Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1903-10-31
"Geoffrey Heathcote, Esq"
By JOHN FiNNlMoRE. copyright 1899, by g. 8. Mcclure Coz

1 was lying on the bed in the room ]
had formerly occupied at Nant-y-Bryn.
l believe my Inconsistencies had
passed off into a deep sleep. for I awoke
just as one does from slumber, calm
and refreshed. MY head felt easy and
cool, and, putting up my hand, I found
that my wound had been dressed.
1 sat up and looked round me. A
fire of turf was burning brightly on the
hearth, and a table and chair stoor near
1t. / stood up n stretched myself.
With the sound of my movements the
door was opened and the face Of Slant
appeared.
Eat, eat" said she, and pointed to
the table. / stepped briskly across, for
the injunction chimed gratefully with
my humor. l was as empty as a drum
and as hungry as a wolf, n the table
was furnished royalty. / sat down and
did as / had been hidden with a will.
Twice during my meal Siani's peering
face came at q crack Of the door, and
l took 1t for a hint that there was no
time to be lost, and that she was there
on guard, and l ate the faster. stood
up, feeling myself another man, and
Siani's head popped in at the scraping
back of my chair.
You can walk! Oh, yes said she,
showing a very disturbed and anxious
face. / thought for a moment, since
Sianfs English was nc easy thing to
unravel, then replied, in a little won
der:
Walk! Ay, ay, quite easily"
L walk away Is the best" went or
Siani, nodding at me a face which
looked all the paler for the obstinate
patches Of red burnt into the middle OF
her cheeks.
I rose and approached the door
| which SinnI nnnnn1 n 1tN41A rutIa- .y~
held up a hand to forbid me passing
through.
Not &c out" said she, It'll the mis-
tress bring q word"
l listened and heard q faint tumult of
voices. 1t sounded as II there were q
rare hubbub In the hall and courtyard.
Who are quarrelling ,..ere7" said L
All, ALL" whispered Slant, Just 60
ing to fight"
AT that moment a swift shadow fitted
along the passage toward US. It was
Enid herself.
"Oh!" said she, quickly, II am afraid
l have done you a great mischief in
bringing o here" She stopped and
caught her breath, then went on, "but
you seemed so weak, and I knew not
what else to do. And now they are
saying the most dreadful things. ]
know they are not true-they are try
Ing to screen themselves"
Il understand perfectly what you
mean / returned. Those two whom
you found with me declare that 1 am
In the fault Of Owain's DEATH"
yes" she said, with a sob, but ]
knew 1t impossible. Besides, Gwilym
Followed them secretly and saw every
thing, till Hugh Mervyn struck Owain.
Then he ran back in terror and shouted
II all out in the house"
"Ay, ay," said I, and that brought
you up In a body. But how do they
meet the old mans testimony"
1T Is thrust aside as of no weight
said Enid, and the only manner in
which concord can be restored ia To
turn the whole force of vengeance upon
you"
Last night makes 1t look the black
er, 1 admit" said I, seeing how natural
was the outburst of fury in my direc-
ton; but no finger was laid upon that
man-none. Whitesock threw him and
broke his back"
Their rage is running higher and
hlgher, went on Enid in a strained,
hurried voice; you must go at once,
or they will kill you. And IL is I who
nave brought you into this trap.
mad enough influence to get you safely
mel but l fear I cannot"
l raised the little right hand which
was iclenched at her side and pressed
i 70 my lips. All my belongings had
peen carried to the room, and l hastily
Duckled on belt and sword. l looked at
her and she knew very well what !
meant.
"Whitesock Is safe and in the stable
she said, Sinai SHALL" she paused
and bit her lips for a moment. No
she went on, they would put her aside
ana refuse her: l must go myself"
Siani, who had been out II the gallery
accommodating, now ran silently back
and spoke a few hurried words to her
mistress. Enid lifted a hand In despair.
They have set a guard at the foot OF
the stairs she whispered; -four men,
well armed, two of each party"
Then they have come to an agree
ment," said 1, "and IT is time for me
to move"
I ran across to the window and
glanced out cautiously. Two men, car
bines on shoulder, stood there talking
together.
What Is the attitude Of the men at
the stairfoot?" 1 asked, moving swiftly
back. Enid went herself to look upon
them.
Careless" she whispered, as she re-
turned. One is sitting on the lowest
STAIR, the other three leaning against
the wall"
IHcll lney nave no immediate inten-
ton Of marching upon me-" I re-
marked; 1.-The guard Is simply to make
sure, and without doubt they believe
me still of their intentions
Now, IL / could find anything like a
rope to slide down on a side Of the
house where q watch IS not placed. and
were Whitesock get free, I should be as
safe as q man could wish"
The empty room at the end OF this
gallery" said Enid, quickly. that is It.
1t has one window looking out on the
north side Of the house, which, but for
that, Is a blank wall. Come, comet"
Slam, at q word from her mistress,
had disappeared, and l now followed
Enid cautiously. Luckily, we had not
TO pass the stair-head, and we soon
reached the mouth of a winding passage
which led to the room I'm question. q
great bare apartment, with windows
looking to the north and east.
We were scarcely there when Slant
tan In noiselessy in her stocking feet.
and bearing in her arms a roll of linen
cloth. 1t was about eighteen inches
wide, and the piece vas many yards
long. Better stuff for the work could
not be, n 1 seized upon 1t at once.
II will bring Whitesock to tina sidc,'
said Miss Vaughan.
mo, no." said /, do not identify
yourself too closely with my escape. II
may be unpleasant for you in the pres
ent state of feeling"
I'll" said she; there is no need of
fear for me. Our people, though rude
and rough to strangers, are faithful to