Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1896-09-03

agaln anu again, T. then questioning
him. she made sure that he fully I'M
dcrstood her directions.
All these directions and instructions
John Gridley heard as well as Amos,
AMI a smile passed across his dark
face. and twitched lis thin, compressed
lips.
May knew that tie difficulty was not
to make the half itted lad remember.
but to make him understand. When
things once entered fully into his COM
prehension-as he himself said-he nev-
er forgot.
1T vas with a seLSe of relief that
May saw Amos take the letter, and,
carefully hiding it in his ragged coat,
set out upon her GRAND at a rapid
pace.
To write that letter had cost her n
sever struggle: but once written, she
was not easy until it WAS on it's way
TO its destination. Had the poor girl
known that every word of her conver-
sation lad been overheard by the Very
man of all others from whom she
would have wished to keep the letter a
secret, the sense of satisfaction and
hope with which she retraced her
steps 10 the cottage would hardly have
been SO great.
An hour later. John Gridley, mount
cd on the maltstcr's horse. rode slowly
through the village, but no sooner was
he out of sight of the houses, than he
urged his beast to its utmost speed,
and galloped off in the direction of
Alverton.
Where is John Gridley this even
ingT' asked Mrs. Rivers of her hus-
band.
lie had some business to attend to
at Alverton, and will not be back for
two or three days.
Mays face frightened as she heard
the words, for she dreaded another in
teryiew with her fathers clerk, and
was glad to hear of his absence: but
had she known the nature of the busi-
ness which took him so suddenly from
Annadale. her poor little heart would
have sunk within her, and AN the hopes
which frightened her face would
nave faded away. leaving behind
naught but n sense of %sickening de-
spair.
Amos, after leaving May, trudged off
merrily on his Grand. He was glad to
be OF use, especially TO Ii who had
treated him with unvarying kindness.
Laughing aloud, leaping, singing. and
sometimes running, he went on his
way towards Portsmouth gladly.
lie passed through Alverton just
as it was getting dusk. A few minutes
before he entered the town Il horseman
galloped quickly past. riding SO reck-
lessl.y, that had not the idiot had sense
enough to spring quickly inside, he
would have been knocked down and
trampled beneath the animals hoofs.
Amos could not see who the rider
was. for he was closely muffied in n
clcak. and with a hat drawn over his
eyes. but the horseman saw and knew
che idiot, and an expression of grim
satisfaction passed across his face.
Amos always avoided towns where
he was exposed TO insult and ribald
josts as much as possible. His instinct
taught him 10 do that, and he SUNK as
quickly as possible through Alyertcn
out again into the country.
Two miles from the market tow.s,
the Portsmouth road passed between
high hanks. ON the top of which trees
grew. meeting overhead. In the dusk
Of evening this portion of the road was
1 pitch-daIk.
AS Ames passed along this part of
AiA "ag ~ liShtt HiiduS Oul llOIi MN
from the black shade.
"Stand off-stand off, cried the idiot.
whirling round a rough stick he had
cut from Il hedge, TO help him on his
journey.
Give me that letter you carry" said
the man who had sprung upon him. in
what was evidently a feigned voice.
Give me that letter or it Will be the
worse for YOU
"Never-never!' cried the idiot. still
whirling round his stick; but the other.
either not seeing, or not caring for the
weapon. rushed upon him. but received
Il blow which made him draw back,
muttering to himself angrily.
You had better give me that letter.
he said. in a more conciliatory tone. Il
do not wish to hurt you. / will deliver
Ii for you: and. instead, you shall have
bright. glittering money-think of that
shining gold, which will buy you
everything you wish"
Put Amos was proof against the
bribe.
You shall never have it," he cried.
"She gave il to me and / will defend
it with my life. You shall never have
it-never, never"
a oct. WI sou Il IA Ia Will
have 1T by fair means or foul.'
"Neyer-neyerr' repeated the idiot,
still twirling his stout stick.
Your blood be upon your own head!'
cried the other; and rushing upon him,
closed with him, and bore him to the
: ground.
But the assailant had evidently mis-.
calculated the idiots strength. Amos
long wiry arms wound themselves
round his antagonist. and the two
struggled fierce!y together in the road
The half-witted lad, after a time,
managed to free his right arm, which
still grasped the stick: and he with
whom he struggled received some
very severe blows, which had the effec,
of rousing him to a pitch of frenzy.
BY a sudden movement he grasped
the idiots threat. and compressed il
tightly in his hands.
The blows from the cudgel fell with
less and less force as the poor fellow
~endoavored IN vain to free himself
from the grip of his antagonist. till al
last his arm fell nerveless by his side
and the stick fell from his hand.
Then the other arose, and Selling the
weapon with which the idiot had de
4 F,.~lnl h;,.,,NIr na,,nlt., Ia.s H.. -.