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About Daily capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1903-1919 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 30, 1904)
DAILY CAPITAL JOURNAL, SALEM, OREGON, SATURDAY, JANUARY 30, 1904. NINE I ALICE of OLD I CoDtrlitht. 1900. bv Ika nOWRN-Mrnnn .J. .. W WOW5hWm?4M mmmmmmmmmmmmmmms V (Continued ) CHAPTER XXI. SOMI TnYNSACTIONB IN SCAI.r-S. 'ISTORY would bo n very order ly nffnlr could tho dry ns dust hlstoiinim Imvo their way, mid doubtless It would bo thrilling- fromniitlo nt every turn If tbo novel- were able to control its current. rtunntely neither one nor tlio other much lnlluence, and the roBult in long run is that most novels nro bckiiisly tnme, whllo tho largo body jhhtory U loaded down with nlctur- nue incidents which If used in fiction Raid be thought absurdly romantic ftl improbable. 'vr our sltnplo slory of old Vln- atir-s u more llctlou we should Lesl ie to brim: In tho explosion of n inng- lliie at the tort with a view to mid- coufuslon and by that means de leting nttentlon from our heroine illo alio betakes herself out of a sit- jtlon which, although dollghtful bugh for a blessed minute, has quick- ibccomo an embarrassment quite un- lurnblc. Hut we simply adhere to established facts In history. Ow- to some carelessness there was In- led an explosion of twenty-six 0 Bund cartridges, which made a mighty br njul struck tho newly installed Irrlson into n heap, so to say, scatter- things terribly and wounding six bn, among thein Captains Bowman Bd Worthlngton. LVfter the thunderous crash came a lomentnry silence, which embraced 6th tho peoplo within tho fort and tho lid crowd outside. Then tho rush Dd nolso wcro indescribable Even Bark gave way to excitement, losing snimnnd of himself and of course of men. There was a stampede to- nrd tho main guto by one wing of tho ps in tho hollow square They lit- ally ran over Boverloy and Alice, lnglng them apart and Jostling them Ithor and yonder without mercy. Of urso tho turmoil quickly subside. lark and Beverley got hold of thorn- elves and sang out their peremptory rdcra with excellent effect. It wus Ike oil on raging wator. Tho men beyed in x straggling way, getting melt into ranks as best they could. "Ventrebleu!" squeaked Ouclo Jazon. Ef 7 didn't think tho olo world had busted Into a million plecosl" f IIo was jumping up and down not 'three feet from Bovorley's toos, waving tills cap excitedly. I "But wasn't I skeortl Yn, ya, ynl five la bannlcro d'Altco Boussllloul 'lvo Zhorzh Vastntonl" Hearing Alice's name caused Bover ey to look nround. Whoro was sho? a tho dlstanco Lo saw Father Borct lurrying to tho spot whero bouio of tho neu burned and woundod by tho ex doslou wcro being stripped, and cared or. Hamilton still stood like a statue. Io appeared to bo tho only cool person a the fort "Whoro Is Alice Miss Rousslllon? Vhoro did Miss Bousslllon go?" Bev- rley exclaimed, staring around llko n jst man. "Whero la shol" "D'know," Bald Oncle Jazon, rcsuiu bg Lis habitual expression of droll dig ilty. "She shot a past mo jea' as thot blng busted loose, an' sho went llko cr stummlu' bird, skltch Jcs' thot way n' I didn't bco 'er no mora, 'cause I ?ns skcert mighty nigh Inter sovon tits; ipect that 'sploslon blowcd hor clean iwny? Ventroblcu! Nover was so tluin outon breath au' dead crazy weak bein' afoardl" "Lieutenant Beverley," roared Clark n his most commanding tone, "go to lio gato and settle things therol That nob outside is trying to break In I" Tho order was Instantly obeyed, but lovdrlcy had relapsed, Onco more his foul groped in darkness whllo the rhold of his llfo seemed unreal, a wav ring, misty, hollow dream. And yet ls military duty was all real enough. Jo know Just what to do when be reached tho gate. fc"Baek thero at once!" ho command Kl, not