The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1912-04-20
CHAPTER XVIII.
We Capture a Courier.

/ The girls light burst OF laughter
aroused me thoroughly to sense OF
our situation.
You seem 70 derive much amuse-
ment from a condition of affairs al
most intolerable TO me- | said bitter
! ~ II have always valued most highly
the friendship OF Mrs Brennan, but
this unfortunate occurrence will doubt.
? less end II
She ganced up al me, her long
lashes wet but her dark eyes spark
ling with mischief
"Oh she won't care 50 far as you
are concerned" she exclaimed indif-
ferently But suppose she viii
think ! am perfectly hornd Well.
don't care If she does; she might
have waited and learned the truth
first Wasn't her face study? And
how shall ever explain 10 Arthur 30
that he Will understand? I'm sure
\ have got he worst OF it Oh, Captain
Wayne Is my hair all RULED up?
i know | look like fright You must
4 come In now. and we will explain 70
\ Mrs Brennan the whole matter She
cannot help believing us both. while
4 know she would be SO cold and
proud 10 me alone"
4 | shook my head decisively Per-
Il haps IL was better ended so; az least
\ ! possessed no courage just them 70
face her indignation She might but
deem we had concocted our explana-
ton and would very likely receive IL
with all the scorn she felt Ii deserved.
4 Besides, IL was clear there was moth
1 ing | could do TO aid them should
be now merely an unweloome intru-
der An escort was to be there short.
ly to convoy them northward, and for
me 10 be found in their company by
/ Brennan would only lnflame him and
\ add greatly TO the embarrassment OF
his wife's position Much as | might
4 long for immediate pindication in her
sight, tho plain duty Of true love was
70 depart al once. and permit time to
straighten out the tangle
You must pardon me- hastened
TO say, standing hat In hand before
4 her, but Ii would not be best for
me to intrude upon Mrs Brennan aft
81 her late reception. merely halt
ed here In order TO assure myself OF
your presence and safety My men
are even now waiting for me few
hundred yards away
But ! wish you 70 meet Arthur"
"Oh, ! think not. Miss Minor feel
warm friendship for Lieutenant Cation.
but we wear different uniforms. serve
under different flags, and a meeting
here, both with armed forces behind
us, would naturally have TO be hos
tile one. However the Lieutenant and
/ might consent to temporary truce.
his superior officer, Major brennan,
would not likely prove of the same
! mind"
Then you really must go?n
Unless you specially desire TO wit
ness cavalry skirmish in your front
dooryard | certainly consider II best,
and | held out my hand. Surely we
part as friends, and | may hope that
you will intercede In my behalf with
Mrs. Brennan
She rose up impulsively.
How ridiculous; how supremacy ri
diculous! Why of course | will,
though | don't suppose Edith really
cares very much, but she believed Il
would be highly proper TO be shocked.
don't think she likes you so very
well anyway. Captain Wayne. for she
never will talk about you
With these cheering words ringing
In my ears, and feeling thoroughly de-
feated In every cherished hope.
strobe savagely down the long hill and
mounted my horse. How roughly for
tune had suffeted me- 20 be sure, and
how extremely small the inspiration
left, Well, perhaps | deserved II for
ever permitting myself TO love one
whom ! knew to be the wife OF an
other Doubtless she had seized upon
this slight pretext to be rid OF me.
and was already rejoicing over its
easy accomplishment.
In my agitation | forgot entirely the
presence OF Maria Bungay az the
house. and ordering my men into sad
die prepared for departure without
giving thought TO the little fellow
and his domestic troubles. chose
the road leading toward the north
west. for although had not asked the
question | conceived IL highly probable
that Brennan and his party would ride
from the Federal calvary quarters at
Golfers Church. and had no desire
10 meet them, They were upon an
errand OF mercy OF far greater lmpor.
lance than my revenge.
As we swung along through the
heavily timbered land fringing our
road. Bungay pressed his mule into
trot and finally succeeded In ranging
up at my side. Even in my disturbed