The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1917-01-20

the rear OF the smithy, waited imps
tiently. A silent figure passed him
unseeing, scratched thrice with tn
point OF knife on an unseen door
was admitted. The hidden watche
rose and stole on noiseless feet aroun,
the corner Of the silent shop and fel
mis- way along its wall. No window
Then came the uncertain steps of still
another who sought the door of tn,
rendezvous, stumbling along the I'M
even tagging.
David sank to his knees. and as bs
did so his fingers encountered an omen
ing In the house wall, level with the
tagging. Bending lower, he peered in
A noisome Odor assaulted his nostrils
The opening was scarcely two feet
square; evidently the aperture through
which the blacksmith emptied the
dirty water from his forge. But con-
quering his repugnance, he lay flat
and wriggled his shoulders in. A
wooden bucket, full Of water, stood
before the opening, on the inside; this
he pushed noiselessly away and
peered in just as the attention of
those within was drawn to the late
conner at the door.
There Were four men now within
the shop. one unseen by the other
three.
He now had his first sight Of Girty.
the last conner. David, his head level
with the stone floor Of the shop.
solved the puzzle Of Girty's noiseless
footsteps In the courthouse-notb bare
footed, indeed, but shod with the ST.
lent moccasins of the Indian. Glad In
deerskin trimmed with buckskin tas-
sells; the hunting shirt covering the
powerful shoulders and deep chest Of
a giant, Simon Girty was a man of
sixty, seemingly, but his quick, bright
eyes, Jet black, burned with the cold
Gre of the lidless serpent's that never
grows old.
The two Englishmen were silent be-
fore the maleyolent challenge Of his
gaze; not daring to be first to speak.
2irty stood swaying unsteadily in the
light Of the forge. A stain of the juice
II the tobacco was on his cruel lips.
"And who's this bag Of bones?" he
lsked contemptuously Of the British
lgent.
"This, Captain Girty, is a gentle
nan who has preceded me from Eng
and on the same mission as myself
1r. Edward Scull."
At the name and at the sight of the |
bird man. who until now had been
oncealed by Cranmer's portly figure,
)ayid's teeth set and he trembled con-
uisively, like q mastiff that sees his /
nemy. ScuIlI The weaver who had
urned kings witness, the informer
gainst Dayid's fatherl A horrid dry
ess stuck in David's throat and he
hook with an ague. When he lifted
Is head again, he saw that the three
len had seated themselves In front Of
ne smoldering forge: for the night
ad grown chill. Black shadows hung |
! all the corners Of the little room
nd sat heavily upon the shoulders Of
Ne three men huddled about the
,rge. Only the warm, red glow of
ne charcoal set up q little. sphere
light and warmth. Girty was mutt
ring drunkenly to himself: "Seven
Blue Licks -. two on the Maui
zee scalps than redskin |
tibet Iong-ha'red gal J"
"See here, my fine friend" said
Gull sharply, s'never mind your
alps. What is 1t that we are here
II. eh2"
Girty reused himself. "TelI him,
ranmer."
The bluff and kindly-faced farmer
emed out of place In that devils
ew. But he began to speak cheer
lily. /,
"Well, Ned, I'm here to make You !
j offer on the part Of the king, God
ess himi You have seen my creden-
lis. 1t was my intention to go direct
the tribes In the country, taking
ans Of the garrisons with me, but /
rs to count you with rs before ] :
{ out on my trip to the North. Our /,
mrade brings word from the great /,
ief Of tire Shawnees, Tecumseh, i
at he Ii DESTROYS Of forming q
lgue with his brothers Of the South, :
Q Cherokees. the Chickasaws and ,
e Creeks. :
You. Ned. are q man whom Eng b
Id needs. / am empowered to say t
ut If you will enter his majesty's a
rvice you win be generously re- q
Irded. What success can you hope I
/ in this pauper netion7 But Eng d
i'd Is rich and powerful patron. I
! straightforward man, Mr.. Scull,
d have no gift Ct argument.
t."
ScuH held up a hand. commanding
pause. He leaned backward and
ed the bellows upon the dying fire.