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

"So!" said I, bitterly, though in a
low voice, as I stepped into the room.
S that is it, madam!, You have, in
deed, set me q pretty trap: and a fool
like me is none too wise. but must
needs fall into it. Well, mistress, 1 am
sorry; but you shall see" -
IN the instant the room became light,
and I saw that she had lit the .tallow
dip. YGEa -e'-
Hide here in the curtains, quick!"
she whispered. DC so quick. Guick!"
Twas some instinct in me that made
me glide behind the heavy curtains
by the open window, as the tall cloaked
figure stepped in. I could see naught,
but as he, entered I heard an exclama-
tion break from him: -
so no! my runaway wench." cried
he, land here you are in papa's III
house, and in the midst of a conspir-
acy!" El''
Il know not what you mean, hut I
would know. sir, by what right you
follow me here, and by what right you
dare to come into my chamber in this
fashion," 60. ....-
Easily told and explained, Mistress
Debby! / suspected we would run you
here to earth, and so I came to find
Lay another thrap. An yen give me
! lave
Go on" said I quickly. =
you, Durgin," ordered Callahan Of
II of his men, warnin' wild a tap on
the glass eff anything turns up. You,
Ballard, shut the winder n draw thin
c%urtins, and do yez stand by to git the
signal. You two take thin two doors
n douse annywan, the divil cares
who, hat shows his red nose through.
Douse him wild yer coats over the head
n when We get him, stick yer knee in
the pit of his stomach all this in a
whisper, with a quick look here and
there, and gestures that alone told
what he wanted. AN now, yer honor,
We'll take this Coor that goes God
knows where st! Phwat the OWLS
that?'
Twas a step coming along the hall,
a light, stealthy, though quick step. In
a ome Callahan and I were behind
the door and my cape was ready in his
hands, held at the height of a mans
head. Each of the others had taken his
position silently as soon as he got his
orders. e.. ~ 49, (,
There was a moment Of suspense rs
the step came towards the door. her.
the door itself swung open and in an
instant Callahan was on the ground on
top Of some one, with the cape wound
around the new arrivals head. Isl,
1.-THE Saints deliver mel" muttered
the old man. "Divil take me, but it's q
woman!" - &s
And, sure. t was so. For the door be-
ing again quietly closed. we carried her
to h light, and found a woman,
speechless with terror. gazing with u
fascinated glare down the barrel Of CAL
lahan's pistol. satl.
Do not utter a sound, or you will be
! dead" said I sternly. But she did not
appear to take note of anything but
the pistol.
Who's in this house?" I asked.
No answer or move on her part. ~.
I knocked up the sergeant's pistol
much to his disgust, and touched her.
who is in this house?" I
She looked at me In a stupid, clown
ish way, and then Of a sudden out
came, G. lot Of gibberish that meant
naughtsto either Of US.
"Phwat's that. she says?" asked Cal
lahan. "She'll wake the dead!" And he
doused her again with the cape, until
she lay quiet. Then we repeated the
action with the pistol and she sat 81
lent as before? But 1 had caught
enough to know that she spoke French.
Here we We're, stumped! Not one Of
us knew a word of the lingo, and T
could do naught but put my finger on
my mouth and vigorously shake. my
head. French-a French maid-Mistress
FnlllpSeS malQ, no DOUBT. was she a
bait? We should soon see. But I must
speak with her mistress first, and
alone. a. All this passed in a moment
through my mind. I bade Callahan keep
the women close, saying that I was
going to explore the house, and he was
to give me warming of any new ar
rivel, or danger, by a low whistle. s
So I left the dimly lighted room and
found myself in q cross hall that led
again into the main hall Of the house.
Keeping close to the wall, / worked
slowly and as silently as possible
around the hail, finding four great dark
and silent DOM in which the ghostly
furniture stood piled in the center. No
sign nor sound of living being APP
prise, and to recognize that voice nav,
knowing it must come some time, gave
me a sickening of the heart that kept
peared. Then, coming to the great
stairway, l drew my sword and hold
ing a pistol In h left hand, mounted
cautiously to the second story.
Here again were more rooms, open,
hut vacant. Under the sill Of a door
leading into the wing was what seemed
to be a faint light. The door opened,
but in doing SO 1t creaked withsa sound
that seemed to echo over the house. Di-
rectly opposite. across anothe small
hall, was a door, half opened, leading
into a lighted room, and on the instant
a voice said something in French
7 is eve the fact that what is ex-
pected is like to be the greatest sur
prise. +@ 3
Continued Next Week.)
H. Ea ------