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

The glow leaped up again, and in i'll
momentary glare David caught sigh
OF his face, struck out against the SUI
rounding shadows, like a face which
some dead master of the brush haC
painted-dark, cruel. weak, contemp
tuous. But his reply was never spo
ken.
| The cold chill of the stones on
which he lay had sunk deeper and
deeper into David's bones. With the
grip of desperation, he strove to holS
his teeth together. but In spite OF
himself suddenly there burst from his
lips. with the staggering unexpected.
ness Of a thunderclap, q paroxysm OF
coughing.
With a single leap, Girty had
reached the spot where David lay.
David's head had vanished with an
even greater speed. But Girty's only
thought was to seize the wooden
bucket and dash its contents on the
fire. plunging the room into instant
darkness. David heard the sharp
whisper Of Scull's command.
I'VE are watched. Go out at once.
Captain Girty, you will be the first.
Mr.. Cranmer, second, IL you please.
1 will follow"
The thing which David did then was
probably his salvation. It occurred
to him that his chance Of meeting
Scull single-handed was greater IL he
should return to the pitch-dark shop
than II he remained In the street.
And this he did.
When he had crawled sOundlessly
back into the smithy, kicking off his
shoes outside, he was just in time to
see the door opened and the figure of
the first man, Girty, family outlined
In the aperture. Unseen, unheard,
David stole forward. Then the door
opened wider to allow the heavy fig
ure OF Cranmer to emerge. And then
Scull, the third man, went out. With
the quickness of death, David glided
at his heels.
he had picked up a heavy horse
shoe on the floor of the smithy, the
irst weapon that had come to hand.
The tall figure was just before him.
His arm rose; and even as the heavy |
Weapon hung In the air, Scull pushed |
'pen the door Of a cabin that stood |
lcxt the smithy and vanished.
David heard the door close again |
md the heavy wooden bar dropped
lcross 1t on the inside. For a mo-
nent he stood dumfounded. Girty
nd Cranmer had disappeared. David
walked on slowly, brooding over plans
or the morning, and found himself at
he river, talking to itself in the night.
lie became aware that he still held
In bis hand; and looking
own, bekeld the horseshoe. He
ossed 1t into the stream and went
ack to the tavern.
For many days after that his rag
ed, discarded shoes lay unnoticed at
ne low aperture Of Israel's smithy.
David awOke In the morning as
'esh as the day. But day brought
tth 1t the demand that he take up
is new work; and he crossed the
luare to Colonel Posey's store. scan
Ing the village sharply as he went.
He hurried to the cabin By the
lacksmith's shop. An honest-faced
oman, with brood Of babies cling
q to her skirts, answered his knock.
"Scull?" she replied to his query,
10, nobuddy by tibet name livin' here.
y man Is Israel Butt, thar at tn
rge. She was positive that no
lch person as Scull lived in the vii
ge; her husband was equally at a
IS to remember the name; and Da- Z
q, confident as he had been, was
reed to turn away, baffied by their r
NEST perplexity. The man had dis '
'peared as completely as though {
had been swallowed up I'm the
nth.
Stupeded, David made his way to q
'anmer's lodgings. He had no idea 4
hat he would say to the man, but E
8 steps took him mechanically to
e door. And there he received a Il
cond shock. Cranmer was gone, II
> daughter with himl "
Whittier? N
His question brought the reply that S
ey had said they were going to VIM Ii
nnes. Dayid's friend, John Upton, II
hunter and militiaman, was there b
he would send Johnny a letter to O.
I'm him and Governor Harrison ii
ainst Cranmer, Girty and Scull, and m
ling of their talk Of an Indian up tc
ing. b
He returned TO his store, wrote the Ii
ter, sent 1t on by post. That done, in
could do no more, except wait in v
tience for Cranmer's return. g
CHAPTER ". la