The Elk Mountain pilot., 1922-09-28

knife. leaped up, caught hold Of the
limb Of the tree with one hand and
cut the man down.
about to mix in the fight again when
the sharp scream of woman caught
and held him for a moment. He
glanced hurriedly about; at various
windows were lights and silhouetted
figures of onlookers. But as IL drawn
by some lodest0ne instinct his eyes
went to a secondstory window just
beyond the tree; and there, in the
strong light of lamp just behind her,
he saw again the face of the barbaric
rose maid, Nadine la vitte.
Instantly he whirled and strove to
fight his way to gate which he saw
In the wall before the house. But now
came a new cry and scramble for
safety. A troop of United States cav
airy came sweeping the thoroughfare
from curb to curb. their drawn sabers
flashing. the aroused anger of Uncle
Sam rebuking a riot. Not to run was
to be trampled to death. but Drace
stood an instant to look about for
Shottle He could not find him. how
ever, and he had to seek his own safe
ty. for the cavalry were near, spread
ing out upon the sidewalk.
With divers others, he stood not
upon the order of his going but ran
hack down the street and then hurried
down a side street out of the path of
the troopers. There he waited until
,.
hour. Then he made his way back to
the scene of the riot.
The house at the window Of which
he thought he had glimpsed the face
of Nadine la Vitte was now dark. But
in spite Of the curious glances Of sun
dry loiterers, Drace took careful sur
vey of 1t and of the three oak trees
in front-even felt their bark to fa-
miliarize himself with them. At the
corner he sought the name of the
street. on the lamp, but the glass had
been broken, leaving only red IT,
and the fragments and "e." But no
matter-he would know where to turn,
would know the house when abreast
of 1t.
Now Drace hastened toward the St.
Charles. The streets were quiet. But
1t was filed with wounded men. He
thought of Shottle and his spirit was
oppressed with sorrow. Shottle's es.
cape must have been impossible, and
tomorrow they would take his body,
throw 1t into some oozy hole and cover
1t with mud.
In the lobby of the st. Charles men
stood in groups, talking of the fall i'm
the price of cotton. The riot, which
to Drace had meant SO much, was not
even known, SO accustomed was the
town to scenes of violence Drace
asked the clerk If Shottle had come In.
No; his key was in the box. Then
Drace thought that surely Liberty
must be dead or wounded, hauled
away to suffer. He went forth again,
to the department, Of police. to the
cavalry barracks, but nothing could
he learn. Then In his room he sat
sorrowing over his friend and yet
thrilled with a selfish happiness, for
he had found the barbaric rosemaid.
He went to bed, tossed, slept. dreamed
in a mingiing Of distress and gladness,
and awoke. Shottle was standing in
the room.
"Thank the Lord I" cried Drace, and
sprang out Of bed.
That's what I say, ffend Virgil.
But you will please address me as
Colonel Sho<tle. am a free man.
Herew
He held forth an envelope; opening
It, Drace took out a hundred-dollar
banknote.
what does this mean, Lib?"
81 am Colonel Shottle, sir, and not
Lib"
Il beg your pardon. Colonel; but
what does this mean?"
Shottle sat down and crossed his
long legs. He took out cigar and
lighted it.
"virgil, fought as long as thought
1t was of advantage. The old carbiDe
I had wouldn't sh> OF, and / want to
tetl you that maultng darky heads
with a piece Of iron Is hard work.
locked about for you but couldn't find
you, and knowing that you knew how
70 take care of yourself, began to
tnin for a way to get out, found a
hole in a wall, ducked through and
scooted. That waR all natural enough.
Anybody could have done that. But
now comes the inspirational part.
got around into Royal street and met
a steamboat captain who asked me to
have a drink, and I needed 1t, for
had been hard at work.
$50 l wept In with him. And then
up I hops to gambling house with
the money you'd paid me for intro
ducing you to Nadine la vitte. The
poker tables were full, SO nipped in
modestly at the faro-bank. That's not
a very swift game hut SOmetimes Ii