The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1923-04-03

strength lie? You don't look strong"
While speaking Farnsworth leaned
near Father Beret and grasped his
arm. The young man started, for his
fingers, instead Of closing around a
flabby. shrunken old mans limb
spread themselves upon a huge, knot.
ted mass Of iron muscles. With a
quick movement Father Beret shook
off Farnsworth's hand, and said:
Il am no Samson, my son. Non
sum qualis cram" Then, as If dis
missing a light subject for a graver
one, he sighed and added; Il suppose
there is nothing that can be done for
little Alice"
He called the tall, strong girl little
Alice" and so she seemed to him. He
could not without direct effort, think
Of her as a magnificently maturing
woman. She had always been his
spoiled pet child, perversely set
against the Holy Church, but dear to
him nevertheless.
Il came to you to ask that very
question. Father" said Farnsworth.
And what do I know? Surely, my
son, YOU see how utterly helpless an
old priest is against all you British.
And besides"
Father Beret,' Farnsworth huslz-
lily interrupted, is there a place that
YOU know of any where in which
Miss Roussillon could be hidden, if"
My dear SON.
But, Father. mean It"
Mean what? Pardon an old mans
slow understanding. What are you
talking about, my SOM
Father Beret glanced furtively about
then quickly stepped through the
doorway, walked entirely around the
house and came in again before Farms
worth could respond. Once more
seated on his stool he added interro-
gatively:
Did you think you heard something
moving outsider"
No"
You were saying something when
went out. Pardon my interruption"
Farnsworth gave the priest a
searching and not wholly confiding
look.
You did not interrupt me. Father
Beret. was not speaking Why ars
you 50 watchful? Are you afraid OF
caves roppers?"
Il mean, can YOU hide Mademoiselle
RoussiIlon In some safe place. II
take her out Of the prison yonder?
That's just what I mean. Can you
do it?"
Your question is a remarkable one.
Have YOU thought upon It from all
directions, my son? Think OF your
position. your duty as an officer"
A shrewd polemical expression
beamed from Father Beret's eyes, and
a very expert physiosnomist might
have suspected dupEcity from certain
lines about the old mans mouth.
IT simply know that 7 cannot stand
ny and see AIice-NIademoise Rous-
sill0n-forced TO suffer treatment too
beastly for an Indian thief That's
the only direction there IS for me to
look at q from, and YOU can under
stand my feelings. II YOU WILL you
know that very well, Father Beret.
When "a man loves n girl, he loves
her. that's the whole thing"
Tho quiet, insCrutable halfsmile
fickere3 once more on Father Beret's
face, but he sat silent some time with
a sinewy forennger lying alongside
his nose. When at last he spoke It
was IN tone Of voice Indicative Of
small interest in what he was say
ing. HIS words rambled to their goal
with the effect Of happy accident.
There are places IN this neighbor-
hood IN which a human being would
be as hard to find as the flag that
YOU and Governor Hamilton have 80
diligently and unsuccessfully been in
quest Of f0r the past month or two
Really. my son, this IS a mysterious
little town"
F'arnsworth'H eyes widened and a
flush rose in his swarthy cheeks.
Damn the flag he exclaimed.
let It lie hidden forever; what do I
care? 7 tell you, Father Beret. that
Alice Rousillon IS in extreme danger.
Governor Hamilton means to put some
terrible punishment on her. He has
e devils vtndictiveness. He showed
IL TO me clearly awhile ago"
you showed something Of the
same sort to me. once upon a time,
my SON"
Yes, did, Father Beret, and I got
a load OF slugs in my shoulder for
It from that brave girls pistol She
saved your life. Now I ask you to
help me save hers; or. II not her life.
what IS infinitely more, her honor"
Her honor" cried Father Beret.
leaping to his feet so suddenly and
with such energy that the cabin
/ shook from base to roof What do
YOU say Captain Farnsworth? What
do you mesn2"
The old man was Transformed. His
! face was terrible to see, with its
narrow. burning eyes deep under tho
shaggy brows. it's dark veins with
/ ing snakelilIe on the temples and fore
/ head, the projected mouth and chin.
the hard lines Of the jaws, the iron
gray CLEAN from all the features-he
looked like an aged tiger stiffened for
/ a spring.
Framework was made of right
soldierly stuff; but he felt distinct
SILVER fit along his back. His past
life had not lacked thrilling ad-
ventures and strangely varied ex-
periences with desperate men. Usual
~ he met sudden emergencies rather
calmly. sometimes with phlegmatic
in difference. This passionate out
burst on the priests part, however.
surprised him and awed him. while It
stirred his heart with n profound
sympathy unlike anything he had
ever felt before.
Father Bernf mastered himself IN q