4 IT ALICE of OLD] ? VINCENNES I ff-i ** 4 4 ' * ? f By MAURICE THOMPSON |j if C?p?ri?ht. 1900. IK* BOWtN MLKKILL COMPANY J< ! ??j' T^> ??? - ?i?o?????o??r; Iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiniiiiinmniiiinniiiimtntiii CHAPTER XIII. A MEETING IN THE WILDERNESS. BEVERLEY set out on his mid winter Journey to Kaskaskia with a tempest in his heart, iiml It was perhaps the storm's energy that gave him the courage to face iindnunted anil undoubting what his experience must have told him lay In his path. Whnt meant suffering to him if lie could hut rescue Alice? And what were life should he fail to rescue ( her? The old, old snug bummed in his heart, every phrase of it distinct almve j the tumult of the storm. Could cold and hunger, swollen streams, ravenous wild beasts and scalp hunting savages bailie him? No; there is no barrier that can hinder love. He said tlds over and over to himself after Ids rencoun ter with the four Indian scouts on I Wabash, lie repeated it with every heart boat until lie fell in with some friendly red men, who took him to their camp, where, to his great surprise, lie met SI. Roussllion. It wus his song when again lie strode off toward the west on his lonely way. lie did not know that l.ong Hair and his band were fast on his track, but the knowledge could not have urged him to greater haste. He strained ev ery muscle to its utmost, kept every nerve to the highest tension. Yonder toward the west was help for Alice. That was ull lie cared for. Itut if Long llair was pursuing him witli relentless greed for the reward of fered by Hamilton there were friendly footsteps still nearer lichlnd him, and one day at high noon while he Was bending over a little tire broiling some j liberal cute <,/( venison a linger tapped him 011 the shoulder, lie sprang up and grappled Oncle Jason. At the same time, standing near by. lie saw Simon Kenton, Ills old time Kentucky friend. The pungled features of one and the fine, rugged face of the other swam us In a mist before Beverley's eyes. Ken ton whs laughing quietly, his strong, upright form shaking to the force of his pleasure. He was In the early prime of u vigorous life, not handsome, but strikingly attractive by reason of a certain glow in Ills face and a kindly flash in his deep set eyes. "Well, well, my boy!" he exclaimed, laying his left hand on Beverley's shoulder, while in the other he held a long, heavy rifle. "I'm glad to see ye, glad to see ye!" "Thought we was Injuns, ok?" said Oncle Jazon. "All" ef we bad 'a' been we'd 'a' been shore o' your scalp!" The wizened old Creole cackled gleefully. "And where are ye gnln'V" demand ed Kenton. "Ye'ro uiukln' what lacks a heap o' belli' a bee line for some place or other." Beverley was dazed and vacant mind ed. Things seemed wavering and dim. He pushed the two men from him and gazed at them without Hpeuklng. Their presence and voices did not conviuce him. "Yer meat's a-burnin'." said Oncle Jazon, stooping to turn It on the stnol- | derlng coals. "Ye must la- huugry. Cookin'-enough for a regiment." Kenton shook Beverley with rough familiarity as if to rouse his faculties. "What's the matter? Fits, my lad, don't ye know Si Kenton? It's not so long since we were like brothers, iukI now ye don't speak to me. Ye've not forgotten me. Fits!" "ilebby tie don't like ye as well as ye thought he did," drawled Oncle Jazon. "I hev known o' fellers n-bein' mistaken jes' thet way." ? Beverley got his wits together as best ' he copkl. taking In the situation by such degrees as seemed at the time un duly slow, hut which were really mere momentary falteritigs. "Why, Kenton! Jazon!" he presently exclaimed, a cordial gladness blending with his surprise. "How did you get here? Where did you come from?" He looked from one to the other back -v-til forth with ?i wnrulorimr vttiilo breasfng over. '.As bronzed and deter mined face. ' "We've been hot on yer trail for thir ty hours." said Kenton. "Houssillon put us on it hack yonder. Hut what are ye up to? Where are ye coin'?" "I'm going to Clark at Kaskaskia to brim; him yonder." He waved his hand eastward. "I nui going to take Vlncennes and kill Hamilton." "Well, ye're taktn' a mighty queer course, my l>oy, If ye ever expect to find Kaskaskia Ye're already twenty miles too far south." "Carryln' Ids gun 011 the same shoul der all tlie time." said Ouele J axon, "has made Mm kind o' swing in u curve like. 