Mansfield mirror. (Mansfield, Wright County, Mo.) 1908-1957, 1914-07-02
CHAPTER XIV.
! Meet NV Double.

Meet My Double.
The probability that the man was a
British officer, whose life depended on
my exertions, nerved me anew. No
matter who he might prove to be.
whether friend or foe, he was OF my
race and blood, and evidently the vic
tim Of treacherous attack. First Of all
!! must get him out of that sitting hole
into pure air, and discover the nature
Of his injuries. 1t vas no easy task
dragging the heavy body through the
narrow entrance, and across the dis.
lodged door. 1t had to be accomplished
by sheer strength of arm, for / worked
on my knees, choked by the foul at
mosphere. almost blinded by the
smoke. and unable to find purchase.
Yet foot by foot | won, until, exhaust
ed by the effort, l hauled the limp form
free of the barrier, and against the
side wall of the cellar.
| leaned against the wall as the
ave of smoke thinned, and drifted
out through the open door. At last
there was but a thin vapor showing
against the blue expanse of sky. 1t
occurred to me the blue was shading
into gray, as If approaching twilight.
| retained no sense of time; so much
had occurred l felt | had been confined
for hours in that tunnel; when | first
emerged and perceived light l could
scarcely realize that it was yet day;
that all had occurred-the fight in the
cabin. my rescue, the horrors of the
tunnel-within so short a space. There
suddenly swept over me the fresh
memory of it all; | saw the faces,
heard the voices. And they were dead,
those men | had companioned with;
they had gone the long journey, some
quickly, mercifully, and Brady in the
agony of torture. How it nauseated
me! The swift reaction leaving me
sobbing like a child, my hands pressed
yer my eyes,. All at once ] expert
enced the full horror, and broke down
as weak as a babe. / remember now
how my knees shook, SO that | sank
down to the earth floor; ay! and how
i pldNtu, H. NolIC a SCuoClCoo
murmur. yet, no doubt, clear enough
to Gods ears.
l felt tempted to get outside, and
discover where the raiders had gone;
their trail might reveal much. if 1t
could only be found before night came.
l had Strengthened up, determined to
try the venture when a movement be-
low, and the mufled sound of a voice
speaking English, reminded me Of the
soldier. Descending from out the sun
light | could perceive little in the dark.
er cave-cellar. The red jacket was,
however. sufficiently conspicuous to
convince me that the man was sitting
up, his back against the wall.
81 don't know who you are, friend"
he called out heartily, only you look
to be white. By any luck do you
speak English?"
Not much of anything else" I an
swered, e~ndeavoring to discover his
features. I'm of the blood"
"Ay! With a colonial twang to it,
unless my EARS lie. Is that the story?
So! Then what in Gods lame are you
doing here?"
/ could not take the measure of the
fellow, his face remaining indistinct in
the SHADOWS, but there was a reckless
ring of good-fellowship in his voice
which inspired me to f%rankness.
Il came this way with a message for
the Wyandots. / belong to the gar.
rison of Fort Harmar."
IAN oificer?"
Yes"
Holy smoke, man. but you certainly
stumbled into a hornets nest. Didn't
you know all the northwest tribes
have declared war? That It has actual
ly begun?"
mo; 1t was in the hope OF prevent
ing such a catastrophe that I was sent.
Word was brought us that the Wyan-
dots would not join the confederation"
Who brought such word?"
Simon Girty. He bore a letter from
Hamilton, and sought information re-
garding the disappearance Of a Wyan,
dot chief"
w a-pa-tee-tan
THAT was the name"
The man laughed, but the sound was
not altogether pleasant.
There is a touch Of humor to your
tale, my friend" he said slowly, al.
though l doubt IL you will be able to
perceive 1t. Girty and Hamilton may
have had reasons Of their own for a bit
Of byplay; egad! They failed to con.
suit me. But as for this Wa-pa-tee-tah,
that CHANGED to be my business, al.
though just now. and in the presence
OF the enemy, we will let the discus
sion 90. Diplomacy eve reveals its
cards, and | have become more diplo,
nat than soldier. What am | then-a
prisoner"
CTo BE CoNTINuEpJ