The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1902-11-07

,
D not lar to speak to me! What
IAN I fail to understands"
But this man is a spy whom I am
aere to-"
Then. if you would not let what you
have said to me be a great f%alsehood,
1nbind him and let him go!"
I looked at her standing before me,
waiting for my reply, and groaned
Lloud at he misery of 1t. Then she
turned from me with utter contempt
Ind started toward me as he rose to his
.eet.
I drew my pistol, and pointing it
within two feet of his breast I said:
IF you move but a step I'll fire!-
Mistress Philipse, do not touch that
mani"
$50 it is true! it Is true! Oh, you
coward! You coward" and she wrung
her hands and her voice broke down
completely.
So we stood, misery in my heart and
/ figure leaped out from the under
brush, and I heard the voice Of Curtis
:ry out:
$50 you've got him! You've got him,
Balfort, at last! I should know that
cape and figure In a crowded.
A piercing cry was his answer, and
he next moment Mistress Philipse was
ying in his arms, crying as If her heart
would break. I heard an exclamation
If surprise break from him as he said
n sudden bewilderment:
How came you here, Debby? What
b it? Stop and tell me the trouble
ooh, Rob, my dear, deal brother"
The cried. Take me away from this
ireadful place! Take me away! And
ave Frank from that mani"
I saw him make a sudden movement.
He stood a moment and then set her
quickly from him. A stride brought
1im up to Hazeltine, and grasping the
nan by the arm he turned him around
10 that they stood face to face.
"God in heaven!" whispered the as-
founded man hoarseiy, as HaZeltine
stood looking him IN the face without
l word Curtis gazed at him long and
| steadily, as If he were coming out Of a
9ream. Thenhe twirled Hazeltine about
again and looked at his back as the
man stood with his long cape over his
shoulders. A moment, and the dazed
man had turned the other face to face
again.
Great God in heaven!" he groaned
under his breath.
Well, cousin, do you know me?" said
Hazeltine with a forced attempt at
hilarity.
do I know thee, thou foul spy? Do
( know thee? Aye, now I do! But not
till this moment did ! suspect the
hend Hazeltine could be my own
cousin, Pendleton!"
"'T1s a mistake, Rob. You have the
wrong man."
"He lies, Curtis!" I cried, lilies in his
teethl I've followed him and caught
him now, and bound him, and we have
but to take him across the river to fill
one Of the orders that sends us here"
Never fear, Merton. I could never
mistake h a figure. I've Followed MN
these three months" and I saw his
strong face set in grim resolution and
turned to look at Mistress Philipse. She
was standing by in silent horror at
what she had heard, but as she saw me
approaching her she ran to Curtis.
my brother, will you not protect me
from this man?'
3 Merton Balfort? What harm would he
do you? None, dear sister, none"
HE has already! He led me here tc
decoy our cousin Frank to his ruin,
And-I-I-' and she broke down com.
pletely again.
Iris not so, Mistress Philipse.
came
"Do not dare to address a word tc
l me, SIR cried the girl, jumping from
her brothers side and stamping hel
foot. And she was back again sobbing
. In his arms.
TITS a gross misunderstanding Cur.
It's" said I at my wits ends. you are
her brother? ?" He nodded. II felt II
! long ago! I knew it. aye, knew it al
along! Yet did I never understand il
till now! Well, then, I came here tt
help her in-in another matter-lool
not at me so, Robert Curtis! my con
J science is as clear as a bell-but Wher
I came here this nan appeared and
knew him at once for HaZeltine, and NJ
more suspected his relationship to yol
and to her than you did ten minute:
ago."
"'Tis a lie!" cried the girl, passion
ately. "A gross
i Mistress Philipse, I cannot answer
II you as I would a man. I can but say
TO you-aye, swear to you-that you ar
wrong. And may God forgive you fol
. your hard words and your lack of faitl
( in one Who-who-would watch owe,
your welfare!"
IT cafnot understand this thing.
muttered Curtis.
"Let us get this man away in safety
friend" said I. And then I will ex
plain,'' And I walked up to Hazeltin'
and bade him precede me.
"'Tis impossible said Curtis.
"'Tis what?' cried I, wheeling abou
at him.. .4l ~.
"He cannot go thus to the command
: er-in-chief," replied the man with tina
\ quiet firnness and distinctness tina
4 always belonged to him. go will b
> simply an execution by hand" a.
"Aye, that it will, man, and the soon
er and simpler the BETTER said +.
ut Is quite impossible he repeated
9 in the same tone.
Robert, my friend We have lost you
T bearings. Do you take your sister AM
i tieave him to me-" n I signed t
. Hazeltine to move towards the road.
Merton, If you attempt to remov
this man, you must first cross sword
{ with me" said Curtis in a cold, wir,
voice, the more terrible in its meanin,
because it's Q was not raised on
whit beyond the ordinary. s
| what mean you, mann" asked I il
MANAGEMENT, u1lconsciously drawing m,
/ sword an inch o. two. He did no
move, but folding his arms, said in tn
!, same cold voice.:
Precisely what I say. II you tr.
. 10 remove him you must first overcom
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