Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1895-04-04
CHApTER SUPERINTENDENT

6sty.
NO. 1t isn't that" and then, raising
HIS voice:
"I want to know why you say all
This to me with your face mntllcd up,
sknd your hat pressed down over your
eycs!."
And rs he spoke, with rapid wave
aI his hand. he sent the strangers hat
Styling from his head.
ssaUltrd. bursting with rage and OK
tnnding his clcnched hands threaten
sngly toward Nckscy.
And the latter said quietly and sar-
c;istically:
why, your hands are as white as
chose of a gentleman who Cunt eat
his dinner without gloves"
Instantly the strangers hands were
tairnst into the pockets of his coat.
II will have no more of this" he cX-
claimed: give me those letters"
And then to that demand, stcrnly
ssttercd. Nicksey quietly said:
"Shall tell you what think of your
vIsit?"
What matter your thoughts to me-"
WIS angrily answered.
II think that if 1 were to give you
sIp those letters and suffer you to burn
silcm it would not then be long before
Mrs. Chesterton would do that, which
al present she dare not attempt; I
aHcan. send me to jail for having. with
out her permission, made free with GER
tain bank notes."
lie paused. looking keenly and close
BY ut his visitor, who was foaming with
sagc. but attempted not to speak.
SO Nickscy shouted in his ear:
And instead of a poor devil to
whom Mrs. Chcsterton has rendered
Il service. believe you to bc-hcr ac-
.:onplice."
'.Wretch!' muttered the stranger
If | am not mistaken" resumed
Nickscy. but now lowering his voice.
YOU and had a little business togeth-
f.f about twenty years ago. You We're
She master i'll that job of One Tree
Square. who gave me draught from
your flask which was intended to re-
aieyr you of all uncasincss on my nc
count; and the hand which gave me
ahat flask happened to he unglovcd,
and was just as white as those of
which YOU Just now suffered me to
have II full view. and more than that"
and Nickscy snatched one of the mans
hands from its hiding place. "the hand
WHICH s,iNe lllt luc )OlSuufu
~ scar on it. precisely such as this"
And Nickscy held firmly the others
hand and pointed triumphantly to n
Barge scar with which it was scanned.
Having presently wrenchcd his arm
from NickSey's vice-like hold, his Wis
stor said:
"1'hat suspicion may cost you rather
ucarly!"
Not needing that last observation:
81 have paid myself that which was
due to me from the woman of Ono
free Square," continued Nicksey. but
you and | have yet to settle our
counts, my friend. for MS surely n;
was one of those masked men whJ
stood beneath that tree on the night of
sale Fifth of February, 1907, so surely
were you the other"
And to all that, the man thus uc-
s:lse1, replied only:
Beware. Nicholas Sherman, those
sctters are, to you. useless; and by re-
fnsing them to me you may destroy
.yourself"
He placed his hand in his pocket
and drew forth bank notes and letters
standing. however. several feet from
his visitor and keeping Il wary eye on
his movements.
Having separated the letters from
the bank notes he replaced the latter
in his pocket, and, holding up the form
cr, said:
tScc, here they arc!"
The other man was dashing forward
TO take them but:
wait m;nute!" cried Nickscy, re-
treating as his visitor advanced. and
thrusting the letters back into the OPP
s positc pocket to that to which he had
lust returned the bank notes.
II will give you those letters when
Z have had n fair look ut your facn,
and you have told me your namc,"
said NiclSey quietly.
Z The other foamed and grnnrd like
/ a baftled hyena.
-.And what's more" cried Nckscy.
you don't go until l know somethin.
moro about you"
And he leaped forward suddenly and
fastened his hands upon the scarf,
which the wearer had raised so as al
& most entirely to conceal his face.
Struggling to free himself from Nick
4 sey's grasp:
IF you set the smallest value on
y your life. take off your hands," OK
y claimed the man assaulted.
~ Dut 4NicAScS, llSltcilluS HIS nolIl,
cried:
mo, must be better acquainted
with you, my debtor!'
And then a long and terrible stru..
gle ensued between those men; both
"a determined. both full of deadicst rag
n but Nicllsey was surpassed in strength
and in the power of endurance, too, b.
lS his antagonist.
II. The stranger had forced Niollsey
sEsss5back upon tire table and was bending
lover him and grasping him by the
throat when Nicksey at last succeeded
I'm that which only from the first OF
ahe struggle he had been attempting
sand drew away the scarf which had
hidden from him the others face
And the men were in such close con
tact then that as each one gaspcd ant
the other felt his adyersary't
hot breath UPON his cheek.
The table had been standing near tt
sssthe fire. and the light Of tho candle OF
1.-THE chimney-piece cast, as the mel