Joudly, but with Intense forco, Slack there!" This to tbo inward surg ng wedge of excited outsiders. Then ,o tho guard: , "Shoot tho first man who crosses the ne!" "Ziffl me vole!! Moll Gaspard Rous lion. Lnlssez-mol passor, messieurs." A great body hurled Itself frantically ast Beverley and the guard, going out rough tho gatoway against the wall f the crowd, bearing everything be fore It and shouting; I "Back, fools! You'll nil bo killed. The ftowdor Is on Are! Ziff ! Run!" Wild as a March hare, ho bristled pth terror and foamed at tho mouth. IIo stampeded tho entlro rases. Thero pas a wild howlf a rush In tho other pirectlon followed, and soon enough the esplanade and all tho space back to pe barricades and beyond were quite pesorted. i Alice was not awaro that a serious fcccident had happened. Naturally she fhought tho great, rattling, crashing noise of the -explosion a more part of the spectacular show. Whoa tho rush followed, separating her and Reverley, it was a groat relief to her la some. "'ay. for a sudden recognition of the boldness of ber action In the little scene Just .e.nded came over ber and bewil By MAURICE THOMPSON i ..,w.... - i.i. wruwu dered her. ah impulse sent tier run ning away from the spot where, , it seemed to her, sho had Invited public derision. The terrible noises nil around her wore, she now fancied, but the Jeering and hooting of rudo men who had seen her unnialdenly forwardness. With a burulng face she Hew to .the postern nnd slipped qut, once more tak ing the course which had become so fa miliar to ber feet. She did not slacken her speed until she ranched the Uour cler cabin, where she had mndo hor homo since tho night when Hamilton's pistol ball struck her. The little domi cile was quite ompty of Its household, but Alice entered a"nd (lung herself Into a chair, where she sat quivering and breathless when Adrlonne, nlso much excited, came In, preceded by n stream of patois that sparkled continuously. ,"Tho fort Is blown up!" she cried, gesticulating in every direction at once, her petite ilguro comically dilated with the Importance of hor statement. "A hundred men are killed, and the pow der Is on Arc!" She pounced Into Alice's nrnis, still talking as fast as her touguo could vi brate, changing from subject to sub ject without rhyme or reason, her prut tlo making Its way by skips and shies until what was really uppormoat In hor sweet llttlo heart disclosed itself. "And, O Alice, Bono has not come yet!" Sho plunged hor dusky face between Allco's check and shouldor. Alice hug ged hor sympathetically and said: "But Bone will come, I know ho will, dear." "Oh, but do you know It? Is It true? Who told you? When will ho coma? Where is ho? Toll me about him!" Her head popped up from her friend's neck and sho smiled brilliantly through tbo tears that were still sparkling on her long black lashes. "I didn't mean that I had heard from him, and I don't know where he Is. But but thoy nlways como back." "You say that because your man be cause Lieutenant Beverley has return ed. It Is always so. You havo every thing to make you hnppy, while I I" Again her eyes spilled their shower, nnd she hid her faco In her hands, which Alice tried in vnln to remove. "Don't cry, Adrlenno. You didn't see mo crying" . "No, of course not; you didn't have a thing to cry about. Lloutoiiant Bov crley told you Just whoro ho was going and Just what" "But think, Adrlenne, only think of the awful story they told that ho was killed, that Coventor Hamilton hnd paid Long Hair for killing him and bringing back his scalpl Oh, dear, Just think! And I thought It was true." "Well, I'd bo willing to think and be lieve nnythlujj In tho world If Bono would como back," said Adrlenno, her face, now uncovered, showing pitiful lines of suffering. "Oh, Alice, Alice, and ho nover, novor will comel" Allco exhausted