'Tnlu't cimmI luek nohow to cnrry yer gun on yer lef shoulder. When ye do It rneks ye take a longer step with yer right foot than ye do with yer lef, an' ye enn't walk a strnlght line to save yer liver. Ventrebleu! I.a venalson brule encore! Ixtok at that dasted ment burnln' ag'in!" He Jumped back to the fire to turn the scorching ruts. Beverley wrung Kenton's hand and looked Into his eyes as a man does when an old friend comes suddenly out of the pnst, so to say, and brings the freshness and comfort of a strong, true soul to brace him In bis hour of great est need. "Of all men In the world, Simon Ken ton, yon were the leaat expected. But how glad I am. bow thankful! Now I - "C know f shall suee ss nskln' it, but I have. That leetle gal's a pet o* mine, an' I'm a-lrsikiu' after her an' exjiectln' to se< thet she's not liotbered by nolssly who's not goin* to do riirlit by her. Marryin' Is a mighty good thing. but"? Kenton had been peeping under the low bunging scrub oak boughs while Oncle Jazou was speaking these last words, and now he suddenly interrupt ed: "The deuce! I.ook yonder!" he growl ed out In startling tone. "Injuns!" It was a sharp snap of the conversa tion's thread, and at the same time our three friends realized that they had been careless in not keeping a better lookout. They let fall the meat they had not yet finished eating and seized their guns. Five or six dark forms were moving toward them across a little point of the prairie that cut Into the wood a quarter of a mile distant. "Yander's more of em." said Oncle i Jazon. as If not in the least concerned, wagging his head in an opposite direc- | noil, rrom which anoiner squad was approaching. Tliut ho July appreciated tlio situn tton appeared only in the celerity with which he acted. Iventon at once assumed command, and his companions felt his perfect fit uess. There was 110 doubt from Uie lirst as to what tlie Indians meant, but even if there had been it would have soon vanished, for in less than three minutes twenty-one savages were swiftly and silently forming a circle in closing the spot where the three white men, olio had covered themselves as liest they could with trees, waited in grim steadiness for the worst. Quite beyond gunshot range, but near enough feu* Oncle Jazon to recognize Long Ilair as their leader, the Indians liulted and began making signs to one another all round the line. Evidently I hey dreaded to test the marksmanship of such rillemen as they knew most border men to be. Indeed Long Hair hud personal knowledge of what might certainly be expected from both Ken ton and Oncle Jazon. They were terri ble when out for Bglit. The red war riors from Georgia to the great lakes had heard of them; their names smack ed of tragedy. Nor was Beverley with out fame among Long liair's followers, who had listened to the story of ids Ughting qualities brought to Vincennes by ths two survivors of the Mooting party so cleverly defeated by him. "The liver colsred cowards," said Kenton, "are afeared of its in a shoot in' match. They know that a lot of 'cm would have to die if they should uudortako an open tight with us. It's some sort of a sneak in' game they are studyin' about just now." "I'm a-gittin' inos' too ole to shoot wo'th a cent," said Oncle Jazon. "hut I'd give half o' my scalp of thet Long Hair would come dost enough fo' me to git a bead onto his lef eye. It's tor lde plain tl < t we're gone goslln's this time, I'm thiukin'. Still it'd bo mighty satisfyln' it 1 could plug out a lef eye or two 'fore I go." Beverley was sileut. The words of his companions were heard by him, but not noticed. Nothing Interested him save the thought of escaping and mak ing his way to Clark. To fail meant in finitely more than death, of which he had as small fear as most brave men, tiud to succeed meant everything that,. lire could oiler. Ho ill tlie uni:.Hated selfishness of love he dl&'not take his companions into ivi';?fiint. Tie.' tj lee stood In u close set clump p.'i lour or five scrub onks at the high est point of a thinly wooded knoll that sloped down in all directions to the prairie. Their view was wide, hut in places obstructed by the trees. "Men," said Kenton nfter a thought ful and watchful silence, "the thing looks kind o' squally for us. I don't see much of a chance to get out of this alive, but we've got to try." He showed by the density of his voice and a certain gray film in his face that he felt the awful gravity of the situation, but be was calm, and not a muscle quivered. "Tliey's Jes' two chances for us," said Oncle Jazon, "an' them's as slim as a broom straw. We've got to stan' here an' fight it out or wait till night an' sneak through atween 'em an' run for it." "I don't see any hope o' sneakin' through the line," observed Kenton. "It's not goln' to lie dark tonight." "Wa-a-1," Oncle Jazon drawled non chalantly while he took in n quid of to bacco, "I've been into tighter squeezes 'an this many a time, an' I got out too." "Likely enough," said Kenton, still reflecting while his eyes roamed around the circle of savages. "I tit the skunks in Ferginny 'fore ye's thought