Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1899-04-03

turned his lack on him. and he enlisted as
| a private soldier and served in the Egyp-
| tan war. Here the best side of his char
| actcr, his reckless courage, and splendid
physique, served him well, n he won
the Victoria Cross. Hoping that he had
reformed, his father forgave him, pur-
chased his discharge, and brought him
back to Devonshire, to be the admiration
darling and terror of the countryside
However, he seemed to be almost as
wild as ever, and quarrels with his rather,
who vas not always quite fair to his
younger son, We're constantly aklnS
place. Whether the influence of Mabel
Best, who loved him in spite of the sol
emn warnings of her relatives. would
soften his wild heart, remained to be
seen
In the meantime he was an active lead
err in this great combination against the
BLACK Tramp always watching n
watched by his rival, Charlie Blackjack.
For a fortnight the colonel's plan of
campaign was carried out vigorously, but
with no result. It began to look as II the
"Black Tramp had secret
for he was neither seen nor heard OF.
Then, by degrees. the young men became
careless. The lazy ones objected to the
long, monotonous rides. Others began to
treat the affair as a joke, and made the
epedition an excuse for skylarking. Some
times the ladies would join them, and
many a moonlight ride did Mabel Best
have in company with the two rivals,
Bert FISHERMAN and Charlie Blackjack,
for neither man would consent to glVe
place to the other.
And so, after a time, the coloners
scheme was abandoned, and the district
settled down to sleepy Indifference, and
the BLACK Tramp was almost forgotten.
One night it happened that Mabe Best
had a long. lonely ride after dark. she
had been detained at Il friends house, ana
as there was nobody to accompany her
home, she had to make the best OF 1t
alone.
Il am much too poor to attract the at
tention of the Black Tramp" she said,
l~aughinsly. so I'm not a bit afraid
SO she set off on her six miles spin mer-
rily enough, sometimes ringing her pell
for the sake of company.
Suddenly her heart almost stood still
with terror, for there, about 800 yards
ahead, was a tall figure mounted on a
black cycle riding toward her.
Her first instinct was to turn around
and ride back again, but she was a cour-
ageous girl, and it struck her that she
would have no chance of outstripplng
such a rider as the BLACK Tramp so
she decided to conceal her fears as we'll
as possible and ride bravely on.
At first she thought he was going to
let her pass, but he seemed to alter ms
mind, and laid a powerful hand on her
machine, which brought it to a standstlll
and forced her to dismount.
Il have no money to give you. HoW
dare YOU stop me on the h~iShrOad?" she
said, pluckily.
He sprang from his machine and stood
by her side.
You must pay TOLL he said, in a deep
! voice, which struck her as being assumed
to disguise his real one.
Il have very little money she SAID
shaking with fright and looking eagerly
up and down the road on the chance OF
some friend coming along. But what
little | have please take quickly and let
me 60"
Never mind the money" he said. "Give
me a kiss instead"
Before she could move he had selZeo
her by the waist.
You coward!" she said, passionately
With all the strength of a desperate
woman she struggled. Suddenly a though
struck her.
Wrenching one of her hands free, quick
as thought she tore the mask from hls
face.
h was face to face with BERTHE East
erman!
"Bertie.' she gasped. You! You {
thief?'
Il believe that Is what they call it," he
said, cynically. But I'm not sure Una
it's much worse than company-promot'
ing."
With her eyes blinded with tears sht
CROPPED for her machine.
"Goodby,' he said shortly. Il suppose
it's all up with me now
..Goodby," she said. Il wish you hat
killed me before l knew this"
For the first time he showed signs O.
softening. Perhaps, after all, his hard
cynical manner was only the outcome O
desperation. His wild excuses and reck'
less courage had led him to crime from
which a worse man might have shrunk
Are you very disappointed in me?' n
said. -.
"You have broken my hearth" she said
with a sob.
She was leaving him, but he put hi
hand tenderly on her arm to detain her
You are the only person who eve
thought we'll of me, Mabel he said Il
a hoarse voice. Say that you forglV
me-"
Il will do more han that she sale
her eyes shining with tears. Il Will pra'
for you, BERTHE"
Next morning the body of BERTHE East
erman was found lying on the road be
tween Clovelly and Bideford.