PROLOGUE.
: A young man and a beautiful
yoang woman, lost and alone in
a wilderness for months, half
starved and in daily peril of
death from wild beasts and stilt
more savage Indians this is the
central theme of the most fasoi
noting romance that has come
from Emerson Hoagh's pen.
Head and you will learn how
love came to them; how they
conducted themselves in this try
ing, unconventional situation;
how the man's chivalry and the
woman's purity held them stead'
fast to the ideals of civilization,
and how the strange episode
brought tragedies, estrangements
and happiness.
CHAPTER XXIV.
Th Reckoning.
SO It waa war. We drew apart
into hostile camps. By mld
! winter South Carolina. Missis
sippi, Georgia, Alabama, Flor
ida, Louisiana, Texas, had withdrawn
from the Union. There arose two capi
tals, each claiming a government, each
planning war Washington and Rich
mond. As (or me, 1 hud seen the flag
on our tar frontiers in wide, free lands.
It was a time when each must choose
for himself. I knew with whom my
own lot must be cast. I pledged my
aelf to follow the flHg of the frontier,
wherever it might go.
When the gun of Sumter came on
lhat sad day of April I was ready with
a company of volunteers who had
known some months of drill at least
and who had been good enough to elect
me for their captain. Most of my men
came from the mountains of western
Virginia. I heard remotely that Colo
nel Meriwether would not Join the
Confederacy. Both the Sheratons, the
old colonel and his son Harry were, of
course, for the south, and early in Jan
uary they both left home for Rich
mond. On the other hand, again, our
friend Cnptnln Stevenson stood for the
Federal government, and so I heard
also indirectly, did young Belknap of
the Ninth dracoous, regulars, a gallant
boy who swiftly reached distinction,
and died a gallant man's death at Shi
loh Inter on.
My mother, all for peace, Wept when
she saw me in uniform and bolt. "See,"
she said, "we freed our slaves long
ago. We thought as the north thinks.
This war is not for the Society of
Friends." But she snw my father's
blood iu urn ugnin and slghod. "Go,
then," she said. All over the country,
north and south, came the same sigh
ed consent of the women, "Go, then."
And so we went out to kill each other,
we who should nil have been brothers.
None of us would listen. The armies
formed, facing each other on Virginia
soil. Soon In our trampled fields and
broken herds and ruined crops, lu our
desolated homes and hearts, we broth
ers in America learned the significance
of war.
My men, most of them young fellows
used to horse and arms, were brigaded
as infantry with one of the four divi
sions of Mcliowull's men, who con
verged along different lines toward
Fairfax.
It was not until the L'Oth of July
that our leaders determined upon
a flanking movement to our right,
which was to cross Bull Run at the
Sudley ford. Even so, we dallied
along until every one knew our plans.
Back of us the battle opened on the
following day, a regiment at a time,
with no concert, no plan. My men
were with this right wing, which made
the turning movement, but four bri
gades in all. Four other brigades,
those of Howard, Burnslde, Keyos and
Scbonck, were lost somewhere to the
rear of us. Finally we crossed and
reached the left flank of the Confed
erates under Beauregard, and swung
south along Bull Run. Our attack
was scattering and 111 planned, but
by 8 o'clock of the next day we
were In the thickest of the fighting
around the slope which led up to the
Henry Twiua, it wMct iiy the
Confederate headquarters.
I taw tha batteries .of Blfikett.gd
THE WAY
OF
MAN
By EmersoiN Hough
Copyright, 1W7. by the Outing Publishing
Company
nrirnn 'or our Tegu'ars' aarance'T.'TT
take this height against the steadily
thickening lino of the Confederates,
who had now had full time to concen
trate. There came a hot cavalry
charge upon the zouave regiment on
my left, and I saw the zouaves He
down in the woods and melt the line
of that charge with their Are and save
the battery for a time. Then In turn
I saw that hlnnder by which the bat
tery commander allowed CummlngV
men-the Thirty-third Virginia, I think
It was deliberately to march within
stone's throw of them, mistaken for
Federal troops. 1 saw them pour a
volley nt short range into the guns,
which wiped out their handlers and
let through the charging lines now
converging rapidly upon us. Then,
though it was but my first battle, I
knew that our movement must fall,
that our extended line, lying upon
nothing, supported by nothing, must
roll back In retreat along a trough
road, where the horses and guns
would mow us down. Stuart's men
came on. nrllng through us as we
broke. Wheat's Louisiana Tigers came
.hj.OU2h.our..re!nn(uit,' as well, .
