The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1923-04-07
Alice of Old Vincennes
By Maurice Thompson
coPxRIGHT 1905 ALICE LEE THOMPSON
CHAPTER XVIII
T HEN Hamilton, after running

w some distance, saw that he
was gaining upon Alice aid
would soon Overtake her, It added
fresh energy to his limbs. He had
quickly realized the foolishness Of
what he had done in visiting the room
Of his prisoner at so late an hour in
the night. What would his officers
and men think? To let Alice escape
would be extremely embarrassing, and
to be seen chasing her would give
good ground for ~ridicule on the part
Of his entire command. Therefore his
first thought, after passing through
the postern and realizing fully what
sort OF predicament threatened him.
was to recapture her and return her
to the prison room in the blOck-house
without attracting attention. This now
promised 10 be an easier task than
p he had at first feared; for in the moon
light, which on, account Of the dis
persing clouds, was fast growing
stronger, he saw her seem to falter
and weaken. Certainly her flight was
checked and took an eccentric turn,
as II some obstruction had barred her
as Alice swerved, a man interviewed.
Indeed he was within a few strides of
laying his hand on her when he saw
her make the strange movement. 1t
was as If, springing suddenly aside,
she had become two persons instead of
one. But instantly the figures coin
cided again, and in becoming taller
faced about and confronted him.
Hamilton stopped short IN his
tracks. The dark figure was about
five PAGES from him. It was not
Alice, and a sword flashed dimly but
Enthusiastically in a ray Of the moon.
The motion visible was that Of an ex-
pert swordsman placing himself firm
" on his legs, with his weapon at
guard
Alioe saw the man in her path
Just IN time to avoid running against
him. Lightly as a flying bird, when
It whisks itself IN a short semicircle
past tree or o bough, she sprang
aside and swung around to the rear
OF him, where she could continue her
course toward the town. But in pass
ing she recognized him. It was
Father Beret, and how grim he
looked The discovery was made IN
the tw1nkling Of an eye, and its effect
was instaneous, not only checking
the force Of her fight, but stopping
her and turning her about to gaze be
fore she had gone five PAGES farther.
Hamilton's neEve held, startled as
he was, when he realized that an
armed man stood before him. Nstur-
ally he fell into the error Of think
ing that he had been running after
this fellow all the way from the little
gate, where, he supposed, Alice had
somehow given him the slip. It was
a mere flash Of brain-ught, so to call
It, struck out by the surprise of this
curious discovery. He felt his
beIlicose temper leap up furiousIy
at being baked IN a way so unex-
pected and withal SO inexpEcable. Of
course he did not stand there reason
ing It all out. The rush Of impress
sions came, and at the same time he
acted with promptness. Changing the
rapier, which he held in his right
hand. over into his left, ne drew a
coat and fred. The report was sharp
and loud; but il caused no uneasiness
or inquiry IN the fort, owing to the
fact that Indians invariably emptied
their guns when coming into the
town.
Hamilton's aim. although hasty.
was not bad. The bullet from his
weapon cut through Father Feret's
clothes between his left arm and his
body. slightly creasing the flesh on a
rib. Beyond him It struck heavily
and audibly. Alice fell limp and
motionless to the soft wet ground.
where cold puddles Of water were
splintered oyer with fee. She lay
pitifully orumpled. one arm out
stretched in the moonlight. Father
Beret heard the bullet hit her, and
turned in time to see her stagger
backward with a hand convulsively
pressed over her heart. Her face,
slightly upturned as she reeled. gave
the moon a pallid target for It's
strengthening rays. Sweet, beautiful
its rigid features flashed for a second
and then half turned away from the
light and went down.
Father Beret uttered a short. thin
cry and moved as Il to go to the
fallen girl. but just then he saw Ham
ilton's sword pass over again into mis-
right hand, and knew that there was
no time for anything but death OF
fight. The good priest did not shirB
what might have made the readiest
Of soldiers nervous. Hamilton was
known TO be q great swordsman anC
proud of the distinction. Father Be
ret had seen him fence with Farms
worth in remarkable form touching
him at viii. and IN ministerins to the
men in the fort he had heard then
talk of the Governors incompatible
skill.
a priest IS. in perhaps all cases but
the last out of a thousand, a mar