The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1923-03-10

| the combatants, tousled them play
| fully, as if they had been children,
rubbed their heads together, laughed
stormily and so restored the equili-
brium Of temper.
It was late when fathers and
mothers IN the company began to
suggest adjournment. Oncle Jazon's
elbow was tired and the enthusiasm
| generated by his unrecognized
Bergonzi became fitful, while the re-
Taxing crowd rapidly encroached up
on the space set apart FOR the dancers.
In the open lamps suspended here
and there the oil was running low,
and the rag wicks sputtered and
winked with their yellow flames.
We'll" said NJ Roussillon, coming
to where Alice and Beverley stood
| insulated and isolated by their great
/ delight in each others company, its
| time to go home"
Beverley looked at his watch; it was
a quarter to three!
Alice also looked at the watch, and
| saw engraved and enanneled on its
massive case the Beverley crest. but
| she did not know what 1t meant
There was something of the sort in
the back Of her locket, she remem-
bered with satisfaction.
Just then there was a peculiar stir
in the tagging crowd. Some one had
arrived, a coureur de bois from the
north. Where was the commandant?
the coureur had something important
| for him.
Beverly heard remark in a
startled voice about the English
| getting ready for a descent upon the
Wabash valley. This broke the charm
which thralled him and sent through
his nerves the bractng shock that
only q soldier can feel when a hint
of coming battle reaches him.
Alice saw the fash in his face.
Where is Captain Helm? I must
see him Immediately. Excuse me"
he said, abruptly turning away and
looking over the heads of the people;
yonder he is, I must go to him"
The coureur de bois. Adolphe
Dutremble by name, was just from the
head waters Of the Wabash He was
speaking to Helm when Beverley
came up. NJ Roussillon followed
close upon the Ieutenant's heels. as
eager as he TO know what the message
amounted to; but Helm took the
coureur aside, mottoning Beverley to
Join them. NJ Roussillon included
himself In the conference.
After all 1t was but the gossip Of
savages that Dutremble communi-
Gated: still the purport was startling
in the extreme. Governor Hamilton.
so the story ran, had been organizing
a large force; he was probably now
on his way 70 the portage Of the Wa
bash with a flotilla of batteaux. some
companies Of disciplined soldiers. ar.
ullery and a strong body Of Indians.
Helm listened attenuveIy to Du-
tremble's lively sketch. then cross.
questioned him with laconic direct
ness.
Send Mr.. Jazon to me-" he said
TO N. ROussillon, as If speaking TO ii
servant
The master Frenchman went
promptly, recognizing Captain Helm
right TO command, and symnathizins
with his unpleasant military predica.
ment If the news should prove true.
Oncle Jazon came in a minute. his
fiddle and bow clamped under his arm.
20 receive a verbal commission. which
sent him with some scout Of his own
choosing forthwith to the Wabash nor
tage or far enough to ascertain what
the English commander was doing.
After the conference Beverley made
haste to join Alice; but he found that
she had gone home.
One he'll Of fix Wen be in If Ham
llton comes down here with a goo.
+. force" said Helm
Beverley felt like retorting that II
little forethought, zeal and prepare
ton might have lessened the pros.
pective gloom. He had been troubled
all the time about Helms utter lack
Of military precaution. True, there
was very little material out of which
that optimistic officer could have
formed a bouy Of resistance against
the army probably at Hamilton's com.
nand; but Beverley was young. ener-
getc, bellicose, and to him everything
seemed possible; he believed in vigil
ance, discipline, activity, dash; he had
a great faith in the efficacy Of enthu-
siasm.
we must organize these French
men, he said they will make good
fighters If we can once get them to
act as a body. There's no time to
be lost but we have time enough in
which to do a great deal before TIamiI.
ton can arrive, If we go at it in earn
est"
Your theory is excellent. leuten
ant. but the practice of it won't be
worth a damn" Helm replied with
perfect good nature. I'D like to see
you organize these pany-voos There
amt a dozen of EN- that wouldn't ac-
cept the English with open arms. II
know 'em. They're good hearted. 20
lite and all that; they'll hurrah for
the flag; that's easy enough; but put
EN- to the test and they'll join in with
the strongest side. see If they don't.
OF course there are a few exceptions.
There's Jazon, he's all right and I
have faith in .Bosseron, and Legrace,
and young ROnville.'
"Roussillon-" Beverly began.
rs much Of a blow-hard,' Helm
interrupted with a laugh. "Barks loud,
but his biting disposition IS probably