The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1902-08-15


I found myself kissing the hand that
lay in mine, and begging her to stop.
Still she sobbed on. 1 was ear at
my wits ends.
Stop! stop! mistress; for the love of
heaven, listen to me! Well. so be it,"
for she was almost hysterical In her
weeping-"so be It," said I, rising and
moving away. There is the door. Go
out and down into the very arms of
my men and be taken to West Point
as a SPY in the employ Of the British.
She was on her feet, running wildly
to the door, that now stood open; and
I waited to hear the result, when she
stopped, as If turned to stone, for a
long, low whistle came to our ears from
below. I jumped to her side and
grasped her arm.
Tell me, girl, do you know aught of
British in this house?"
No" said she, looking at me in
wonder.
Then listen!" - -'
Again came the low whistle from the
hall below. I gave the signal back.
That signal a y that some one is
approaching this house. Now, if you
do not believe in me and do what I
tell you, we shall noneaof us have long
to live. I served you truly once. Trust
me again." n I ran to the light and
blew it out. In. the sudden darkness
| ound her and grasped her and She
let 1t lie in mine, while both listened
for the next SOUND that might come.
Gradually the Slight moonlight gave
us some light in the room, and 1 turned
towards heT.
will you give me your word not to
give any sign or maxi any noise?"
She did not reply.
II must go downstairs; will you give
it," -N A"'
Still no sign. '-
"Then I must trust to your sense of
Justice and honor" ~ .I. ws-
I could not see her face, but I knew
I was needed below; and so, letting her
hand fall, I moved quickly to the door.
Some slight sound made me turn as I
reached 1t, n 1 was in the nick of
time to see her stealing swiftly towards
the window. With a bound I reached
her, just as she raised the sash, and
before I could stop her she had tried
out. Then the pity of, it all came oy er
me, for the frail little creature began
to struggle"
Mistress Philipse, I am here to do
my duty! There be twenty-five men
and three officers within call. YOU
cannot possibly help the British! They
are doomed now! But I cannot-GDd
forgive me, I will not struggle with
you! There is but one other alterna-
tive. Here is a pistol; you can easily
see me. Shoot quick and straight; for
I will not go down, or AXE you down
to those men!" h took the revolver.
If you fire it without hitting me, /
shall use this one on myself"
Slowly she raised the pistol could
see as plain as day, now-slowly she
pointed it, first at my body, then at my
throat, then my head. And 1t came
| j1ff INV mind tho = !, ~ 1,,, .,o. l.,
deed come; but there was no trouble in
my mind; for If I must go, Iawould go
by her hand, and that was as it should
be. I looked her steadily in the eye for
a time, and then the shining thing
dropped with a CHATTER to the floor, and
she stood still looking into my face.
How long we stood thus, I could not
tell; but we both started as a voice
came from outside the door, whispering
to me: F..
Are We there, 1iftinint?"
Yes. What is it, Callahan"
There's twilve min a-comin' over the
hill at the pack, of the nouse.''
G down again and work your trap
on them. Let in half, and cover the
others. Let them have 1t. If anything
sudden occurs" & ~
Yes, sir. Have " found altnywan? 2"
Not a man! But have not yet COW
cred the whole house. There's some
one in the back OF the house here. Go
down! I'll be with you in an instant
I heard him mutter something about
coming down now, but he went away,
and we could hear his step creak on the
stair. - 60
DO you understand, now?" + asked
in a whisper. T., :
She nodded her head. "a
will you trust to me 2,
Again she nodded. X
Will you-will you try to forgive
me?"
at cannot! I cannot" she murm,red
and sank back. into the chair. "You
have no right to treat5a woman so
They. are my people, too, trying to res
cue a brave mana man I know!"
They can do nothing for him. He
Will not come this way, and is even
now safe on the other side of the river
IT'S absolutely hopeless, mistress!'
Though, In good truth, it was not sc
hopeless as it might seem.
So she stood a moment. and her
left her, n stole softly towards the
door. ~ -
do not go down. came to me ir
hurried tones, as she moved after. me
II do not want do not dare te
stay here a1one!" :
But 7 nus go down to take com.
4 mand OF the men. I have stayed here
too long as it is"
7 beg you to stay! I cannot stay
here alone!'
YOUR" cried I, under my breath
you, who have lain here night afte,
night alone?" and with a puzzled feel.
ing in my brain I looked hard at he,
In the dim light. Could she be trying
to help her men by keeping me away
from mine? Yet she was. not Of the
kind that feared anything Of this sort
She came and touched my arm.
PLEASE stay here by me-" she was
actually pleading. Either she had sud
denly changed OF I had lost my wits
It could not be. Something lay beneath
this. :.
E'There is no fear In you said 7
taking her hand from my sleeve. and
moving quickly to the door. and
through it into the hall. I heard q
stifed exclamation break from Her:
but my mind was made up. She had
something to conceal, and, bitter at
the thought, I stole softly to the head
Of the stairs.
but 1t was not to be. Even as I got
to the top step a long line of light
spread out from under the stairway
and leaning over, I saw a strange
sight that might well have stirred her,
or my woman, or yet man, for the
matter Of that. The tight came from
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