of. SI Kenton, an' down in Car'liua In them hills. If ye think I'm a-goln' to be scalped where they ain't no scalp 'ithout trytn' a few dodges, yer a dad dasteder fool 'an I used to think ye was, an' thet's nankin' a big compliment to ye." "Well, we don't have to argy this question, Oncle Jazon. They're a-glt A ii'tirrior ten/ml hhjh arid fell paralyzed. tin' ready to run in upon us, and we've not to fight. I say, Beverley, are ye ready for fast shoot in'? Have ye got a-plenty o' bullets?" "Yes; Ifoussillon gave nie a hundred. Do you think"? He was interrupted by a yell that leaped front savage mouth to mouth all round the eirele. and then Un charge began. "Steady, now!" growled Kenton. "I.et's not be In a hurry. Wait till they come nigh enough to hit 'em be fore we shoot." The time was short, for the Indians came on at Imost race horse speed. Onele Jazon fired first, the long, keen crack of his small bore rffle splitting tbe air with a suggestion of vicious energy, and a lithe young warrior who was outstripping all his fellows leaped high and fell paralysed. "Ciwi't shoot wo'tli a cent." cut tered the old man, deftly beginning to reload his gun tlie while, "but I jes' happened to hit that buck. He'll never git uiy scalp, tliet's sartiu and sure." Beverley and Kenton eaeli likewise ? dropped an Indian, but the shots did not even check tin1 rush. Long Hair had planned to capture his prey, not kill it. Every savage had his orders to take the white men alive. Hamilton's larger reward depended on this. Bight on they came, as fast as their nimble legs could curjy them, yelling like demons, and they reached the grove before the three white men could reload their guns. Then every war rior took cover behind a tree and be gan scrambling forward from bole to bole, thus approaching rapidly without much exposure. A struggle ensued which for desper ate energy has probably never been surpassed. I.ike three lions at bay, the white men met the shock, and lion like they fought in the midst of seven teen stalwart and determined savages. "Hon't kill them. Take them alive. Throw theui down and hold them," was Long Hair's order, loudly shouted In the tongue of his tribe. Both Kenton and Jason understood every word and knew the significance of snoh a command from the lender. It naturally came into Kenton's mind that Hamilton had been informed of bis visit to Vincennes and had offered a reward for his capture. This being true, death as a spy would be the cer tain result if he were taken back. He might as well die now. As for Bever ley, he thought only of Alice yonder as he had left her a prisoner iu Hamil ton's hands. Onele Jazon, if he thought ut all. probably considered nothing but present escape, though he prayed audi bly to the Blessed Virgin even while he lay helpless upon the ground pinned down by the weight of an enormous Indian. He could not move any part of himself save his lips, and these me chanically put forth the wheezing sup plication. Beverley and Kenton, being young and powerful, were not so easily mas-, tered. For awhile itp'"?sed to celebrate their successful enterprise with a feast. They cooked a large amount of buffalo steak. Then, each with his hands full of the savory meat, they began to dance around the tires, droning meantime an atrociously repellent chant. Before this was ended a rain begun to fall, and it rapidly thickened from a desultory shower to a roaring down pour that effectually quenched not only the tires around which the savages were dancing, hut the enthusiasm of the dancers as well. During the. rest j of the afternoon and all night long the ' full was incessant, accompanied by a i fold, panting, wailing southwest wind. I Beverley lay on the ground face up- i ward, the rawhide strings torturing his limbs, the chill of cold water searching ' his bones. lie could see nothing but hit- uiiii, Sinui.uf cuuujiy uj ujim^ ram, against which the bare boughs of the scrub oaks were vaguely outlined; he could hear nothing but the cry of the wind and the swash of the water which fell upon him and ran under him. bub bling and gurgling as if Uendishly ex ultant. The night dragged on through its ter rible length, dealing out it* indescriba ble horrors, and at last morning ar rived, with a stingy and uncertain gift of light slowly increasing until the dripping trees appeared forlornly gray and brown against eloud* now bretS ing Into masses that gave but little rain. There was great stir among the In dians. Long Ilair stalked aliout scru tinizing the ground. Beverley saw him come near time and again with a hid eous. inquiring scowl on 1 * face. Grunts and laconic exclamations pass ed from mouth to mouth, and present ly the import of it all could not be mis taken. Kenton and Juzou were gone? had escaped