Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1901-03-23
"a GIRL E GRIT.
BY MAJOR ARTHUR GRlFflTHS.
Copyright 1900 by r. f. Fenno q Co
MAJOR ARTHUR GRIFFlTHS.


When he returned. It was with rather
q scared face.
"All the fat is in the fire! The duch-
ess has read your name on the dogs
collar
And guesses I am on board?"
II don't say that, not yet anyway,
but they are likely to ferret IT out pref
ty slick unless you cache down below
for the rest Of the rum"
II shall not hide. my friend. not till
I've seen and liked with Miss Fair
holme. and that / I'M going to do with
or without your help or leave"
Right now?"
Right now. over there on the poop
deck, In the face of them all. / can
pay for a first-class passage, n I'll
do 1t under another name"
so as to call attention to yourself
and bring those toughs on top Of you
again-spoil all your hand"
"Wha a they do to me? And IL
they chose to try I'm man enough to
meet them. I'm not afraid OF anything
straight and ~aboveboard."
That's just what II wouldn't be. II
you come out now, o will be playing
their game-will put them on their
guard anyhow. Don't be wrong-head-
ed. captain, and walt. won't your"
How long? This is the fourth day
out-Wednesday. We shall make port
by Saturday, at latest, and then what
am l to do?"
See here, captain. I'll bring Miss
Fairholme to you my own self this
very evening about dusk, or you to
her. How's that for high? There's a
snug spot right aft over the steering
gear-just room for two, IL they're fond
OF each other
l lie not know whether TO be angry
with him or not, but I began to see the
force Of his argument, and / agreed
eventually TO wait. as he advised.
Have you told her j am here? II not,
/ think-you will understand should
prefer
"a mods as good as a wink, captain.
Never a word has she got from me as
to your being on board, and she shan't.
Whether she has any suspicion OF 1t or
not / cannot say. But / don't know
why she should, and II she did cart
ropes wouldn't hold her. 1 reckon. But
maybe / am making too free"
L am not ashamed to confess that for
the rest OF that day, so long as Frida
kept the deck, l staid in the place from
which i could see her, and l borrowed
a pair OF glasses from Rossiter to spy
the better on her beautiful face. / saw
that many emotions agitated II In turn.
1t was wistful, expectant, sad, down.
cast, now flushing bright with some
vague hope, now tender with soft mem
cries, with thoughts OF me, as / was
conceited enough to believe, and right
ly, to judge by the glad welcome she
gave me when / was once more by her
side.
low the time passed I cannot say.
We sat there hand in hand gazing out
across the long track OF the steamer
as IT sparkled and foamed under the
moonlight n taking no thought of II,
OF why we were there, what might be
In store for us or what l should do
next. We should have sat on far into
the night, / believe, perfectly uncon-
scious and unconcerned, except with
ourselves, had not a tall figure sudden
ly thrown It's shadow over us, and we
were addressed In a low, " fe-
male voice:
Pardon me, but 1 knew 1 could not
be mistaken. It's Captain Wood"
Il could not rest till l had spoken to
you,' she went on hurriedly. Yet l
felt de trop. l did not like to disturb
to interrupt you. May 1 ask one
word? You escaped?
AS you see, duchess-uninjured, too,
except for the discomfort and rough
handling. You shall hear the whole
story some day"
Il would gladly have spared you this
suffering from the very first. / tried
I'N'N' a Niu iiloCSh1 EVEN lIldl ITSI nlEnI
In the opera box, and afterward /
would have warned you, but / dared
not be more precise. Again, in that
terrible house i was on your side"
Indeed, Duchess broke In Frida,
you have made us your friends. We
are grateful, n we shall show 1t yet,
l hope"
But why are you here" went on
the other woman impatiently. How
did you come? / have never seen you
during the voyage nor have the-the
others. 1t Is fortunate. They would
certainly try to do you an injury"
They have done so already-an in
jury that may be irreparable. They
have robbed me-"
Yes, yes. that I know she said,
but 1t will be a small matter, and
you would have your redress. You
could protect yourself against worse,
now you are free, IL you were onIy
careful. / cannot think why you should
risk so much now. You are within
their reach again."
/ laughed. THAT has never weighed
with me, nor do / care for the money.
1t is my honor that is at stake, Ouch
ess, l must recover certain papers that
you-your people have stolen or / shall
be ~eternally disgraced."
Papers? Are they yours? l have
heard of them. State papers, belonging
to your government and worth a for
tune to anyone who Will give them to
ours. You are concerned"
Closely. / would give a large sum
any sum-to get them back"
II need no brides, Captain Wood"
She spoke with dignity. you cannot
mean to offer me money surely! l
have not fallen so low as that, l hope.
| am ready to MAKE restitution. 1t Is
the least / can do for YOU. You shall
the papers. I will fetch them"
You are a good woman. ! feel for
you. indeed / do" Frida said as she
her a moment with a gesture
though to kiss her, but the duchess
brushed past and hurried away.
Yes, she is a good woman I re-
peated, echoing Frida, only to find that
remark was not exactly pleasing to
her.
But why need / set down in words
the gleeful badinage of a pair of silly
And 1t ended abruptly when
duchess returned.
Here, take them, IL they are yours.
leave that to your honor. l knew
he kept them, and I have Sc
cured them-no matter how"
A single glance under the nearest
light satisfied me hat these
were the missing papers. They were
still in their official Jacket" a broad
Of bright green paper, on which
was printed the label, Strictly conf
DENTAL"
BE on your guard, 1 implore YOU"
she went on. There may be trouble
about them. If your identity Is discov-
cred, they will suspect you, and 1T will
be another reason to attack you. Put
them by. Lock them up securely"
Let me have Them" i~nterposed
mo one would think of mixing
up with the business, and I'm not
afraid Of anything they can do to me-"
you shall run no such risk, Frida,"
[ protested. 1T Is entirely my affair.
[ came for them, / rave got them, and
will keep them against all comers. In
the last resort / would throw them
overheard. They are of no actual value
aXcept In the wrong hands. We have