins. Raw
mond L. Brown, G. w. Brooks, Leslie
Whitney. Mrs A.. L. Pettee. Mrs NJ ].
Moran, Mrs ]. p. Ferriter. Mrs. II. w.
Sargent, Mrs. c. F. Bingham, Mrs. w,
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1912-06-07

Episode three opens with the arrival
of men to build Fort Drummer, carrying
out an order of the general court of the
province of Massachusetts Bay, on ac-
count of the attack at Deerfield and
other outrages. This was the first civ
ilized settlement in Vermont. The first
child born in the fort was John Sar-
gent, afterward Col. John Sargent of
Brattleboro. The men arrive with two
OK teams and English and western In
dian scouts. and after they have erected
the fort soldiers come for defense, with
fife and drum at the head of the pro-
cession. Opposing scouts give word to
the braves in the woods and an attack
follows, in the year 1774, but the at
lacking force is repused in a fusilade
from the soldiers and men, and the In
dams retreat, carrying off the dead and
wounded. Rev. Ebenezer Hinsdale, chap
lain, is seen teaching the Indians. News
of tie attack on the Great Meadow is
brought to the fort by two Indian girls
on horseback. and then follows the
march of soldiers from the fort to and
from Mortified and Deerfield to the res
cue of captives. The episode is in
charge of Mrs. F. I. Swift and Mrs j.
L. Stockwell.
Cast-Mrs. Josiah Willard, Mrs. o. G.
Convey; Abigail Wilder, Mrs. Willard S
niece, who lived at the fort, Miss Belle
Sargent, a descendant; Mrs. John Sar-
gent, Mrs Florence Switzer, a descend
ant; Nehemiah Howe, John c. Howe, a
descendant Captain Josiah Willard, Adm
F. Miller, descendant; Lieutenant John
Sargent, H. w. Sargent, a descendant
Theodore Taft, Ernest and Irving Miller
descendants Ebenezer Putnam, Horace
S. Goodenough, a descendant; driver OF
oxen, Carl Sargent, descendant of Johr
Sargent; drummer c. S. Daniels fifer
George A. Stone.
Men Who Built the Fort-A. F. Rob.
erts, NJ. E. Cooper, Purle Covey, Walter
Cheney, II. w. Spaulding, Judge F. B
Pier, David T. Perry, Robert Dunklee
Albert Dunklee, A. b. Jordan, F. w
Hall, Sidney Graves, Harold Belden
Perley LaPlante, Harold Akley, descend.
ant of Abigail Wilder.
White Scouts-Hugh Dupklee, Walter
E. Bartlett
Indian Scouts-W. A. Shumway, Fred F
Clark, William Thayer, Fred Miner, Johr
Kali, N. r. Bromley.
Indian Girls-Marjorie Balestier ant
Allethaire Estey.
finger, Henry Locke, william Combs
William Blanchard, w. ]. Cain. E. E
Gobie, L. C. Stiff. C. ]. Wheeler Harold
Smith. Fred Hescock, Floyd johnson, ]
E. Leach, w. p. Manley, w. L. Spear
John Washington, E. ]. Taggart, Loy'
Robinson. Robert Mitchell, John Lee, f
II. Winchester, Verne Winchester, K. P
harrington, A. L. Billings, c. E. Bishop
II. A. Viele, E. B. Smith. Carl Hopkins
w. II. Buzby, S. ]. Chaplin, A. II
Combs. p. F. Crown, John Halgren, Or
rim B. Hughes, L. F. Mixer, d. v
| Wells, John Whittier.
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1912-06-07

S. Stearns Mrs. A. e. Miller, Mrs. Car
RE McVeigh, Mrs J. NJ. Adams, Mrs. ].
ID. BaTows, Mrs. Lillian Royce, Mrs. Il.
l.. Iiildreth Mrs. w. p. Manley, Mrs
Fred Whittemore, Mrs. w. l., Bartlett,
Miss Victoria Johnson, Miss Alice Leon
ard, Miss Maud Stearns, Miss Matilda
Clifton, Miss Lotte Dodge, Miss Winnie
Douglas, Miss Velma Foster, Miss Mary
Fits, Miss Izetta NJ Stewart, Miss Jes-
sic Gregg, Miss Gladys Morse, Miss
Bessie Wood, Miss Ella Stebbins, Miss
Mary Croker Miss Ida Wilder Miss
Irene Mather, Miss Rita Eckels, Leslie
Parmenter.
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1912-06-07

w. II. Haywood. j. C. Pellet, r. b.
Goodhue.
Market Women--Mrs. a. w. George
Mrs. w. II. Haywood, Mrs. C. r. Cros-
by. Miss Lucy NJ. Stevenson, Miss Alice
NJ. Locke. Miss Florence NJ Hemenway
Miss Mary F. Stakeholder, Mrs. II. p.
Abbott. - '-.. i-r"'~' '-'"
Walker, F. II. O'Connor. M. NJ. Tucker,
Sanford Smith, w. H. Richardson, L. s..
Barber, w. l.. Hunt, f. r. Newell, w.
A. Wilcox, d. Cowles, Louis Allen.
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1912-06-07

AS Introductory to civilization in Brat
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1912-06-07

