The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1928-06-15
The Red Road
/ ARomance Of Braddoc1x's Defeat

eral times into his red neck.
The dust and the cheers, the suff0
eating sweaty odor. and, most Of all.
his repeated attempts to MAIN and
disfigure me. aroused my passion with
out confusing myintelligence. shifted
my tactics and began stepping back a
bit. taking great care he should NOT
trip me.
"N0--halEinjun can" he began.
and jerked to one side and drove my
elbow into his throat just under the
hinge of the jaw.
He went down, choking and gasping,
and kicked about like stranded fish.
In his threshing about he rolled close
to the young fellow still crouching on
the ground and keeping guard over
my weapons. Quick asa painter the
little devil lifted the heavy piece and
would have Drained Syrnes if-my moe
casin had moi kicked the long barrel
aside.
s. Grabbing the youngster BY the neck
of his blouse | lifted him to his feet
and flung him aside, and berated,
saying:
"You young hell-houndi What are
you up to?'
Some OF the men pressed forward to
punish him, but forced them back.
One fellow tried to dodge under my
arm and reeled back. Regaining his
balance, he stood with eyes bullying
and mouth open. was wondering
how my shove could have done him
any harm when he astounded me by
bawling:
Hill It's woman!n
Still not understanding j shifted my
gaze to follow the direction of his pop
eyed staring aud was In time to see
the small hands clawing at the rough
blouse to bring il together at the neck
where my rough grasp had torn IT.
open.
"a girl!'' stupidly muttered as r
glimpsed the rounded outlines of hef
breasts.
With duck and leap, she es-
capped the circle and ranswiftly toward
the Iroquois camp. The pack would
have given chase, although they would
have done her no harm, but snatchel
up my rife and called on them to
halt.
"She's French spy!" some one
shouted.
If she is then the Indians will hold
her prisoner. She can't escape from
the camp" | told them.
They quoted down and divided theli
energies between trying to get some
raw rum down Symes' throat and 10
explaining to me the cause of the
. trouble. ! gathered from their dis.
iointed talk that the disguised girl
wars Symes' helper and had resented
buffet he inflicted for her failure to
carry out some order. She had
snatched up knife and had attempted
to stab him. She was promptly dis.
armed and turned over to him for
punishment.
While waited to see II Symes was
able to continue the fight another pic
ture came before my eyes-that OF a
young girl cr0uching before mob OF
I witch-hunters, her lips drawn back
and exposing her small teeth, and with
the same hunted wildness in the thin
face. And knew why we had found
no trace of Elsie Dinwold, Of the
Witclfs head. We had sought won
an in our questing. Had we inquired
for young man, we might have found
some trace of her.
a subaltern bawled my name among
the kettles. + joined him and with
: much curtness was told was wanted
at headquarters expected to be con
Quoted before General Braddock. 10.
stead. it was Colonel Washington who
was waiting to give me an audience
was conducted to his tent. set apart
from the large marquee occupied BY
Braddock.
The man was sick. Rather, be
looked like sick y0ungster. His face
was thinner and his eyes larger. There
was no suggestion of weakness In his
yoice. however. as be ~bruskly ordered:
.Mr. Brond, you are to take your
Indian companion and scout out be.
yond the road-builders and look foI
signs. The enemy's Indians are keep
Ing close watch on u.s. If you cap.
ture an Indian or a Frenchman and
bring or send him to Us, sou will be
doing US good service. If you meet
any Indians. bringing bloody belts To
our Delawares. make every effort 10
stop them The army will move slow
ly. fear. You viii have ample time
to scout while making your way 10
Duquesne."
II will start at once. sir"
(TO BE CONTINUED