Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1894-12-01
THE
Master of the Mine.
BY BoBERT

ike q rear, ann my eyes Aued with tears.
The next moment she stripped forward with
an eager cry OF recognition, and both hands
outreaching. Then, seeing that l was hand
cuffed, she uttered another cry-of grief and
pain.
"Madeliner" cried her cousin, w~arning'y;
but she paid no attention. | had turned my
head away, too ashamed 10 meet her gaze,
but | felt, rather than saw, that she was gaz-
ing tenderiy into my face.
When she spoke, her voice was broken and
fearful.
Mr.. Trelawney! may 1 speak to you?
May / tell You how my heart aches and
bleeds for You III your great trouble? May |
assure you how deeply | beiieve-as all who
know you must belieye-m your innocence
OF such a crimeg''
turned my head and looked at her: my
head swan, and the tears 50 blinded me that
L could not see her.
God bless you for saying that" | muir
INJURED; and as | spoke she lifted my two
bound hands, and held them gently In her
own.
Il could not believe that any one would
think II possible" she said. II would have
come before, but waited, expecting TO see
you set at liberty. But now | hear you are
TO be put upon your trial! All, do not fearl
Have courage! Your innocence will be
proved. and you will soon be a free man."
perhaps" | answered; but whether or
not, 1t is something TO know that my inno-
cence IL believed IN by yoitr'
How could l doubt it? Dear Mr.. Ire
lawney, | know you better even than you
know yourself. No proof, however terrible,
could shake my faith in one whom | know
IN no fhp h.p xraat aud baot 90 y,. x,bn
Is Incapable of any baSeness, one 10 whom,
remember, | owe my life"
She turned t. R-dratil. who was looking
on, ! thought, rather un-asily.
And ny cousin Is equally certain that you
are falsely accused. George, speak 20 himl
tell himv'
l looked at George Redruth: his brow was
clOuded, and his expression far less cordial
than IL had previously been.
Il have already told TTelawney what /
think on the subject. Nevertheless, the evil
dence Is ugly, rs ne is aware"
but you k7lolC he is i%nnocent!' cried Made
line.
II hope so. Whoever took poor Johnson's
life was a miserable and rufiianly coward,
well deserving the gallows; and | can't fancy
that Trelawney, in spite OF his violent tenn
per, Is anything OF the kind"
There was something In his manner. now,
which aroused all the angry blood within
me. Ills old superciliousness had returned.
and the compassion In his eyes had changed
to hard dislike and suspicion. | could not
trust myself to answer him. but, turning to
the police officers, who sat by, / cried:
How long am | to remain here? Take me
awayl For Gods sake take me awayr'
"a n riUht - ranttnA nNA - tla,x lpNkn
traps at the door"
/ rose to my feet, and then, setting my lips
firm TO conquer my agitation, l turned again
TO Madeline.
Don't mind M, Miss Graham. shall
come through this trouble right enough. per-
haps; and whatever happens, | sha'n't for
get your goodness. | cared for no ones
good opinion but yours. / am not the first
innocent man, BY many, who has had to face
an unjust accusation, and answe il with his
life; and what you have said to me will give
me courage, perhaps, 10 bear the sorrow
that's to Gomez
Before | realized what she was doing, she
had taken my hands again. had raised them
to her lips, and kissed them.
Don't! don'tr' | cried, half sobbing. Il
can't bear il! Here, lads. take me awayr'
use him kindly" she cried. weeping. and
addressing the officers. Remember, he is a
gentleman, and fale,y accused"
Don't be afraid. my lady" said the man
who had previously spoken. We'll look
think that though we part now, l shall be
die. l am rich, remember, aud whatever
money can do for your defense shall be done
by me. Ii is a poor return, indeed. for the
life you gave me. Keep a good heart, Think
that you have friends working for you, pray
ing for you! Think that the happy time will
come when YOU will be free again TO return
to those you love, who love YOU. and who
will love you the better for a trouble bravely
Sornev'
In rapture Of that moment, l should have
caught her In my arms, but | was helpless,
and perhaps it was better so. Gently, but
firmly, the officers led me from the room, and
along the passage to the door, where the dog
cart was waiting. There was a crowd about
the doorsteps, and when | appeared there
was a sympathetic murmur.
The officers pushed me through the groups,
and l mounted to my seat in the trap. Then
/ heard a wild cry, and saw my aunt, who
rushed forward, reaching up her hands to
touch mine.
Hugh my poor Hugh - she sobbed.
Don't cry, aunt" | said. forcing q smile.
They don hang innocent men in England.
l shall soon come back homer
AT that there was a faint hurrah, led by
John Rudd. Several rough fellows from the
mine rushed forward, reached out their
horny hands in honest sympathy.
"Cheer up. Measter Hugh! None o. us bei
lieves you killed 'un! Cheer up! Wen ha'
you back In st. Gurlotts soon"
"lss, that we willV' echoed John Rudd.
The officer had now mounted beside me;
and his companion, who was seated by the
driver, cried In q loud voice:
Clear the way there. Let go her headr'
The horse, freshened by rest and feed,
bounded of, and | left the group of sympa-
thizers behlnd-my poor aunt. half falnting,
supported by John Rudd. But on the door
step under the porch stood two figures, on
which my eyes were riyeted till the last
George Redruth and Madeline Graham.
Madeline waved n white handkerchief. l
could make no sign in return. but | watched
her with streaming eyes till We entered the
avenue, and the boughs of the leatiess trees
blotted her from my view.
or that sad days business, only one more
vivid memory remains to me. Slight and
uiNai as the circumstance seemed at the
time, l remembered 1t afterward with q won
derins thrill.
Our way back, like our way coming, lay
past the old cottage. Quitting the gates OF
the great house, and leaving the dark ave-
nue. behind us, we ratified swiftly along the
country road. The horse. being homeward
bound, whirled us along at full speed; in
deed, as the poet has it:
I'VE seemed In running to devour the way"
As we approached the dear old cottage. I
craned my neck round to look at it; the neyt
moment we dashed past it; but In that mo-
ment l caught the glimpse OF a CHASTITY white
face looking out OF one of the lower VIM
dOws.
1t was the face of my uncle, John Pen
dragon! As We passed, he seemed to give a
wild start of recognition.
Then, looking back, l saw, before we were
nffy yards away, a figure, wild and half
dressed, running out across the garden TO the
pta. and looking after us. 1t was my uncle.
he seemed dazed and stupefed. As We dis
appeared round a turning of the road. l
fancied l caught the sound OF a sharp cry,
and simultaneously 1 saw him throw his two
arms wildly up into the air!
CHAPTER XIII.
TuE TRIAL