ovory drvlco to cheer, encourage and comfort l'or, Adrlenne had been so good to her whon sho lay recovering from tho shock of Hamil ton's pistol bullet, which, although It camo near killing her, mndo no serious wound only a bruise, in fact. It was ono of thoso fortuuato accidents or providentially ordered interferences -which once In awhile savo a life. Tho stono disk worn by Allco chanced to Ho exactly in the mlssllo's way, and, while it was not broken, the ball, al ready somewhat checked by passing through several folds of Fathor Beret's garments, llutteucd Itself upon It with n shock which somehow struck Alice senseless, nere, again, history In the form of an ancient family document (a letter written In 1821 by Alice herself) gives m the curious braco 6f Incidents to wit, tho breaking of tho miniature o-. Beverley's breast by a British musk" ball and the stopping of Hamilton'' bullet over Alice's heart by tbo Indian charm stone. "Which shows the goodness of God," the letter goes on, "and also scorns to sustain the Indian logond concerning tho stono that whoever might wear it could, not bo killed. Unquestionable (sic) air. Hamilton s snot, wwcii was aimed nt poor, dear old Father Beret, would havo pierced my heart but for that charm stone. As for my locket, It did not, ns some lmve reported, save Fltzhugh's life whon the musket ball 5vns stopped. Tho ball was so spent thnt the blow wns only hard enough to spoil temporary islcj tho faco of the mjnlature. which was nftorward re stored fulrly well by'un artist In Paris. Whon It did actually savo Fltzhugh's life was out on the Illinois plain. Tho savage Long Hair, peaco to his mom ory. worked tho mlraelo of restoring to mo" Hero a fold In tho papor has de stroyed a lino of tho writing. The lettor Is a sacred family paper, and there is not Justification for going farther Into lis faded and, In some parts, nlmoat obliterated wrlthfe. But bo mucb may ptuw into these puges as a pleasant nuthenttentlon of what oth erwise might be ultogther too sweet a doable nnt for the critic's teetb to crook. While Adrlenne and Alice wore still dUoiisfiliur tho probability, .of. Bene de uonvJUe's rpturn SI. Bousslllon camo to the door. He was In search of madamc, his wife, whom he hnd not yet scon. Ho gathered tho two girls In his mighty arms, tousling them with rough tenderness. Allco returned his affec tionate embrace and told him where to find Mine. Bousslllon, who wns with Dnino Goderc, probably nt hen house. "Nobody "killed," he said, In answer to Alice's inquiry about the catastro phe at the fort. "Somo of 'em hurt and burnt a llttlo. Great big scare about nearly nothing. Zlffl my children, you should havo seen mo quiet tilings. I put out ray hands this way comnie en poufl It was all over. Tho peoplo went home." Ills gestures Indicated that ho had borne back nn army with open haudB. Then ho chucked Adrlenne under tho chin with his linger nnd added in his softest veice: "I saw somebody's lovor tho other day over yonder In tho Indian village. IIo spoke to mo about somebody oh, ma petite, quo vouliw-vous dire?" "Oh, I'apit Bousslllon, wo wcro Just talking nbout Benol" cried Alice. "Have you seen him?" "I saw you, you llttlo minx, Jumping into a man's arms' right under tho eyes of a whole garrison! Bah! I could not believe it was my llttlo Alice!" Ho let go a grand guffaw which seemed to shake the cabin's walls. Al loc blushed cherry red. Adrlenne, too bashful to lnqulro about Bene, wns trembling with anxiety. Tho truth was not In Gaspard Bousslllon Just then, or If It was It stayed In lilm, for ho had not seen Bene de ltouvlllc. It wns his generous desire to please and to appear opulent of knowledge and sympathy thnt mndo him speak. lie know what would plonso Adrlenno, so why not give her at least a delicious foretaste? Surely, when a thing was so