Beadle's Dime Novels No. 85: The Fugitives — page 30: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

82 THE FUGITIVES. Stoddard Franklin. This was observable from the fact thay even the most skeptical had agreed, from his words and actions, that he would be on the ground when the real “tug of war” came. “If he hopes to shelter himself by staying out of the fight, he will find himself mistaken,” remarked one, who was rather envious of the good reputation the young man bore, and wags therefure secretly pleased at the temporary cloud under which his name rested. a “ T can’t understand it,” remarked a second. ‘ We didn’t expect him to pitch into every flurry that came up—but if he shirks out of the fight at such a time as this, some one had better advise him never to show himself in the Valley again.” “T won’t believe—you needn’t tell me any such stuff,’ re plied old Mr, Neville. “1 saw him with his gun this morning. He didn’t say anything, but I could see that them gray eyes of his meant mischief. Depend on’t, you'll hear of him afore the battle’s done with.” “This is one of the times when Quakers can’t get out of shooting guns. If I should find him skulking I'd shoot him,” added the first speaker, with a erties shake of his head. All of these remarks had been overheard by Lieutenant Abingdon, and they caused him inexpressible pain. He did not doubt for one-moment that he should find his friend, young Franklin, upon the ground, and one of the leaders in the de- fense. But he was nowhere to be seen! Could he stand un- moved when Annie Abingdon needed a protector? Could hig betrothed wife call in vain for succor, when he was given mer arms wherewith to defend her? It was with a sad heart that young Abingdon answered these questions as the facts them- selves seemed to answer them. | The troops marched out upon the plain, as has been de- scribed elsewhere, and the first platoon had received their orders to fire, when it was observed for the first time that Stod- dard Franklin was among them. Where he came from, no one knew, as it was certain that until that moment he was absent. The inevitable conclusion was that he had gone to the battle- ground alone. There was little time, however, for speculation, as the contest had begun in dead earnest. zi CoOnmmiclooOolks.Cconn os +. ~. a