The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1923-03-21
Alice Of Old Vincennes
By Maurice Thompson
coPYR1GHT. 1908 ALICE LEE THOMSON

All that know about It is the simple
fact that It is gone"
Father Beret's manner and voice
were very mild, but there must have
been a hint Of sturdy defiance some
| where in them. At all events Farms
worth was exasperated and fell into
a white rage. Perhaps 1t was the
| liquor he had been drinking that made
him suddenly desperate.
You canting old foolr' he cried,
don't lie to me any longer; I won't
have 1t. Don't stand there grinning at
me. Get that flag, or I'll make you.
What is impossible, my son, is pos
sible to God alone. Apud homines
how impossible est. apud Deum -autem
onnia possibilia sunt.''
None Of your Jesuit Latin or logic
to mel am not here to argue, but to
command. Get that f1ag. Be in a
hurry about 1t, sir"
He whipped out his sword and in
his half drunken eyes there gathered
the dull film of murderous passion.
Put up your weapon, Captain; you
You are a soldier, and Will not dare
strike an old, defenseless man."
but Will strike a black-robed and
black-hearted French rebel. Get that
flag, you gr1nning fool!'
The two men stood facing each
other. Father Beret's eyes did not
stir from their direct, fearless gaze.
! What Farnsworth had called a grin
was a peculiar smile, not of merriment
a graytsh flicker and a slight back
ward wrinkling Of the cheeks. The
old mans arms were loosely crossed
upon his sturdy breast
Strike II you must" he said very
gently, very firmly. 81 never yet have
seen the man that could make me
afraid" His speech was slightly sing
song in tone, as it would have been
during a prayer or a blessing.
Get the flag them ragged Farms
worth, in whose veins the heat Of
liquor was aided by an unreasoning
choler.
II cannot" said Father Beret-
Then take the consequences
Farnsworth lifted his sword, not 20
thrust, but to strike with its fat side,
and down it flashed with a noisy
whack. Father Beret flung out an
arm and deity turned the blow aside.
It was doAe so easily that Farms
worth sprang back glazing and
surprised.
You old fool" he cried, leveEng
his weapon for a direct lunge. You
/ devilish hypocrite"'
It was then that Father Beret
turned deadly pale and swiftly crossed
himself. His face as if he saw some
thing startling just beyond his ad-
versary. Possibly this sudden change
/ Of expression caused Farnsworth to
hesitate for a mere point Of time.
! Then there was the swish Of a WON
ans skirts; a light step battered on
the frozen ground. and Alice sprsng
! between the men, facing Farnsworth
As she did this something small. and
yellow,-the locket at her throat
fell and rolled under her feet. Nobody
saw It
In her hand she held an immense
/ horse pistol, which she leveled in the
/ captains face, its flaring. bugle-
/ shaped muzzle gaping not a yard from
/ his nose. The heavy tube was az
| steady as if in a wise.
Drop that swordr'
That was all she said; but her finger
was pressing the trigger, and the
/ flint in the backward slanting hammer
was ready to click against the steel.
The leaden slugs were on the point
Of leaping forth
Drop that swOrd"'
The repetition seemed to close the
/ opportunity for delay.
FarnswOrth was on his guard in a
/ twinkIug He set his Jaw and Ut
/ tered an ugly oath; then quick az
/ lightning he struck 'sidewise at the
I pistol with his blade. 1t was a move
/ which might have taken a less alert
| person than Alice unawares; but her
/ training in sword play was ready in
/ her wriest and hand. An fnvolun-
tary turn, the slightest imaginable,
/ set the heavy barrel Of her weapon
strongly against the blow. partly
stopping it, and then the gaping muz-
zle spat its load OF balls and slugs
with below that awole the drowsy
/ D4'A FAiAdSt-
Farn5Nyorth staggered backward. let
| ting fall his sword. There was "A rent
in the clothing Of his left shoulder He
/ reeled; the blood spun -,ut; but ne did
not fall, although he grew white
Alice stood gazing at him with 3
/ look on her face he would never for
/ get. 1t was a look that changed by
wonderful swift gradations from ter
rible hate to something like sweet
pity. The instant she saw him hurt
and bleeding, his countenance relax
/ ing and pale, her heart failed her.
/ She took a step toward him, her
/ hand opened. and with a thud the
| heavy old pistol fell upon the ground
/ beside her.
Father Beret sprang nimbly to sus-
| tain Farnsworth, snatching up the
pistol as he passed around Alice.
You are hurt, my son." he gently
| said; 'let me help you" He passed
his arm firmly under that Of Farms
| worth, seeing that the captain was
/ -@.-..- Il ].