cheap one need not be so parsimoni ous as to withhold n mere anticipation. IIo was off before the girls could press him Into details, for indeed ho had none. "There, now, what did I tell, you?" cried Allco when tho big niun was gone. "I told you Bono would come. They nlways come bncV Father Beret camo In a llttlo later. As soon as ho saw Alice ho frowned nnd began to shako his head, but sho only laughed and, imitating his hypo critical scowl, yet fringing it with a twlnklo of merry lines nnd dimples, pointed n toper linger nt him and ex claimed: "You bad, bad muni Why did you pretend to mo Unit Lieutenant Bover ley wns dead? What sinister eccleslns- tlcal motive prompted you to dpscrlbo how Long Hair scalped Lira? Ah, fa-ther"- Tho priest laid a broad hand over her saucy mouth. "Something or other seems to havo excited you mightily, ma lllle. You aro a trlflo Impulsively Inclined today." "Yes, Father Beret; yes, I know, and I am nshuraed. Sly heart shrinks whon I think of what I did. But I was so glad, such a grand Joy dame all ovor mo when I saw him bo strong and bravo and beautiful coming toward me, smiling that warm, glad smile and holding out his arms ah, when I saw all thnt whon I know for sure thnt ho was not dead, I, why, father I Just had to. I couldn't holp It." Fathor Beret laughed In spite of him self, but quickly managed to resume his sovcro countenance. "Ta, ta!" ho exclaimed. "It was a bold thing for a llttlo girl to do." "So It was, sojt was. But It was also a bold thing for hlra to do to come back after he was dend and scalped and look so handsome and grand! I'm ashamed and sorry, father, but but I'm afraid I might do It again If well, I don't euro if I did! So there, now!' "But what In tho world are you talk ing about?" Interposed Adrlonne. Evi dently they wcro discussing a most In teresting mntter of which she knofr nothing nud that did not suit her fem inine curiosity. "Tell me." Sho pulled Father Beret's sleeve. "Tell me, I Bayl" It Is probabto that Father Boret would have protended to betray Allco's source of mingled delight and embar rassment had not the rest of tho Hour cler household returned In time to break up tho conversation. A little later Alice jjave Adrlenno a vividly dramatic account of the whole scone. "Ah, mou Dleu!" oxcInlmed tho pe tite bruuetto after sho had heard the exciting Btok-y. "Thnt was Just like you, Alice. You nlways do superb things. You wero born to do them. You shoot Captain Fnrnsworth, yow wound Lieutenant Barlow, you climb on to tho fort and sot up your 'Hag; you take It down again aud run away with it, you get shot and you do not die, you kiss your lover tight before a whole garrison! Bon Dleu! If I could but do all those things!" She clasped her tiny hands before ber and added rather de jectedly: "But I couldn't, I couldn't I couldn't kiss a man In that way!" Late In the evening news camo to Bousslllon place, whore Gaspard Rous villon wus once moro happy in the midst of his little family, that tho In dian Long Hair bad Just been brought to the fort nnd would be shot ou the following day, A scouting party cap tured him as ho approached the town bearing at his belt the fresh scalp of a white man. Ho would havo been killed forthwith, but Clark, who wished to avoid a repetition of tho savago venge ance meted out to tho Indians on tho previous day, had given strict orders that all prisoners should be brought in to tho fort, whoro thoy wero to have a fair tHal bv court martial. Both Holm nnd Beverley were at. Roueftlllon place, tho former Sipping wino arid chatting Avlth Gaspard, tho latter, of course, hovering around Al ice after the manner of avbungry bee ufund k Mrtleularlr sweet and dell- ciously refractory flower. It was rain ing slowly, tho lino drops coming straight down through tho cold, Btill Fcbmnry air, but the two young peo