"Go, then," the said.
They were" practically over us and
gone when as I rode to the right flank
of the remaining splinter of my little
company I saw riding down upon us
a splendid soldier, almost alone and
apparently endeavoring to reach his
command after some delay at the rear,
lie was mounted on a fine horse, a
great black animal. His tall figure
was clad in the gray uniform of the
Confederates, with a black hat sweep
ing back from his forehead. I saw
him half rise once, twice, four times,
standing In the stirrups to enforce his
saber cuts, each one of which dropped
a man. He and his horse moved to
gether, a splendid engine of ruthless
butchery.
"Iok out, Cup:" I heard a squeak
ing vole behind me call and, looking
down, I saw one of my men, his Itft
arm lunging loose, resting his gun
across a log with his right. "Git out
o' the way," he repeated. "I'm goln'
to kill him." It was that new made
warrior, Andrew Jackson McGovern,
who had drifted back Into our valley
from some place, and Joined my com
pany soon after Its organization. I or
dered the boy now to drop his gun.
"Leave him alone," I cried. "He be
longs to me."
It was Gordon Orme. At last fate
had relented for me. My enemy was
at hand. No man but Orme could thu3
ride my old horse. Si'tan.
This Is to be snld of Gordon Orme,
that he feared no man or thing on
earth. He smiled at me now, show
ing his loug, narrow teeth, as he came,
HgM!7 twirling his long blade.' Two
pistols lay in my holsters, and both
were freshly loaded, but without
thought 1 bad drawn my sword for a
weapon, 1 suppose because he was
using his. He was a master of the
sword, I but a beginner with It
I we roae siraignt in, ana l heard tn
whistle of his blade as he circled it
about bis bead like a band of light
Aa we joined be made cut to the left,
easily, gently, as be leaned forward,
but It came with such swiftness that
bad U landed I doubt not my neck
would hare 'been shorn like a robin's.
! We wheeled and came on again and
yet again, and each time he put me
on defense, and each time I learned
more of what was before mo to do.
My old servant, Satan, waa now his
servant and the great black bone
was miajre tmlast.me.M .was. Ms
rlJer. "Wishin'uothlng so mucn as to
kill his own rival, he came each time
with his ears back and his
mouth
open, wicked in the old blood lust
that I knew. It was the fury of his
horse that saved me. I suppose, for as
that mad beast bored in. striving to
overthrow my own horse, the latter
j
r,
My Blad Met Hit With a Shook
would flinch away in spite of all I
could do, so that I needed to give
him small attention when we met In
these short, desperate charges. I es
caped with nothing more than a rip
across the shoulder, a touch on the
cheek, on the arm, where his point
reached me lightly as my horse swerv
ed away from the encounters. I could
not reach Orme at all.
At last, I know not how, we clash
ed front on. and his horse bore mine
back, with a scream fastening bis
teeth In the crest of my mount, as a
dog seizes his prey. I saw Orme's sword
turn lightly, easily again around his
head, saw his wrist turn gently,
smoothly down and extend in a cut
which was aimed to catch mo full
across the head. There was no parry
I could think but the full counter In
kind. My blade met bis with a shock
that Jarred my arm to the shoulder.
I saw him give back, pull off bis
mad horse and look at bis band, where
his own sword was broken off a foot
above the hilt Smiling, he saluted
with it reigning back his horse and
child. He saluted again with his bro
ken sword and made as though to
toss It from him, as Indeed he did.
Then like a flash bla hand dropped to
his bolster.
I read his thought, 1 presume, when
be made his second salute. Ills mo
tion of tossing away the sword hilt
gave me the fraction of time which
sometimes is the difference between
life and death. Our tire was almost
t the same Instant, but not quite. Hi
bullet cut the epaulet clean from my
left shoulder, but he did not fire again.
nor did I. 1 suw him straighten up
in his saddle, precisely as I bad once
seen an Indian chieftain do nnder
Orme's own fire. He looked at me
with a startled expression on his face.
At that moment there came from
the edge of the woods the crack of a
musket. The great horse Satan pitch
ed his head forward and dropped limp,
sinking to his knees. As he rolled he
caught his rider under him. I myself
sprung down, Bhoutlng out some com
mand toward the edge of the wood,
that they should leave this man to me.
1 stooped aud caught hold of the
hind leg of the great black horse, and
even as I bad once turned a dead bull.
so now I turned this carcass on us
back. 1 picked up the fallen rider nnl
tarried him to the woods, and there I
propped his body against a tree.
