Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1902-12-13

Hazeltine'-and 1 turned with a start
to see the officer called Majoribanks.
who a been so muddled on hat men,
rable day. He took the passes as a
matter of course, and as he read said:
You look I'll, captain. somewhat
thinner than when / saw you" Then
his eye caught what he was reading,
Philipse," he read aloud, and Captain
Merton! What is this, sir?"
l was on the point of replying when
Debby plucked him by the sleeve and
made a sign with her head to signify
that he was to send the picket out of
the room. He seemed to understand;
and when we We're alone she spoke
before l could get In a word.
Captain Hazeltine goes frequently
under assumed names, sir, by special
ORDERS"
oh" said the officer, somewhat
doubtfully, still lingering the papers.
Then / bethought me, and took out the
pass given ma by the commander-in-
chief.
Here's the old one captain, If it be
of any use to YOU"
quite right, captaini Quite right!
Pardon my hesitation, But, to be frank
With you, several men escaped-prison-
ers, you understandable a day or two
06O ol AOiGll pSGSpOI 10, dlu Il Hdu II
reprimand from General Patterson that
will last me for a good long life to
come"
And so we hurried forth and north
ward.
"Debby," said I, shortly, "Debby,
upon my soul you have fifty times the
wit that l have"
1T does not need for you to tell me
that, sir!" said she. Another instant
and you would have said: Sir officer,
| am Merton Balfort, American. fight
ing against his majesty the king!
Hang me If you like, but remember
that / am none of your British soldier,
nor yet a spy of that great monarch .
Your pardon, mistress, his majesty
the king?'"
"Ah, lear sir" said she, bowling low
in her saddle. ct is my first lesson,
Ell? Pardon me. l should have said
that dissolute monarch-er-man,
George the Third"
"Debby," said L, you are an angel!
Will you draw our horse up and per-
NIT me to kiss your ladyship?'
mo, sir, l will not! / do not think !
but certainly not upon the highway,
And l wish you to understand, Merton
Balfort, that ! am not yet a rebel-er-
that is, hat George the Third is still
the king"
Yes, Mistress Balfort."
Up came her face towards me at the
mention Of her new name, and leaning
over her horse she put her hand in
mine, and said not a wore as we rode
along.
Il am too happy to stand 1t. Debby,'
said l, presently.
We'll, 1 should be happy too" said
she, IF 1 knew how we were to live in
the future"
IF you think of that so seriously,
why is 1T that all day you have been
chuckling to yourself?"
"Oh, never mind! have certain
thoughts, and--and-certain knowledge
OF my own"
Tell me-"
mot for the world"
Tell me this instant! l am your hus-
band"
"Sakesl You begin so soon, do you
Very well, then, listen TO this: 1 will
tell you not one single word! Now
what doth thy noble hu~sbandness say
to that?"
Il say t is outrageous and unwifely
But let 1t lie; for here we are come tc
the house where we may stay for the
night, and that ends it,"
1t was the home of q mar whom
Anterior had hidden us to by note
saying that we would get good food
and lodging, and 10 questions asked
And, indeed, we were in sore need OF
rest and comfort! l had urged push
ing on thus far that we might clear the
foul neutral country ahead of US the
next day while daylight held, and make
the camp at Verplancks by the mex
night. But, good horsewoman as DebbS
was, she was nigh done for, and was
more than willing to retire as soon as
she had eaten.
Early in the morning we were Igair
off, and, still noting that my fair com
panion had something on her mind,
was marveling what it might be, wheI
the lay of the land along the road be.
gan to look familiar and l recognized
ahead of US the old tavern kept by
Gowan az 1t lay hiding itself under thu
hill. | turned quickly to Debby anC
found her smiling m~ysteriously at me
you know the spot?" Is asked.
quite WELL" said she. and / have {
mind to stop, and visit Master Gowan.'
mot by any means!" said l, decided.
~. The place may be the house Of on,
wedding, but just now tbs no place 70,
you"
AND yet l would stop there Il while
and-wili!" What a world Of vigoI
was there In hat last small word!
urged, communicating, tried fore,
but to no purpose. In we must go
So, diSmounting, called for a hand t
take our horses, and in we went q sec.
ond time to the dim old tavern.
Never shall | forget the little chuck,
behind me as l stopped suddenly on tn,
sill and saw-sitting as if in camp
perfectly at their ease-John Acton
with q huge pewter Of ale before him
Rnharf CIrtiC--n- Dhilin1n nc he ghD,,1
be called-and, sitting at the sam
table between these two, that sombr,
old robber Marvin.
Up rose the three as l turned to De
borah and saw in an instant that sh
knew all-nay, hat she had done tn
planning to bring it all about.
AHA! Merton, my friend, here yo,
be at last!" cried Acton, shaking us b,
the hand.
his friendly handclasp, and l a begun
to express my surprise when Actor
turned me about and cried:
Here, man! Here is the Reveren,
James Marvin to welcome vel"
Marvin" said /, slowly, you are
thleving scoundrel, and l have a min,
to run this blade through your belly!
And yet" said the cool villain
twas l married We to the girl y
would most have!"'
Married ME, you scoundrel?" erie,
l. AYE, az the point of a pistol"
And would We have me undo /
now?"
THAT is none of your affair, ian
Do you get out of here before l sen,
you TO the place where you belong!"
Tut, tut! Merton" laughed Acto.
the reverend doctor is here by tn
special invitation Of a lady"
wheeled about and looked at Debby
You zee, Merton. dear'-and for tn
.r5t time since | had known here / be
lleve she was a bit uneasy--"you SCI
| did not feel just sure | was really
you see-I didn't"
Feel quite sure whether she wa
Mistress Balfort, or Philipse. or king
subject, or rebel, Or"
Merton" interrupted Curtis, "thi
was all arranged by Debby, and we ar
here to witness The wedding"
L ooked at her again and found he