The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1902-10-30
| By Fred M. G'hhe
CHAPTER LvI. (Continued.)


cleaning eyes
II don't want to be premstoor," he
said. "Yes, you'd make lovely chap
lain's pet, but can't spare you. I'm
going 10 smash that ere willy brain of
yours, so as IL won't be useful any
more. I'll teach you to put the marks
on to q poor chap like myself"
Merritt. swear to you that new
err"
"You can swear till you're black in
the face, and you can keep on swear
ing till you're lily-white again, and
then 1t won't be any good You gave me
away TO Taylor because you were
afraid would do you harm at Littimer
Castle. That Daisy Bell of girl there
told me So"
Henson groaned. 1t was not the
least part of the humiliation that a
mere girl got the better of him In this
way. And what on earth had she
known of Reuben Taylor? But the
fact remained that she had known,
and that she had warned Merritt of his
danger. II was the one objectionable
crime in Henson's decalogue, the one
thing Merritt could not forgive.
Henson's time was come. He did
not need anyone to tell him that. I'm
less something In the nature of mir
acle happened, he was dead man in a
few moments; and life had never
seemed quite so sweet as 1t tasted at
the present time.
YOU gave me away for no reason at
all" Merritt went on. I'm a pretty
bad lot but never rounded on a pal
yet. and never shall. More than one
of them has served me bad, but al
ways let them go their own way, and
I've been good and faithful servant
to you"
ut was not you" Henson gurgled,
that / wrote that letter about, but"
Chuck it," Merritt said, furiously.
Tell me any more of your lies and I'll
smash your jaw in for you. 1t was me.
/ spotted Scooter in Moreton Wells
within day or two. And Mr.. Scooter
had come for me. And I got past
Bronson in Brighton by the skin of my
teeth. l turned into your lodgings un-
der his very eyes almost. Before this
time tomorrow / shall be arrested.
But I'm going to have my vengeance
first
The last words came with intense
elaboration. There was no mistak-
ing their significance. Henson deemed
It wise to try another tack.
II was wrong" he said. humbly. II
am very. very sorry; lost my nerve
and got frightened, Merritt. But there
is time yet. You always make more
money with me than with anybody
else. And I'm going abroad present.
ly."
"Oh. you're going abroad, are your"
Merritt said, slowly. Going to travel
In Pullman car and put up at all the
courts of Europe7 And I'm coming as
chief secretary to the Grand Panjan-
drum himself? Sounds an alluring
kind of program"
I'll give you a hundred pounds ia
get away with II you will"
Got hundred pounds of my own In
my pocket at the present moment, >
was the unexpected reply. Gas you
gave me away, consequently, / gave
you away to his lordship, and he
planked down the hundred canaries
like the swell that he is. So / don't
want your company or your money
And I'm going to finish you right
away"
The big stone was poised over Hen
sons head. He could see the Jagged
part. and, in imagination, felt 1t &c
smashing into his brain. The time fol
action had come. he snatched al
Merritt's right thumb and drew the
knotted fingers down. The next in
slant and he had bitten Merritt's
thumb TO the bone. With cry o.
rage and pain the stone was dropped
Henson snatehed It up and fairly lift
ed Merritt of his chest with a blow
under the chin
Merritt rolled over on the grass, and
Henson was on his feet in an instant
The great stone went down perilously
near TO Merritt's head. Still snarlins
and frothing from the pain, Merritt
stumbled to his feet and dashed !
blow blindly at the other.
In point of size and strength Their,
was only one in IL. Had Henson stood
up to his opponent on equal terms
there could only have been one issue
But his nerves were shattered, and h,
was nothing like the man he had beer
two months ago. At the first onslaught
he turned and fed towards the town
leaving Merritt standing there in blanl
amazement.
frightened OF me-" he muttered
"But this amt the way it's going to fin
ish."
He darted of in hot pursuit. h,
raced across a rising shoulder of tn,
hill and cut off Henson's retreat. This
latter turned and scurried back In tn,
direction of Longdean Grange, will
Merritt hot on his heels. He could no
shake the latter off.
Merritt was plodding doggedly on
pretty sure of his game. He was a!
hard as nails, whereas, good living ant
deal of drinking, quite In gentle
manly way, had told heavily on Hen
son. Unless help came Unexpected,
Henson was still In dire peru. There
was just a chance that village
might be about; but Longdean wa
more or less a primitive place. ant
most of the houses there had been ii
darkness for hours.
His foot slipped, he stumbled, ant
Merritt, with a whoop OF triumph, wa
nearly upon him. But 1t was only
stagger. and he was soon going again
still, Merritt was close behind; Han
son could almost feel his hot breath q
his neck And, as he was breathin
heavily and distressfully himself. n
could hear how steadily Marr,tt,
lungs we're working, He could se
the lights Of i.ongdean Grange belo,