ple found It plensunt enough for them on the vornndn, whoro they walked back and forth, making fair oxchango of the oxcltlug experiences which had bofallou them during their long separa tion. Between the lines of these mutu al recitals Bweet, freflh echoes of the old, old story went from heart to heart, an nmcebo-nn love bout like thnt of spring birds calling tenderly bnck and forth In the blooming Mnytlme woods. Both. Captain Helm nnd SI. Boussll lon wore delighted to henr of Long Hair's capture and certain fate, but netthor of them regarded the news ns of sufllclent Importance to need much comment. They did not think of tolling Beverley nnd Allco. Jean, howover, lying awake In his llttlo bed, overheard tho conversation, which ho repeated to Allco next morning with great clrcum stnutlHllty. Having the quick Insight bred of frontier experience, Alice instantly caught .the terrible slgnltlennco of the dlloinma In which sho nnd Beverley would be placed by Long Hair's situa tion. Sloreovcr, something In her heart nroso With Irresistible power demand ing tho final, tho absolute human sym pathy nnd gratitude. No matter what deeds Long Hair had committed that wero ovil beyond forgiveness, ho had done for her the all atoning thing. IIo hnd saved Beverley and sent lilm back to hor. With a stnrt and n chill of dread, she thought, "What If it is alroady too lato?" But her nature could not hesitate. To feci the demand of nn exigency wns to net. She snatched a wrap from its peg on the wall and ran ns fast ns sho could to the fort. Peoplo who mot her Hying along wondered, staring after her, what could bo urging her so thst Bite saw nobody, checked herself for nothing, ran splashing through tho pud 27io fort U blown upl" dies In tho street, gazing ahead of her as If pursuing somo Hying object from which sho dared not turn her eyes. And there wns Indeed a call for hor utmost power of flight if sho would bo of any nsslstnnce to Long Ilnlr, who even thou stood bound to a stake In the fort's area, whllo a platoon of rllloineu, thoso unerring shots from Kentucky nnd Vlrglnln, wore ready to mako a targot of him nt n range of but twenty yards, Bovorloy, greatly handicapped by tho fact that tho fresh scalp of a whlto man hung nt Long Hair's bolt, had ex hausted every posslblo argument to avert or raltigato tho sontenco promptly Bpoken by tho court martial of which Colonel Clark was the ruling spirit. Ho had succeeded baroly to tho extont of turning tho mode of execution from tomahawking to shooting. All tho olll ccrs In, tho fort approved killing tho prlsonor, nnd It was dllllcult for Colo nel Clark to prevent tho men from making outrageous assaults upon lilm, so exnspcrated wero they at sight of the scalp. Onclo Jazon proved to bo ono of tho most refractory among those who de manded tomahawking and scalping ns tho only treatment due Long Hnr. Tho repulslvo savago stood up before them fitolld, resolute, defiant, proudly Haunt ing tlio bndgo which testified to his horrible clilclency as an emissary of Hamilton. It had been loft In his belt by CInrk'u order as tbo best Justi fication of his doom. "W mo hack 'Is head!" Onclo Jazon pleaded. "I Jos' hankers to chop a hole tutor It. An', besides, I want '1 pcelp to hang up wl' mlno an' that 'i o' tho Injun what colpea"me. " lie kicked mo In tho ribs, the vnrmlnt." Beverley pleAded eloquently nnd well, but even tlia gonial Slnjor Helm laugh ed at his sentiment of gmtltudo to a savage who at best but rolonted at the last moment for Allce'B sake and con cluded not to sell him to Hamilton. It is due to the British commander to record here that he most positively and with what appeared to bo high lncor ity denied the charge of having offored rewards for the taking of human icnlps. He declared that his purposes and practices were humane, and that, while he did use the