The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1901-06-07
A Brave Coward.
By Robert Louis Stevenson.
CHAPTER v.-(Continued. }

cut in brutally:
you hold your tongue" says he; 81
am speaking to that girl"
That girl. as you call her, is my
wife" said I, and my wife only leaned
q little nearer, so that knew she had
affirmed my words.
'Your what?" he cried. ''You lie!"
Northmour." said, I'VE all know
you have bad temper. and am the
last man to be irritated by words. For
all that propose that you speak lower.
for am convinced that we are not
alone'
He looked round him, and it was
plain my remark had in some degree
-sobered his passion. what do you
nnsan?" he asked. T.
4 only said one word, italians"
He swore a round oath and looked at
us from one to the other.
"Mr Cassilis knows all that know"
said my wife.
What l want to know" he broke
out, "is where the devil Mr.. Cassilis
comes from, and what the devil Mr..
'Cassilis is doing here. You say you
arc married; that do not believe. If
you were, Graden Floe would soon di-
vorce you; four minutes and half.
Cassilis, keep my private cemetery
for my friends"
eft took somewhat longer" said I,
for that Italian"
He looked at me for moment half
daunted, and then, almost civilly, ask
ed me to tell my story. "You have too
much the advantage of me, Cassilis,"
he added I complied, of course, and
ne listened, with several CALCULATIONS,
while I told him how I had come to
Graden; that it was I whom he had
tried to murder on the night of the
landing; and what had subsequently
seen and heard of the Italians.
WELL" said he, when I had done,
1t Is here at last; there is no mistake
about that, and what, may ask, do
you propose to do?"
II propose to stay with you and lend
- hand" said I.
"You are brave man." he returned,
with peculiar information.
II am not afraid" said I.
And so." he continued, II am to
understand that you two are married?
And you stand up to it before my face,
Miss Huddlestone?"
eve are not yet married" said Clara,
but we shall be as soon as we cam"
"Bravo!" cried Northmour. "And the
bargain? D. it, you're not fool,
young woman; may call spade with
you. How about the bargain? You
know as we'll as do what your fathers
life depends upon. have only to put
my hands under my coat-tails and
walk away, and his throat would be
eat before the evening""
EYES,, Mr. Northmour," returned
Clara, with great spirit; 'but that is
what you will never do You made
bargain that was unworthy Of a gen.
'tleman; but you are a gentleman for
all that, and you will never desert
man whom you have begun to help"
"Aha!" said he. "You think will
give my yacht for nothing? You think
I will risk my life and liberty for love
1oc the old gentleman: and then. sup
pose, be best man at the wedding, to
wind up? Well" he added, with an
odd smile. perhaps you are not alto
.eether wrong. But ask Cassilis here
He knows me. Am l a man to trust ?
Am I safe and scrupulous? Am I
7dnd?"
II know you talk great deal, and
sometimes, I think very foolishly," re-
piled Clara, "but I know you are a
gentleman, and I am not in the least
afraid"
''She's trump" cried Northmour
But she's not yet Mrs. Cassilis. say
no more. The present is not for me. "
Then my wife surprised me.
II leave you here" she said, sud-
denly. "My father has been too long
alone. But remember this: you are
70 be friends, for you are both good
friends to me-" +
''See here, Northmour." said I; 1--WE
are ali In tight place, are we not?"
II believe you, my boy" he answer
ed, looking me in the eyes, and with
great emphasis. 1--WE have all hell
upon us, that's the truth. You may
believe me or not, but I'm afraid OF
my life."
'Teli me one thing" said I. what
are they after, these Italians? What
do they want with Mr.. Huddlestone?"
Don't you know" he cried. "The
AIack old scamp had Carbonari funds
on a deposit-two hundred and eighty
thousand; and, Of course, he gambled
Sc away In stocks. There was to have
been revolution in the Tridentino
or Parma, but the revolution is of, and
the whole wasps' nest is after Huddle-
stone. We shall all be lucky If we can
6avo our SKINS"
"The CARBONATE exclaimed; "God
help him, indeed!"
And now let us go directly to the
fort, said Northmour, and he begar
20 lead the way through the rain.
CHAPTER VI.
We were admitted to the pavilion by
Z Clara, and I was surprised by the com
Dieteness and security Of the defenses
. "a - svaaco 40 NJ o<not otrnr o%h oud 49,