during the night?aud the rain had completely obliterated their tracks. The Indians were furious. Long Hair sent out picked parties of bis best scouts with orders to scour the coun try in all directions, keeping with him self a few of the older warriors. Bev erley was fed what he would eat of venison, and Iarng Huir made him un . Beverley daxhed hini headlong hgalnst I the root of a tree. I. derstand that he wytfiii""dare to suffer ! some terrible-'punishment on account of ?hc-^non of his companions. Late in the day the scouts straggled , back with the report that 110 track or ; sign of the fugitives had been discov ered. and immediately a consultation was held. Most of the warriors, in cluding all of the young bucks, de manded a torture entertainment as compensation for their exertions and i the unexpected loss of their own pris- j oners, for it had been agreed that Bev erl '.v belonged exclusively to Long Hair, who objected to anything which might deprive him of the great reward offered by Hamilton for the prisoner If brought to him alive. In the end it was agreed that Bever lej* should be made to run the gantlet, provided that no deadly weapons were used upon him during the ordeal. (To bp Contimipd Next Week.) Nervous Dyspepsia Cured by Ry-j dale's Stomach Tablets. Mr It. E. Jones, buver for Parker A Bridget. whose lnrre department stores are located at 9th and Penn. Ave. Wash ington, D. C- writes, under date of April 14. '04, as follows: Last February, one year, while in New York on business for my house. I cought a severe cold, which laid me up for several weeks and left me weak and nervous. I had little or no appetite, and my digestion wasverypoor. My physicians could not get at the < ause of my trouble, as my digestion seemed so much Impared. I decided to try Ry dale's Stomach Tablets, being assured by a friend, they were a good dyspepsia medicine. After using them tor a few ( ays I began to realize that I was get ting better. I gave up the doctor's pre scription and have gained 20 pounds while using two boxes of these tablets. I never felt better In my life, and accredit Rydale's Stomach Tablets with having cured me. I can reccommend them most heartily, to sufferers from nervous Indigestion and general run-down condl- ' Hons of the system. J. R. Ledbetter, 1 Hood Bros. < There II Be no Irish There. A woman sat in a street-car in a Canadian town one day when the car stopped at a crossing and another woman got in and sat beside the other woman say ing, "Well, well, Airs. Fiewclose, wherever have you been all sum mer?" "Oh, we were at the Lake." "80 were we?at brand Bend." "We were at Port Stanley," said the woman who had opened the oratorical contest. "Have a nice time?" "Well, not exactly. There's so many Irish there," she added with a weary look, but without so much as a glance about the car. "Same way at the Bend?Irish, Irish everywhere." A stout lady under a green hat that turned up behind sat in the seat immediately in front of the elocutionists. The stout lady turned and sized them up, but by this time they were dead to the world. As the car rattled on they talked of everything and most everybody, and finally fetched up at the summer resort with Irish for dessert. By this time there was Irish stew in the front seat. The stout person under the pea-green hat turned and shone 011 them. "Ladies," she began, "1'ave me give yez a bit uv advice?the nixt time ye get a holiday, yez better spend it in hell?there'll be no Irish there."? Cy Warinau, m .May Lippin Inntl/fl To Farmer and Stockman. For Farmers and Stock owneis; use Elliott's Emulsified Oil Linim#ut?is tlie best ev?r produced. You get a full half pint for 25c. "nd you'll find it a very satisfactory liniment lor use in the f/tmi ly and on animals Hood Bros , J. R. Led better. Harper's Magazine. Two of the leading features of Harper's Magazine for May are an article on Ham et, by Theo dore YVatte-Duntoo, and "Our System of Neutrality," by Pro fessor John Hassett Moore, of Columbia University. The lead nig stories are "Josephine," by Edward S. Martin; "The Black Death," by Warrick Deeping; "The Gray Chieftain," by "A Sioux Indian" "The Cenotaph," by Mary| Tracy Earle; There are several other stories by well known writers, and the usual de partments are well up to the standard. The Secret of Happiness. The secret of happiness in the home is love. Pure, true, un selfish love and a great abun dance of it. Enough to outweigh all pride and jealousy. Sometimes in the home there will arise misunderstandings. Sometimes one is tired, and hasty a word is spoken. Some times we have a "blue day," when everything goes wrong. But to offset all tnese there are three small words?. I love you'' drives the frowns away; I love you dries the tears* I love y.