Indlaus as military- allies, his orders to them were that they must forego cruel modes of war fare and refrain from savngo outrage upon prisoners. Cortnlnly tho wolght of eontomporary testimony seems over whelmingly against lilm, but wo enter his denial. Long Hair himself, Low ever, taunted him with accusations of unfaithfulness In currying out somo very Inhuman contracts, and, to add a terribl sting, volunteered the state most that poor Barlow's scalp bad served 'In bis turn in' the place of Bev erley's. With conditions so lildeoas to am- i cena against, Beverley, of course, had no possible means of succoring tho con demned Bavagc. "Him a-klckln' yor ribs clean inter ye, nn' n-mnkln' ye run tho gantlet, nn' hero yo air a-tryln' to savo 'Is llfo!" whined Onclo Jazon. "W'y man, I thought ye bed somo aontcrmcntst Dast 'Is lnjtn liver, I kin feel them kicks what ho guv mo till ylt. Vontrobloul Que dlnblo vouloz-vous?" Clark simply pushed Bovorley's pleadings aside ns not worth n mo ment's consideration. Ho easily felt tho Hue bit of grntltudo nt tho bottom of It all, but there was too much in tbo other side of tho balance Justice, tho discipline nud confidence of his llt tlo army and tho claim of tho women and children on the frontlor domnndod firmness in. dealing with a caso llko Long Hair's. "No, no," ho said to Bovorloy, "I would do anything In the world for you, Fits, except to swerve an Inch from duty to my country nnd the de fenseless peoplo down yonder In Ken tucky. I can't do It Thero's no uso to press tho matter further. Tho dlo la cast. That brute's got to bo killed and killed dead. Look at him look nt that scalpl I'd havo him killed If 1 dropped dead for it the next Instant." Bovorloy shuddered. Tho nrgumeut was horribly convincing, nud yet, some how, tho deslro to savo Long Hair overbore everything olso In his mind. IIo could not cease hi erfprts. It seem ed to him as If ho wore pleading for Alice herself. Captain Fnrnsworth, strango to say, was tho-only mnn In the fort who lenned to Bovorley's Bldo, but be was reticent, doubtless feeling that bis position ns n British prlsonor gavo him no right to spook, especlnlly when every Up around lilm was muttorlng fioniothlng about "Infamous scalp buy ers nnd Indlnn partisans," with whom he was prominently counted by tho speakers. As Clark had said, tho dlo was cast. Long Hair, bound to n stake, the scalp still dangling nt his ldc, grimly faced bis executioners, who wero eagor to fire, IIo appeared to bo proud of the fact that ho wns going to bo killed. "Ono thing I can Bay of him," Holm remnrked to Beverley "ho's tho grand est specimen of tho nnlmal I might say the brute man that I over saw, red, white or black. Just look at Jils body and limbs! Thoso musclos aro perfectly marvelous." "He saved my life, and I must stnnd hero nnd seo hlm murdered," tho young man replied with lntenso bitterness, It was nil that ho could think, all that ho could say. IIo felt Incfllclcnt and dejected, almost desperate. Clark himself, not willing to cast re sponsibility upon n subordinate, made ready to glvo tho fatal order. Turning to Long Hair first, ho demanded of hlm ns well au ho could In tho Indian dialect, of which he had a smattering, what ho had to wiy nt his last moment. Tho Indian straightened his already upright form and by a strong bulging of his muscles snapped tho thungs thnt bound him. Evidently he had not tried thus to free himself. It was rather a spasmodic oxprosslon of savage digni ty nnd pride. Ono arm and both Lis legs still woro partially confined by tlio bonds, but his right hand ho lifted, with a gesture of tmuuuiHo self satis faction, and pointed at Hamilton. "Indian bravo; whlto man coward," ho said, scowling scornfully. "Long Hair toll truth; whlto man lie!" Humlltou'H countennuco did not change Us cnlm, cold expression. Long