The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1913-09-05

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Nothing" said the other bitterly;
u guess he is dead"
Wait" said Wilfred. He stepped
across the hall, keeping Thorne Gov
cred with his revolver Don't move; /;
| Will see" He threw open the door.
glanced in, and then came back. TITS
lie!" he said.
What" exclaimed Thorne.
There is no one I'm there. Il is Just
one of your tricks. Call the guardi"
He shouted toward the hall. and then
toward the window. Sergeant OF the
guard! Captain Thorne is here. in
this house"
He stepped out on the porch and
shouted again with astonishing power
for one so painfully wounded as he
Then the boy felt a faintness come
over him. He sank down on a seat on
the porch and leaned his head against
the house, and sought to recover his
strength, fighting a desperate battle;
fearful lest Tborne should escape
while he was thus helpless.
1t was Edith Varney who first re-
piled to his frantic summons by hurry
ing into the room. She was as much
surprised to see Thorne as he was to
see her. Her heart leaped in her bosom
at the sight of him, and she stared at
him as at a wrath or a vision.
You wouldn't tell me an untruth,
would you" said Thorne, coming
closer to her. HE was shot in this
room an hour ago. my brother Henry
I'd like to take one look at his dead
face before they send me the same
way. Where is he? Can't you tell me
that much, Miss Varney? Is he in the
house?"
Edith looked at his face, shook her
head a little, and moved away from
him toward the table Thorne threw
up his hands in a gesture Of despair,
and turned toward the window. AS he
did so, Wilfred, having recovered from
his faintness little, called out again:
"The guard! The escaped prisoner,
Captain Thorne!"
This time his frantic outcry was an
swered. At last they were closing in
upon the wretched man. He turned |
from the window and faced the girl, |
scarcely less wretched than he, and |
laughed shortly.
"They are on the scent, you see," he
said; they'll get me in a minute;
and when they do, 1t won't take them
long to finish me off. And as thatll
be the last of me, Miss Varney, maybe
you'll listen to one thing. We can't
all die a soldiers death, in the roar
and glory of battle. our friends about
us, under the flag we love. No, not all!
Some of us have orders for another
kind Of work, daredevil, desperate
work, the hazardous schemes of the
secret service. We fight our battles
alone, no comrades to cheer US on, ten
thousand to one against US, death at
every turn. If we win, we escape with
our lives; II we lose, we are dragged
out and butchered like dogs. No sol
dier's grave, not even a trench with
the rest of the boys-alone, despised,
forgotten! These were my orders,
Miss Varney; this is the death l die ,
tonight, and l don't want you to think
'or one moment that am ashamed of
IT,; no, not for one moment"
The sound of heavy feet drew near r
er. Wilfred called again, while the I
.wo in the room confronted each 9th I
sr, the man erect, and the woman, too. I
A strange pain was In her heart. At 7
east here was man, but before she @
'ould say word in answer to his i'm
'assioned defense, the room filed with +
soldiers.
There's your man, sergeant" said d
Vilfred; Il hand him over to you" t
you are my prisoner" said the SER {,
cant. I,
His command was reinforced by Il
lumber OF others, including Corporal r
fatson and his squad, and some of the Il
len Of the Provost Guard, who had n
cen chasing Thorne through the II
treets. At this juncture, Arrelsford, II
anting and breathless, also joined O.
ne company in the drawing-room. He O.
anne in rapidly, thrusting aside those
! his way
Where is he?" he cried. "Ah!" he r
,triumphantly, as his eye fell E
pom Thorne, standing quietly, sur
1unded by the soldiers. We've got =
i'm, have we?"
Young Mr. Varney, here, took him, (
r" said the sergeant.
SO" returned Arrelsford to his pris-
1er, run down at last. Now, you will
nd out what it costs to play your lit
e game with our government tele- H
'aph lines"
But Thcrne did not turn his head, al W
ough Arrelsford spoke almost in his
r. He looked straight at Edith Var
~, and she returned his glance
Don't waste any time, sergeant"
i'd Arrelsford furiously. "Take him tt
'wn the street and shoot him full of va
ad. Out with him" ba
Very well, sir" said the sergeant. to
But Wilfred interposed. He came do
rward, Thorne's revolver still In his ce
nd. ne
mo" he said decisively; whatever on
is, whatever he has done, he has in,
q right to trial" WI
"The head of the secret service de- CO.
rtment said to me If found him, to wi
oot him at sight" snarled Arrels- fer
ID. ale
Il don't care what General Tarle- lea
! said. ] captured this man; he's in tiv
IS house, and he is not going out un- yet
IS he is treated fairly" VIII
rhe sergeant looked uncertainty ma
m Wilfred to Arrelsford. Mrs. Var pei
u, who had entered with the rest of ow
I'M. and who now stood by her !
lghtsr's side. looked her approval the