Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1894-11-10
CHAPTER XVIII.
MY Congo.

Absorbed as / was in my newly-awaken-
ed love for Madeline, | failed TO notice for
some tim0the changes which were going on
about us; mt l was soon brought from dream.
ter choseE take.
1t soon became clear TO me that his resent
ment. from whatever source it sprung, was
ieyeled against me; and in a short time | dis
covered that the innocent cause of all these
eruptlons was Madeline herself.
George Redruth had made up his mind to
WOO Madeline Graham, and he honored me
so far as to fear that my presence in st. Cur
lofts might be the means OF preventing him
winning his cousins hand. A marriage with
Madeline would be advantageous to him,
principally because his own position was be-
coming very insecure. he having gambled
and bet ava most OF his fortune. and so be-
ing In danger of losing the position which
her money would restore to him. Thus 1t
was that he watched the growing friendship
between myself and his cousin with ever in
creasing anger; and finding he could not
openly control her, he determined, l after
ward learned, to gain his ends By treachery.
1t was not 10 these things, however, which
| was able al this time 10 give my entire
thoughts; other and more painful matters
occurred which for a time drove the young
master from my mind.
At home things were going very badly
with us. Ny uncle remained In the same
Responding state, while every day fresh
wrinkles appeared in my aunt's face-the
tears Were often wet upon her cheek. 1t
seemed a sin for me TO be happy while so
much grief remained at home; and ! some
times felt inclined TO 90 right away and not
return till | could bring our lost II along
with me.
/ began to wonder, too. If my uncle could
be right when he said that the new overseer
had a hand in poor Armies downfall. 1t was
strange, but since the night of Annie's dis
appearance Johnson's face had not been
seen In ST. Gurlott's. l was bordering over
a solution Of all these mysteries when one
day an event happened which threatened to
bring matters to a climax indeed.
l had come up from the mine after a pro-
longed inspection of ii, and stood al the en-
trance, blinded with tallow and ~droppingS,
when suddenly | heard a wild sound OF
voices, and looking round | saw two men
face each other, and looking as il they were
about to close in a deadly grip. One OF the
men was my uncle, the other was johnson,
tile overscer.
At sight OF the man whom he believed to
be his Interest foe, all my uncle's feeb.eness
seemed Ia fall ~miraculously from him. He
lowered above the other, and raised his
cliDched fist as ii TO strike.
"You villain p he cried, You cowardly,
treacher0ns villain! Tell me. whar is my
lass? Tell me. or, By the Lawd, l strike zee
dead before me!'
In another moment the arm would have
descended, for Johnson was paralyzed with
fear; but l sprung forward and caught il
with a cry. My uncle tried to wrench him
self free.
! let raw, Hugh. . ne cried, Gercely. II
told ZEE what I'd do IL | met the villain, and
I'll do I. Look at 'un. the white-faced cur;
he brought trouble to my lass. And nav,
while she's wanderin' about the earth In
misery maybe, he cooms var TO laugh ut what
he's dawnT'
l still held him firmly: and Johnson, cur
that he was, seeing that the danger was pass
ed, recovered his presence of mind.
perhaps. now you're a little calmer," he
said, You'll tell me what you're aving
, about
II win answer for him." l replied. "Where
Is Annie Pendragony'
He shrugged his shoulders, ana raised his
brows.
1t seems to me you are all raying lunatics
together. Why do you ask me these things?
What do | know OF the grip
You are supposed to have enticed her
from her home. You were seen with her in
Falmouth, and you must know where she
is"
II don't know where she Is. / met her in
Falmouth, It's true, and spoke to her; but
her being away from home was no concern
o. mine"
ats a iiey' cried my uncle. nercely; and
again he tried to free himself from my grasp,
! but / held him firmly.
ats no use,"l said; I'VE sha'n't mend
matters with him. We must lind out by
some other means whether or not he y
! epeaking ~ truth"