Ilnlr gazed at hlm fixedly for a long moment, his eyes Hashing most concen trated huto and contempt. Then ho tore the scalp from his belt nnd Hung It with great forco straight toward tho :aptlve governor's face. It fell short but tho look that wont with It did not, and Hamilton recoiled. At that moment Allco arrived, nor coming was Just In timo to interrupt Clark, who bad turned to tho waiting platoon with the order of death on his lips. She mndo no noise, save the flut tering of hor skirts and Lor loud and rapid panting on account of her long, hard run. She sprang boforo Long Hair and faced tho plutoon. "You cannot, you shall not kill this man!" alio cried in n voice loaded with excitomont. "But uway those guns!" Woman nover looked moro thtllllngly bcnutlful to man than she did Just thou to nil those rough, stern back woodsmen. During her flight her hnjr had fallon down, nud It glimmered llko soft sunlight nround her face. Some thing compelling flashed out of her eyes, an expression botween u trium phant smile nnd a ray of Irresistible beseechment It took Colonel Clurk'i breath when he turned nnd saw hor itaudlug there aud heard her words. "This man saved Lieutenant Bover ey's llfo," sho presently nddod, gottlng better control "of" her voice VmT'sd'ridiiR Into It a thrilling timbre. "You shall not barm him; you must not do it!" Boverloy wns astounded whew 19 saw hor, the tiling was so unexpected, so daring and done with such high, im perious forco. SHU It was but n real isation of what he Lad imagined she would bo upon occasion. IIo Htood gaz ing nt her, us did all tho rest, while sho faced Clark and the platoon of rifle men. To hear his own name pass hor quivering lips In that tone and In that ronneetlon seouied to him a consecra tion. "Would you be moro savage thau rcur Indian prisoner?" slit went ou, "less grateful tlmn ho for u life saved? I did him a small a vory smnll serv ice onco, and In memory of thnt be saved Lieutenant Revorloy's llfo, bo cuse because" she faltered for a sin gl brdntli, then added clearly and with HMgUitlo, sweetnwa "because Lieuten ant Bsverlay loved me and because, 1 lorsd him, This Indian Loug Hair showed 'a gratitude that could over nwu bis strcuutust: tuuatan. You white mon should bo ashamed to fall below his standard." Her words wont homo. It wns as 1C tho beauty of her faco, tho inngnotlBm of hor lissome and symmetrical form, tho sweet llro of her eyes and tho pas slonnto appeal of her voice gavo what sho said a new nnd Irresistible forco of truth. Whon sho spoke of Beverley's love for her and declared her lovo for hlm there was not a manly heart In all tho garrison thnt did not suddenly beat qillckor and feel a Btrnngo, sweet waft of tenderness. A mother somowhera, a wife, n daughter, n Bister, n sweetheart, called through that volco of absoluto womanhood. "Bovorloy, whnt can I do?" muttered Clnrk, his bronze faco ns pulo as It could possibly become. "Dot" thundered Bovorloy. "Do! You cannot murder that mnn. Hamilton Is the mnn you should shoot! Ho offered large rewards, lie Inflamed tho passion? nud fed tlio lovo of rum and tho cupidi ty of the poor wild mon like tho ono Btnndlng yonder. Yet you tnko.lilnt prisoner and treat hlm with distin guished consideration. Hamilton offor ed a largo sum for me taken nllvo, a smnller one for my scalp. Long Hair saved me. You let Hamilton Btnnd yonder In perfect safety while you shoot the Indian. Shame on you Colo nel Clark! Shniuo on you If you do It." Alice stood looking nt the Hjnlwnrt cfliniiiRiider while Bovorloy was pour lug forth his torrent of Bcathlng refer ence to Hamilton, and sho qutqkly 'saw that Clark was moved. Tho moment wnsrlpo for tho finishing stroke. Thoy say It Is genius that uvnlls Itself of op portunity. Bovorloy know tho II g lit wus won when he saw what followed. Allco suddenly left