The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1902-09-12
sides Colonel Livingstone. Yet things
are not always as they seem.
CHAPTER XIV,

NNS a. I'D &AS oSSAA" "t sff-AL'
CHAPTER XIV.
THE EPISODE OF HOLT'S TAVERN
North Castle was hardly a village in
1850, for it consisted of but a cluster
of houses along n road. Yet did it
boast a general supply store, and was
proud in the possession Of a house for
travellers known as Hollis Tavern.
This house was nc different perhaps
from my other in the town except,
that perhaps it was q bit larger, and
that it had a sign swinging before the
main door,. Twas older. too, thai many
of the other habltations in the village,
and the slightly projecting upper
stories witnessed that it a been
built when the fear Of Indians had
been greater than the fear of tories to-
day. This projection of the upper
story was not more h a foot, but II,
as you entered by the front door, You
cast a look upward, there Q might
see holes at regular intervals which
pierced the small projection. They
We're stuffed now with paper to keep
out the cold; but there had been a time
when our fathers had stood in the Up
per chambers I'M fired good shots
through these same openings. sending
many a treacherous Indian to his W
happy or unhappy hunting ground.
Ian "a OA
the ground floor. of a hall run
ming through to the back. On
either side We're moderately large
rooms, and at the back of the
hall was a small fight Of steps going
up to the second story, which in turn
was divided into four or Ave rooms.
To the right of the door, in the large
room, buried now, at eleven If the
night, a large wood fire. Tables stood
here and there, and at the back ran a
bench, or bar, behind. which sat a fat
old woman knitting on a high stool,
so hat she might sew and still keep
her bullying eye on all that took place
within the chamber. BY the fire sat
two men whom I rightly guessed to be
American soldiers, and in the corner,
by a table, occupied In eating an W
ening meal, which the otficious Inn
keeper, busting about the room, had
put before me, sat my Wearied self,
more anxious than I would have con-
fessed, waiting for the two friends, the
fear. growing on me that dear old Ac-
ton would never think to look. In his
pocket nor comprehend the message
when he did. I had thought to leave 1t
with Curtis, but, no opportunity offer
ing, T was forced to take Acton as tho
means, and just before going I had left
the generals release for the two lieu
tenants at the colonel's headquarters.
IT was an anxious two hours, only
brought to a close by the entrance OF
John Acton in civilians dress. He knew
me at once, for Mr.. Argyle Bartlett
was safely slowed away in the woods
back on the roadside. tied UP In q
bundle Of his own clothes.
I feared at first that the honest fell
low would come up to me n blurt out
the whole thing, but, as / afterwards
learned, Curtis had given him the best
of lessons in the, to him, quite IN
known art of deception. Thus he step
ped into the oom ordered q mug Of
ale and, like myself, took a pipe and
some tobacco, and sitting himself
near me, looked what doubtless was
the picture Of uneasiness and discon-
tent. @
While the two soldiers talked quiet
ly by the fire, I turned to him and
asked: ~ s
"Have you come from the westward?'
AYE, from the river"
"Have you heard what has become of
Andrea
NO, there was naught given out
when I left" zt5s
At the mention of Andre the two SOL
diers stopped their conversation, and
n Of them, turning toward the table.
said:
HE was taken from here day be-
= CSLCludy. 1884,. .s.rr ~.
isn't known where he is confined"
+ asked. The landlord here putinhis
oar, and ventured:
'They do say as they took him to
Tappan for trial"
All, no, Holt. tits not likely SO" said
the soldier, "He Wen to West Point,
1 am sure" ~e. H.,
I'VE cannot say a word here" said
I, in a low voice, in Acton's ear at this
moment. "And yet I must talk with you
as soon as Curtis arrives.
well, but would he not go hat
way sure?" asked the tavern-keeper.
They'd be afeared of q rescue down
below" &
Cant we go outsider" whispered
Acton. Lord forgive him his whispers
were like the rumbling Of thunder.
"Outside!" exclaimed the soldier,
what is there to go%outside OFF," 81
Acton looked confused.
This gentleman refers to the frigate
Vulture, which has been lying Off Tel
ler's Point. Doubtless he is right, and
mayhap the escort was instructed to
keep well outside the reach of her
guns2'
20, aye, t is likely So" said the sol
dier, for Z have heard she Hes there
i caught Acton on the point of say
ing something to- wreck the whole
business, and had just given him a lab
beneath. the table when the door
opened. Livery one turned to see who
else might be arriving at this late hour,
and / could not help a silent curse at
the luck to see two stranger men enter,
nod to h tavern keeper, and walk over
to the fire.
Continued Next. Week.)