".Thank you. old man." he said, "the
horse was deueedly heavy spoiled that
leg. 1 think." He pointed to his boot.
"I suffer badly. Be a good fellow and
end it"
I answered him by tossing down one
of his own pistols.
"Let's talk it over a bit first." he
aid. "I'm done. Did you ever know
me to break parole?"
"No." said I. aud I threw down the
other weapon on the ground. "In
mercy to us both, Orme. die. I do
not want to kill you now, and you
shall not live."
"I'm safe enough." he said. "It's
through the liver and stomach. I can't
possibly get over it"
He stared straight ahead of him as
though summoning his will. "Swa
mi!" I beard him mutter, as though
addressing some one.
"There, that's better." be said Anal
ly. He sat almost erect, smiling at
me. "It is Asana, the art of posture,"
ho said. "I rest tny body on my ribs,
my soul on the air. Feel my heart"
I did so and drew away my hand
almost in terror. It stopped beating
at his will and began again! His un
canny art was still under his control!
"I shall be master here for a little
while," be said. "So I move those
hurt organs to ease the flow. But I
can't stop the holes nor mend them.
We can't get at the tisanes to sew
them fast After awhile I shall die.'
tie spoke clearly, with utter calmness.
dispassionately.
' I looked down at a strange, fascl
natlng soul, a fearsome personality,
whose- like I never knew in all my
life.
"Will you make me a promise T" he
said, smiling at mo. mocking at me,
"No " .Lsnjwred.
W&X-r GMT i
"I was gIng to ask you after my
death to take my heart and send it
U!U" 10 niy Pepie i urme casiie, uor-
una Arms. In England you know
where. It would be a kindness to the
family." I gazed at him in a sort of
horror, but he smiled and went on.
"We're medieval today as ever we
were. Some of us are always making
trouble, one corner or the other of the
world, and until the last Gordon heart
comes home to rest there's no peace
for that generation. Hundreds of
years they've traveled all over the
world and been lost and stolen and
hidden. My father's Is lost now s .me
where. Had It come back home to
rest my own life ml;;ht have been dif
ferent I say. Cowles, couldn't you do
that for me?"
It Is not for me to say whether or
not I made a promise to Gordon Orme
or to say whether or not things medie
val or occult belong with us today.
Neither do I expect many to believe
the strange truth about Gordon Orme.
I only say it Is bard to deny those
about to die.
"Orme," I said. "I wish you had laid
out your life differently. You are a
wonderful man."
The great games." he smiled
"sport, love, war!" Then his face sad
dened. "I say, have you kept your
other promise to me?" he asked. "Did
you marry that girl what was her
name Miss Sheraton?"
"Miss Sheraton la dead."
"Married?" he asked.
"No. She died within two months
after the night I caught you In the
yard. I should have killed you then.
Orme."
He nodded. "Yea, but at least I
showed some sort of remorse the Arst
time, I think. . Not a bad sort, that
glrT Cut uuTdlf Jealous; Fighting
blood. I Imagine, In that family."
"Yes," I said, "her father and broth
er and I, all three, swore the same
oath."
"The same spirit was In the girl," he
Bald, noddiug again. "Revenge that
was what she wanted. That's why It
all happened. It was what I wanted
too. You blocked me with the only
woman"
"Do not speak her name," I said to
him quietly. "The nails on your fln
gers are growing blue. Orme. Go
with some sort of squaring of your
accounts."
ne shrugged a shoulder. "My SwamI
said we do not die we only change
worlds or forms. What! I, Gordon
Orme, to be blotted out to lose my
mind and soul and body and senses
not to be ablo to enjoy! No, Cowles,
somewhere there are other worlds,
with women In them. I do not die I
transfer." But sweat stood on bla
forehead.
"You're an awfully decent sort Give
me a bit of paper. I want to write
I found him a pencil and some pages
of my notebook.
"To please you, I'll try to square
some things." be said. "You've been
so deuced square and straight with
me all along. I'm I'm Gordon, now,
I'm English. Word of a fighting man
my my friend."
He leaned forward, peering down at
the paper as though he did not clearly
see, but he wrote slowly for a time,
absorbed In thought
In all the death scenes which out
country knew in thousands during
those years I doubt If any more un
believable than this ever had occur
rencp. I saw the blood soaking all
bla garments, lying black on the ground
about lilm. I saw his face grow gray
and his nails grow blue, bis pallor
deepen as the veins lost their contents.
