The Bemidji pioneer., 1901-05-30
I .7 49,
A Brave Coward.
,, BY Robert Louis stevenson.
BY Robert Louis Stevenson.
CHAPTER Y.(Continued. !,


ming to interrupt him when he, in turn,
cut In brutality: n III. &. s5
"You hold your tongue says he, IA
am speaking to that girl. " 81.
THAT girl, as you call her, is my
wife, said !, and my wife only leaned
little nearer, so that knew she had
affirmed my words
''Your what?" he cried. You lie!"
s'Northmour, said, ''we all know
you have bad temper, and I am the
last man to be irritated by words. For
all that propose that you speak lower,
for I am convinced that we are not
alone"
He looked round him, and II was
plain my remark had In some degree
sobered his passion. What do you
mean 7" he asked.
only said one word, italians.
He swore round oath and looked at
us from one to the other
"Mr. Cassilis knows all that ! know
said my wife.
What / want to know" he broke
out, lis where the devil Mr.. Cassilis
comes from, and what the devil MI.
Cassilis is doing here. You say You
are married; that do not believe. Il
you were, Graden F'1oe would soon d.
vorce you; four minutes and q half.
Cassilis, keep my private cemetery
for my friends. Ss
1T took somewhat longer, said l,
"for that Italian"
He looked at me for moment hall
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
he listened, with several calculations.
while / told him how I had come TO
Graden; that 1t was whom he had
tried to murder on the night Of the
landing; and what had subsequently
seen and heard Of the Italians.
swell, said he, when ] had done,
ut is here at last; there is no mistake
about that, and what may ( ask. 90
you propose to do?"
II propose to stay with you and lend
q hand, said I.
"You are brave man" he returned,
with a peculiar intonation.
II am not afraid, |" said I,
"And so,' he continued. Il am to
understand that you two are married?
And you stand up to 1t before my face,
Miss HuddIestone 2"
1--WE are not yet married, said Clara,
'sbut we shall be as soon as we can.
Brayo!' cried Northmour And the
bargain? D. 1t, 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
cut 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 gentleman for
all that, and you will never desert
man whom you have begun to help.
"Aha!" said he. You think I will
give my yacht for nothing? You think
will risk my life and liberty for love
OF the old gentleman; apd then, sup
pose, be best man at the wedding. to
wind up? Well" he added, with an
odd smile. perhaps you are not alto
gether wrong But ask Cassilis here.
He knows me. Am a man to trust?
Am I safe and scrupulous? Am [
kind? 2"
II know you talk a great deal, and
sometimes, think, very foolishly," re-
piled Clara, "but know you are
gentleman, and am not In the least
afraid."
"She's trump!" cried Northmour.
"But she's not yet Mrs. Cassilis. I say
no more. The present is not for me. J"
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
to be friends, for you are both good
friends to me.
"See here, Northmour," said I; I'VE
are all in tight place, are we not?"
Il believe you, my boy" he answer
ed looking me in the eyes, and with
great emphasis. I'VE have all hell
upon u.s. that's the truth. You may
believe me or not. but I'm afraid OF
my life"
"Tell 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
black old scamp had Carbonari funds
on deposit-two hundred and eighty
thousand: and, OF course ne gambied
ft away in stocks. There was to have
been revolution in the Tridentino,
or Parma, but the revolution is off, and
che whole wasps' nest is after Huddie-
stone. We shall all be lucky If we can
save our skins"
1.-THE Carbonate exclaimed; God
help him. indeedi"
"And now let us go directly to the
fort" said Northmour, and he began
TO lead the way through the rain.
CHAPTER vi.
We were admitted to the pavilion by