Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1895-06-15
"Yhank you, whoever You arei''


&XSHId@
"Thank you, whoever you arel'
With that reply, he suddenly aud swift
ly disappeared. Iris remembered the
culvert and turned towards It. There
was n hiding place under the arch, II she
could only get down into the dry ditch In
time. She was feeling her way to the
slope of it with her feet, when a heavy
hand seized her by the arm: and a resolute
voice said: you are my prisoner"
She was led back into the road. The
man who had got her blew q whistle. Two
other men Joined him.
"show a light" he said, land let's see
who the fellow is"
The shade was slipped aside from a lam
face. Amusement petrifed The two at
tendant policemen. The pious Catholic
Sergeant burst into speech: Holy Marry
it's a woman"
Did the secret societies Of Ireland enrol
womeni Was this a modern Judith, ex-
pressing herself by anonymous letters. and
bent on assassinating a financial Holofer-
mes who kept a bank Wtat account
had she TO give of herselfp How came she
to be alone In "A desolate field on a rainy
night Instead Of answering these ques-
tons, the inscrutable stranger preferred
a bold and brief request. Take me to
Sir Giles"-was all she said TO the policei
The Sergeant had the handouts ready.
After looking mt the prisoners delicate
wrists by the la~ntern-light, he put his fet-
tiers back In his pocket. "A ~lady-and no
doubt about it," he said to one of his as
sistants.
The two men waited, with a mischiev-
Gus interest in seeing what he would do
next. The list of their pious officers vir-
tues included a constitutional partiality
Cor women. which exhibited the merciful
side Of justice when a criminal wore a
petticoat. "We will take you to Sir Giles.
Miss" he said--and offered his arm, in
stead Of Offering his handouts. Iris un-
derstood him, and took his arm.
She was silent-unaccountably silent as
the men ~thought-on the way to the town.
They heard her sigh; and, once, the sigh
sounded more like "A sob; little did they
suspect what was In that silent womaE's
mind at the time.
The one object which had absorbed the
attention of Iris had been the saving of
Lord Harry. This accomplished, the free
exercise OF her memory had now reminded
her of Arthur Mountjoy.
II was impossible to doubt thai the OBJ
feet OF the proposed meeting at the mile
stone had been to take measures for the
preservation OF the Young mans life. A
coward is always more or less cruel. The
proceedings equally treacherous and mer-
ciless) by which Sir Giles had provided
for his own safety, had delayed-perhaps
actually prevented-the execution of Lord
Harry's humane design. 1t was possible.
horribly possible, that a prompt employ
ment OF TIM might have been necessary
to the rescue OF Arthur from impending
death by murder. In the agitation that
overpoweTed her, Iris actually hurried the
police on their return To the town.
Sir Giles had arranged to wait for news
In his private room at the ofiice-andt there
he was, with Dennis Howmore in attend
ance TO receive visitors.
The Sergeant went into the bankers
room alone, to make his report. He left
the door JAR; Iris could hear what passed.
Have you got your prisoner" Sir Giles
began.
Eyes, your honor"
SIS the wretch securely handcuffedt"
II beg your pardon, sir. it isn't u man"
Nonsense, Sergeant; it cannot be a
boyt'
The Sergeant confessed thai it was not
o boy. Its a woman" he said.
"Whatlli'
"A woman" the patient officer repeat
ed-"and u young one. Sac asked for
you"
Bring her in"
Iris was not the sort of person who waits
to be brought in. She walked in of her
own accord"
"Good Heayensl' cried Sir Giles. "Irisl
With my cloak ont With my hat In her
handl Sergeant, there has been some
dreadful mistake. This is my g~oddaugh-
ter-Miss Henley"
1--WE found her at the milestone, your
honor. The young lady aud nobody else. f"
Sir Giles appealed helplessly TO his god
daughter. What does this mean" In-
stead Of answering, she looked at the Ser
geant. The Sergeant, conscious OF re-
s~ponsibility, stood his ground and looked
at Sir Giles. His face confessed that the
Irish sense OF humor was tickled; but he
showed no intention OF leaving the room.
Sir Giles saw that Iris would enter into nj
explanation in the mans presence. You
needn't wait any longer" he said.
What am | to do. II you please. with
the %prisoner9" the Sergeant inquired.
Sir Giles waived that unnecessary ques-
ton away with his hand. He was trebly
trate into the bargain. 81 will be answer
Henley, IL called upon. Good night"
The Sergeant's sense OF duty was salts
fled. He made the military salute. His
gallantry added homage to the young lady
only. he walked with dignity out of the
room.
"NOw," Sir Giles resumed, II presume I
may expect to receive an explanation.
What does this improperly mean, What
were you doing at the milestone,"
~ was saving the person who made the
appointment with YOU" Iris said; ''the
poor fellow who had no ill-will towards
you-who had risked everything TO save
your nephew's life. Oh. sir, you commit.
ted a terrible mistake when you refused
TO trust that manl"
Sir Giles had anticipated the appearance
of fear. aud the reality OF humble apollo
gies. She had answered him Indignantly.
with a heightened color, and with tears in
her eyes. His sense OF his w social inn
portance was wounded to the quick.
tWho Is the man you are speaking OFF"
he asked, loftily. "And what is your ex-
cuse for having gone TO the milestone to
save him-hidden under my cloak, dis
guised In my hat!"
. Don't vase precious time in asking
| Questionsp' was the desperate reply. I'm
do the harm that you have done already.
Your help-oh, l mean what l sayt-may
yet preserve Arthur's life. Go to the farm
and ave him"
Sir Giles anger assumed a new form:
| Il INDUCED I'm an elaborate mockery OF re-
spect. He took his watch from his pock-
ct, and consulted 1t satirically. Must I
| make an excused" he asked, with q clumsy
assumption of humility.
mo! you must 60"
"Permit me to inform you. Miss Henley,
that the last train started more than W
hours since"
"wdat does that matters You are rich
enough to hire a train"
Sir Giles. the actor, could endure II no
longer; he dropped the mask. and revealed
| Sir Giles, the man. His clerk was sum
moned by q peremptory ring Of the bell.
"Attend Miss Henley To the house." he
said. You may come to your senses after
o nights rest" he continued, turning
sternly to Iris. 81 will receive your ex.
cuses In the morning.
In the morning, the breakfast was ready
as usual at nine O'Clock. Sir Giles found
himself h,one at the table.
He sent al order TO one of the women
servants to knock at Miss Heuley's door.
There was a long delay. The h~ousekeeper
presented herself in u state of alarm: she
had gone upstairs to make the necessary
investigation In her w person. Miss
Henley was not In her room: the maid was
not in her room; the beds had been slept
In; the heavy luggage was labelled; ITO
be called for from the hotel,b And there
was an end Of the evidence which the alb
sent Iris had left behind her,
Inquiries were made at the hotel, The
young lady had called there, with her
maid, early on that morning. They had
their travelling bags with them, aud Mss