I saw him die. But I swear that he
still sat there, calm ns though ho did
not Hti'Ter, and forced his body to do
his will, at last smiling en In as he
looked up. "Fingers getflmr dread-
fullv stiff. Tougue will go next. Mus
cles still under the power for a little
time. Here, take this. You're going
to live, and this is th: onlv tl.li'g.
It'll make you miserable, but happy
too. Goodby. I'll not stop longer."
Like a flash his hand shot out to the
weapon that lay near him on the
ground. 1 shrank back, expecting the
ball full in my face. Instead It passed
through his own brain.
At last I rubbed the blood from my
own face and stooped to read what he
had written. Then I thanked God
that be was dead. Theso were the
words:
I, Gordon Ormf, dying- July a, , con
fess that I killed John Cowles, Sr., In the
month of April, 1S0O, nt the road nar
YVnlllriRford. I wuntod the horso, but hnd
to kill Cowles. Lntor took thu money. I
was a secret BRent dotnlled for work
monif XI. 8. army men.
I, Ciordon Orme, havlnn seduced Grnoo
Sheraton. oHked John Cowles to marry
her to cover up that act
I, Gordon Orme. appoint John Cowles
my executor. I ask him to fulfill Inst re
quest I give him what property I bave
on my person for his own. Further I say
not. and, being long- ego held aa dead. 1
make no bequests aa to other property
whatsoever. GORDON ORME.
In Virginia, U. B. A.
It was he, then, who had In cold
blood killed my father! That horrid
riddle at last was read. In that con
fesslon I saw only bis Intent to give
me his last touch of misery and pain.
Then slowly I realized that what I
held In my hand was the proof of his
guilt, of my Innocence. He had rob
bed me of my father. He bad given
me what? At least he bad given me
a chance. Perhaps Ellen Meriwethor
would believe!
By next morning I was far on my
way toward the Potomac. Then
opened the wallet I had found on
Orme's body. It held memoranda, writ
ings la cipher and foreign characters,
pieces of drawings, maps and the like,
all of which I destroyed It contained
also In thin foroign notes a sum large
beyond the bellof of what an ordinary
officer would csrry Into battle, and
this money the time I, Mt, Justi-
Aed In retaining.
Orme was no ordinary officer, ne
had his own ways and his own errand.
His secret, however great it was and
at different times I have had reason
to believe that men high in power on
both sides knew how great it was and
how Important to be kept a secret
never became fully known.
i 1 o Me (.(nt inued.)
Local News
From Frlday'a Dally.
Paul V. Kieser was in the city
ouay in me interest oi liclicvuc
'oitege.
Karl Travis ami V. K. Roscn
rans motored to Weeping Water
yesterday to look after business
nailers.
Tom Fry came down from Cedar
Creek on No. i this morning, I lie
rain making the ground loo wet
for work.
Ed Reynolds ami wife of liave-
lock arrived this morning and will
visit i'lattsmoutti relatives for a
short time.
W. D. Wheeler of near Murray
went to Omaha on the fast mail
this afternoon, where he was call
ed on business.
George Shoeman departed for
Louisville yesterday afternoon on
No. 33, where he will visit his son
for a few days.
G. W. Hecker arrived from
Clarinda this morning and will
ook after business matters in this
city for a short tune.
Mrs. M. Archer was a passenger
to Omaha on the afternoon train
today, where she went to visit her
daughter for a short time.
Mrs. T. L. Murphy, who has
been a guest of her parents, V. T.
Scot ten and wife, for a few days,
returned to her home today.
Miss Gillilaiid ami daughter of
Fremont, who have been guests of
Mrs. ltaxter Smith for a time, left
for their homo this afternoon.
M. Tritsch, deputy county
treasurer, was a passenger to
Louisville on No. 33 yesterday,
where he was called on business.
Donald Duspaiu of Lincoln ar
rived on the afternoon train today
to look after some business mat
ters in the city and visit his par
ents. Kd Ackerinan and wife and chil
dren departed for llavelock on the
morning train today, where they
will visit relatives for a few
days.
Miss Robin Richardson of My
nard left last evening for Louis
ville, where she will be a guest of
the Charles Richey home for a few
days.
Miss Minnie Ilaier of Weeping
Water returned to that city yes
terday afternoon, after a two days'
visit ' at the home of August
Gorder.
J. M. Meisinger drove in from
his farm this morning in time to
catch the early train for Omaha,
where he was called on important
business.
