Evening star., 1924-01-25
The Lighter of Flames
By William S. Hart
Story Filled With Romance and Adven+ur.
Copyright 1923 by Ihom., cow.n
Continued from Yesterdays Star,


The door to that solitary under
ground room was barred and locked.
Ihe clumsy key standing in its lock.
IN the door itself was a small open-
ing; criss.crossed with stout iron
the room itself. The prisoner needed
none. 1t seemed to him. in his thwart-
Cd zeal, that If he could not see the
hsht OF liberty he cared never to Sc,
another. He had not slept a minute
IN the twenty hours since he had felt
the rumble in the earthen walls that
marked the going of that coach anc
iour. lie had sat in a dull letharEy OF
despair, or paced the narrow space
IKE a Gagged lion, biting at his finger
nails.
So the sentry paid him small heed
pacing in his tireless walk.
BUT presently, in the cold silence
there came a sound. little soft
SOUND as of light foot on the stone
stairs, and the soldier snapped his
gun around and cried a halt Steady
fingers were on the trigger. Death
was in his face But it gave way to
pleased aStonishment when he behel1
IN the lanthorn's light first the hem
or a broad brocaded kirtle and then
the handsome face of girl who lean
cu down from the stairs and looked
with smiling eyes along the passage.
Good even, Sir sentry" said Pa
ticnce Conweil. archly
Now the soldier was young and. as
tie girl had so shrewdly guessed of
- quick pulse and daring spirit.
His bold blue eyes lighted Instantly
at sight of her beauty and he lowered
his weapon.
tngly.
She came down along the passage
stepping daintily and swinging her
broad skirt with "a subtle coauetry,
aud stood before the youth, smiling
Patience Conwell had been good to
look upon that long-past day when
sne s,ne stood in fear and trembling upon
inc auction block. and the years we'll
he1nS had added to her grace. Her blue
eyes were soft and bright. her fair
halr: unpowdered, shone mistily under
the light. and her inviting mouth was
curved and red.
So it Was small wonder that the
Young English soldier gazed at her
with unconcealed pleasure She stood
primly upon her pretty feet and play
90 with a ribband in the lacing of
her bodice IS if she were shy and
ttiident.
TO what good fortune. pretty"
said the youth, boldly. do owe this
kindly visit l. in my lonely and
thanklessa task? ."
Patience dropped her glance and
ceased her smiling
Nhy-I--" she said. and hesitated
II am far from England. sir" she
went on. "and lonely (Hero she
'uutcly prayed for forgiveness for
ihc falsehood, for she owned a lively
happiness in her beloved mistress
*crvIcc.) rs ii any wonder that L.
seeing YOU with your fellows in the
governors yard and knowing you for
~ t"untrynan, should desire to speak
With ycu?'
None. And l am glad Of the de-
Slrc. for this is lonely work"
so, for little space. they spoke Of
that dear land across the sea. and
Patience. in her seeming eagcrncss
Tor Its old news, came near and stood
searching the soldiers face. And
presently she answered once at ran
dom. as if, in gazing at him, she had
forgot his words. At that. a gleam
grew in the youths bold eyes and he
laid light touch on her arm. She
suffered ii, though every instinct in
her longed to throw it off And she
seemed taken with sudden emba"-
rassment. SO that she must make
hurried speech to hide 1t.
New at the game of love" thought
the soldier. but willing to learn"
"iou--you do not fear the dark and
the loneliness a-pickcting your camp
at night?" she asked.
Fear 4 soldier Of his majesty
he exclaimed, laughing. "You do me
scant honor. Mistress. fear more
such blue eyes as yours, for they are
deadly weapons"
The girl dropped her head. and the
bold hand crcpt up her arm.
She shifted on her feet biz. so
that she leaned with her back against
> the wall beside the door and the
youth leaned nearer. his other hand
on the wall above her head. his gun
resting on the floor beside him.
Her beauty shone in the dim light
and set his breath a-fiutter.
CovetouSneSS was in his droWSy
glance. The girls strong heart shook
ever so slightly in it's steady beat
with nameless fright
As if to gain time before capitula-
ton. she turned her eyes away and
picked at the damp stones beside her
But what of the rebels?" she asked.
IAN they should come to rescue the
prisoner"
Wen shoot them like dogs" he
answered.
This man You guard" said Pa
ticnce. clearly. this Patrick Henry. is
p fighter himself. ] hear, There Is Il
story curFent of his once throwing
into the River James trader Wlo
whipped a maid an indertured serV-
ant he had bought He is quick 20
See-to understandable act. thlnk.
did he catch 50 much as h shadow OF
chance, he would seize it like a flash
Inside the darkened room the man
on the beds edge raised his head from
l,is hands. There was something IN
She tones of the voice that caught at
his consciousness
u thank you for the warning.
sweet" the soldier said. land like YOU
the better for it. Have no fear. lie
is safe-and no rebels can gain en-
trance to the governors own house.
But His EXcellency is gone, said
Patience land only the servants are
in. beside the soldiers in the upper
hall To be sure she went on, stiii
in that odd, clear tone, Lord Lester
&c with my mistress in the small re-
ccption room beside the entrance to
the garden He comes often. And i
think this night he rode the prison
CPS own horse. a big and powerful
roam 'Tis n pity he leaves it in the
4 garden, for the mist is heavy.
From the beds edge tail form
,osa with the grace and silence OF a
panther and stepped to the door. The
small blue eyes. burning now WIN
sudden lambent flame. looked through
the lattice and bcheld the aureoled
head of the girl, and the fatuous face
the soldier bent toward her. With a
great light breaking in upon him,
patrick Henry knew her for the lass
from Lancashire whom he had led TO
the governors daughter that day IN
/, suring, She was subtly telling him
astounding things. g. Lord Lester
who had called him friend" in the
room beside the garden entrance
and RCanie waiting i'll the night.
Could it be coincidence?
He held his breath for the girl
next words.
The soldier was very close above
her now. Henry could hear his
breathing The, bold hand had
reached her throat was creeping
around her neck.
"Sweet," he whispered. ''one kiss
that red mouth-ah. be still--just one