But in 61 the scene changed Social
functions and gay professions gave place
to the roll of the drum, the shrek OF the
fife and the sound of marching feet. In
due course came back many hundreds OF
the sick and wounded to be nursed back
to life and health in the hospital bar
racks on the old camp ground and later
on came the mastering out of the YER
mont troops and their glad departure to
waiting homes and friends. This cpl
sode. number nine in charge of Capt. w.
o. Cooley, begins with a gathering of
townspeople and then appear the return
ing troops on the march. The towns
people and veterans of other wars well
come the returning soldiers, and as the
latter are mustered out they are clasp
ed in the arms of relatives and sweet
hearts. The scene ends with the en-
trance of Peace (allegoricaO. Peace Is
impersonated by Miss Elsa Eager, on
horseback, soldier in blue on one side
and soldier in gray on the other also
on horseback.
Soldiers. F. Long, NJ. j. Lynch, l..
II. Miller w. II. Perry. NJ. j. Sherry,
w. p. Toomey, III. NJ. Boyle, b. o. Ware,
f. L. Young, j. J. Cummings, F. L.
Whidien, W. p. Adams, George Met
calf, w. o. Cooley, ID. III. Gilman, j. f..
Helyar. C. w. Trendall. A. r. Wilson,
r. e. Walker, w. C. Schorling. A. C.
Buzby, w. r. Spaulding, A. ]. Rolin. r,
N. Crosby, F. J. Adam, e. r. Amidon.
e. N. Butler, r. 70. Butler. f. r. Hutch
inson. b. d. Cady. ]. J. Clune. p. w.
Erickson. C. II. Davis. c. A. Harring-
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1912-12-12
blazed. and the dim figure went down,

blazed. and the dim figure went down,
There was a cry--a mad yell OF rage
in which scattered voices joined;
splits of fire cleaving the darkness,
the barking of guns of different cali
Der. A bit Of flying lead tore through
the leather back of the coach with an
odd rip; another struck the casing OF
the door, sending the wooden splin'
tiers flying like arrows. Hawk-eyed,
Hamlin fired twice more, aiming at
the sparks, erimly certain that re.
spending howl from the LETT evidenced
hit. Then, as quickly. all was still,
intensely black once more. The Ser.
geant drew back from the window.
leaning his gun against the casing.
THAT will hold them for a while"
he said cheerfu|ly. 1.-TWO less out
there, l reckon, and the others won't
get careless again right away. Now
is our time; are you ready?"
There was no response, the stiffness
SO profound he could hear the faint
ticking Of the girls watch. He
reached out, almost alarmed, and
lOuCQeu Ner CTeSS.
What is the trouble?" he ques.
toned anxiousiy. Didn't you hear me
speak,"
He waited GREATNESS, but there was
no movement, no sound, and his hand.
trembling, in spite of his iron nerve,
CROPPED its way upward. She was
lying back against the opposite win
dow, her head bent sideways.
MY God" he thought, did those
devils get herr"
She lifted her slight figure up on
one arm, all else blotted out, all 9th
err memory vanished through this in.
slant dread. His cheek stung where
flying splinters had struck him, but
that was nothing. She was warm her
flesh was warm; then his searching
fingers felt the moist blood trickling
down from the edge OF her hair. He
let out his breath slowly, the sudden
relief almost choking him. 1t was bad
enough surely, but not what he had
first feared, not death. She had been
struck hard-a flying splinter OF WOOD,
perhaps, or detected bullet-her
hair matted with blood, yet it was no
more than a flesh wound, although
leaving her unconscious. If he hest
tated it was but for an instant. The
entire situation required to him in
fash; he must change his plans, but
dare waste no time. II they were to
escape it must be accomplished now,
Swallowed by darkness, while savage
watchers were safely beyond sound.
His lean jaws set with fierce detes-
mination, and he grimly hitched his
belt forward, one sinewy hand finger
ing the revolver He would have to
trust to that weapon entirely for de-
Tense; he could not carry both the
rifle and the girl.
Moving slowly, cautiously, fearful
lest some creaking of the old stage
might betray his motions to those
keen ears below, he backed through
the open door. Once feeling the
ground firm beneath his feet, and ma
king sure that both canteen and hav-
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1912-12-12

ersack were secure, ne reached back
into the darkness, gcasping the form
of the unconscious girl. He stood
erect with her held securely in his
arms, strands of hair blowing against
his cheek, listening intently, striving
with keen eyes to penetrate the black
curtain. The wind was fortunate,
blowing steadily across the fiat from
the river, and they were surely invis'
ible against the background OF the
overhanging bluff. He did not even
feel it necessary to crouch low to
avoid discovery. He knew that peril
would confront them later, when they
ventured out into the open.
How light she seemed, as though
he clasped child. Bearing
her was going to be easier
than he had supposed; the excitement
yielded him new measure OF
strength, yet he went forward very
slowly, feeling along, inch by inch,
planting his feet with exceeding care.
The earth was hard-packed and would
leave little trail: there were no leaves,
no dead grass to rustic. Beyond the
protection afforded by the stage he
felt the full sweep Of the wind and
permitted her head to rest lower on
one arm so that he could look about
more clearly. She had not even
moaned, although he had felt her
breath upon his face. Once he STUN
! bled slightly over some fallen earth,
and farther along foot slipped on q
treacherous stone, but the slight noise
died unnoticed in the night 1t was
farther to the gully than he had sup.
posed; his heart was in his throat
fearing he had missed it, halfbelievine
the depression failed to extend to the
base Of the bluff Then his foot, ex.
ploring blind1y, touched the edge 81
the bank. Carefully he laid his bur
den down, placing his battered cam
paign hat beneath her head. He bent
over her again. assuring himself that