Long Ilnlr and ran to Colonel Clark, who felt Iter warm, strong nrms loop around hlm for n sin gle point of time never to bo offneed from his memory; then ho saw her kneeling nt his feet, hor hands up Htrotched, hor faco a glorious prayor, while sho pleaded tho Indian's cause nnd won It Doubtless, whllo wo nil rnthor feel that Clark was weak to bo thus swnjf cd by n girl, wo cannot qutto blnmo hlm. AUco's ling was ovor hlm. Ho had heard her history from Bovorley's cunning lips. He actually bollovcd that Hamilton wns tho real culprit, and bo sldcs ho felt not a llttlo nauseated with executing Indians. A good excuso, to havo an end of it all did not go beg ging. But Long Ilnlr wbb barely gone over the horizon from tho fort, ns frco nnd ns villainous a savago as ever trod tin) earth, whon n dlscovory made by Onclo Jazon caused Clark to hato himself for what Lo Lad done. Tho old scout picked up tho scalp which Long Hair had Hung nt Hamil ton nnd exu mined It with odious curi osity. He Lad lingered on tlio spot with no othor purposo than to got pos session of that ghastly relic. Since los ing his own scnlp tho subject of crown locks had grown upon his mind until Its fascination was Irresistible. Ho studied the hair of nvory person ho bhw us a physiognomist studies faces. IIo held the grewHoino thing up before hlm, scrutinizing It with the expression of u connoisseur who has discovered on a grimy canvas the signature of an old master. "Sac' bleu!"-ho prosontly broko forth. "Well, I'll bo Look'eo yor, Grgu Clnrk! Como yor an' look. Yo'vo been sold ag'In. Tales a squint, ef yo please!" Colonel Clark, with his hands crossed behind hlm, his faco thoughtfully con tracted, wiih walking slowly to nnd fro n llttlo wny off. lie turned nbout when Onclo Jazon spoke. "What now, Jnzon?" "A mighty Leap rlglit now, tliat's wliat. Como yor nn' let mo sliow yo. Yer a lino sort o' eejlt now, ain't yo?" Tbo two men walked toward each other and met Oncle Jazon held up tho scalp with ono baud, pointing nt It with tho Index linger of tho othor. "This hero scalp come off'n Rene do RonvIIIo'B head." "And who Is ho?" "Who's ho? Ye may well nr thet. Ho wuz a Frenchman, no wuz a fine young fellor o' this town. lie killed a corp'rnl 6' nairllton's nn' tuck tcr tho woods a mouth or two ago. Hamilton offored a lot o'.mouoy for Mm orv'ls scalp, nn Long Hair went In fer gittln' It. Now yo knows the whole rnckot An' yo lets Unit Injun go! An' tho! samo Injun bo mighty nigh kicked my ribs Inter my stomncht" Oncle Jason's feelings wero vlslbl and audible, but Clnrk could not rosoul tho contompt of the old man's looki and words, no felt that ho deserve far moro than bo was receiving. Not was Onclo Jazon wrong. Rene d Bonvllle nover camo back to little Adrl enno Bourcler. although, being kepi entirely Ignorant of her lover's fata sho waited and dreamed and hoped throughout moro than two years, nftei which there Is no further rocord of bo "fo oters', Beverley and Onclo Jazon con sulted together and agreed among themselves that they would hold pro foundly secret tho story of the scalp. To buvo mndo It public would have ox asperated tho Creoles and set thorn vio lently agalrtut Clark, a thing heavy with dlsastor for all bis future plans. As It was, tho release of Long Hair canned a great deal of dissatisfaction nnd muti nous talk. Even Ueverloy now folt that tho execution ordered by tho com inandor ought to have been sternly car ried out A dny or two later, however, tho tvholo dark affair was closed forover by a bit of confidence ou tho part of Onglo Jazon when Bovorloy dropped Into his but one evening to bavo a smoko with hlm. Tho rain was over, theBky.shgno like ono vast luminary, with a' nearly full moon and a thousand stars re-euforclng It Up from tbo south poured one of those balmy, accidental wlgd. flooda -?"' '" r " i m