John Albert returned from
Cedar Creek on the morning train
today, where he has been looking
nfler his farming interests for a
few days.
. II. FornolV and bis bmiher,
(1. W. FornofV, of near Cullom,
came down on No. i Ibis morning
lo look afler business mailers in
Ibe rounly seat.
Dr. H. I". llrendel of Murray was
in Ibe city today for a short time,
having come on No. L'3 Ibis afl-
enioon from Omaha, where be bail
been on professional business.
John Lu) ami v ife ami il;tir;li-
ers, Misses Helen ami Kal beriue,
departed for Pekin, Illinois today,
where Ibey will visit Mrs. Lul.'s
sisler ami oilier friends for a few
days.
Fred Pallerson returned from
Weopintf Water on the morning
I rain today, where lie went to do
some surveying, but on account of
the rain Ibe work bad to be post
poned. Mrs. M. A. Street departed for
Yillisrn, Iowa, on the morning
train today, where she was called
on business. She expects to re
turn to Red Oak for a visit with
relat ives.
Mr. and Mrs. Harney Hardwell
of Lincoln are rejoicing over the
arrival of a new baby girl, which
arrived at their homo on Monday.
Mrs. Hardwell is a daughter of
George Poisall of this city.
George Haltnes and wife and
son, Johnnie, of San Jose, Cali
fornia, who were called here In
Jurje on account of the illness of
George s father, Mr. Nick Halmes,
departed for their home last even
ing on No. 2, going via Kansas
City.
Mrs. A. L. Henry and two
daughters, Ethel and Hazel, de
parted for South Omaha this aft-
1 ernoon, where they will make
their future home. Master Clar
ence Henry went yesterday with a
load of household goods. Mr.
Henry will probably go tomorrow
with three loads of furniture.
From Saturday's Dally.
J. C. Smith of Rock LtlulTs wa.
i Plaltsmouth visitor today and
regislered at Hie Perkins.
Adam FornolT, one of the enter
prising farmers from near Cu-
om, was a business visitor in thi
city yesterday.
Mrs. George Snyder and daugh
ter, Miss Anna, were Omaha pas
sengers yesterday, where they
spent the day.
Henry Inhelder of Cedar Creek
was a IMattsmouth visitor yester-
lay, having been called to the
county seal, on business.
Frank L. and Jack L. Rboden of
Murray dined at the Perkins to
day, while in the city (o look after
some items of business.
Ed Ingram and S. S. Spence ot
Louisville were IMattsmouth
visitors yesterday, having com
to the county seat on business.
Hon. 'William Puis, jr., Charles
Herring and Fred Lutz drove in
from Mount Pleasant precinct and;
transacted business in the city
today.
Misses Judith and Donna
Straub of Avoca returned lo their
homes yesterday afternoon on No.
33, after transacting business ia
the county seat.
Richard Criswisser of near
Dunbar arrived last evening and
visited his parents, Mr. and Mrs.
Hennet Criswisser over night, de
parting for Omaha on the morn
ing train today.
William Richardson, the My-
nard merchant, accompanied by J.
W. Thompson and son, Harris
went lo Omaha on the morning
train today lo look afler business
mailers for a few hours.
Miss Clara Place of Nebraska
City, who has been a guest of Mrs.
G. M. Parker and other friends for
a time, departed for her home via
Omaha this morning. Mrs. Park
er accompanied Miss Place to
Omaha.
Joe Peters, Charley Rich
ards and Guy MeMakem
left for Glenwood, Iowa, on the
morning train today lo look over
the site for the new state build
ing on which Peters & Richards,
have the contract for the founda
tion and first story.
To tho Public:
You are requested to visit our
store for inspection of our several
lines, before you buy elsewhere.
We have first-class Furniture, Car,
pets, Rugs, Mattings and Linoleums
in stock at all times and our prices
are right.
Your visits to our store are ap
preciated. MICHAEL I1ILD,
FURNITURE and UNDERTAKING
Plattsmouth, : : Nebraska
Our Summer
clearance of fine
suits worth up to $30 now
divided into three lots $10
$14 and $18 continues as
the main attraction for men
and young men. The values
we're giving makes selling
easy for us.
Fill your dresser
now with fine shirts; Man
hattans; the greatest clear
ance we've ever had:
$1.50 and $1.75 values
now.
$2.00 and $2.50 values
now
$1.15
I.4Q
Manhattan Shirts
Stetson Hats
