The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1903-12-11

AGAIN ana ne swung MS nbckhey 'cleai
across the path and pulled him up
dead, blocking our way.
stand shouted Roger, but fear
nought. l am a true man, and [ de-
mand speech with YOU"
He looked ROUND with flushed face
and bright eyes, staring eagerly at
Enid. She had drawn rein at once, and
sat looking at him. The sweetness and
beauty Of her smile disarmed him and
he look off his hat.
Madam said Roger. bowling polite
ly, where got you that mare you ride
on?"
Pray, why do you stop u road?'
asked Enid.
"For sheer WONDER" replied Roger.
Il see the creature that has never car
ried but one man in all her life. and
that man my dear young master, in the
company of strangers, and must know
how you got her
How came you to be so sure Of her?'
I demanded in a false voice, pushing
my pony forward. Roger dropped his
hand into a pocket where he had a
pistol.
MADAM" he urged. "bid your man
keep back. He looks a strong rogue
and a masterful. I would do him no
harm, but know the truth of this mat
ter / will and must. You are a lady and
kind, my own eyes are warrant enough
for that. Tell me, l pray Of you-and,
as for me knowing the mare, why, look
| you, she knows me. Whitesock! good
| lass. Whitesock, then! where is he
| who rode her from these parts? From
| whom had you the mare, madam
From her husband" croaked.
A lovely, rosy flush shone all over
Ends face, and her eyes, frightened
by Rogers appeal, were turned slyly
upon me. Roger stared from one to
the other with parted lips. A ! dy and
her serving man upon these terms had
he never seen before.
And tell me, good fellow, the name
of your mistress husband?"
"Geoffry Heathcote of Butley Croft
I have never seen and never shall see
again such a picture as Rogers face
presented upon hearing these familiar
yet totally unexpected words.
My young master" he gasped.
"Oh, Geoffry," pleaded enid.
I drew my hat right down upo my
face, then lower inc lower. till m fore
head and laughing eyes We're to be
seen, and Roger Thorne," said I, in my
own voice.
He knew me then. lie flung himself
from his horse, RAJ to the side of my
pony, and fairly held me in his arms.
"Oh, Master Geoffry," he cried,
praise God l see you safe and well
once more. And praise God I never
knew you, for our enemies will be in
like case. But keep YOU hat well pulled
down. | knew you without it at once"
I shook his honest hand and pre-
scented him TO Enid.
Here, Roger said I, SIS your mis-
tress. Not even you must question her
right to ride Whitesock."
".Ah, sir, you know what I meant"
said he, and, with as much ceremony
as If Enid and 1 We're arriving at the
house of my fathers in a coach and six,
he advanced to pay his respects and
kiss her hand
Then Roger unfolded his budget of
news, which, in short, came to this:
Sir John Postgate, attended by a
stronger posse, had descended on But
ley Croft within six hours of my flight,
but the secret of my going had been
we'll kept, and he discovered nothing
to my disadvantage. Since then there
had been much riding to and fro, and,
for a while. troops had been Quartered
on the place. These We're now gone
luckily, and the house was under the
authority OF the Independent magis-
trate. He had largely removed my ser
wants, and garrisoned the place with
some of his own people, and a SHARP
watch was kept IN all who came and
went.
I'VE have blu one weak place" said l.
"Whitesock. It is for her sake that ]
am skulking across the cOmmOn here
instead of riding up Butley street as
would be the safer way of approach"
THAT it would" replied Roger; etc
come secretly is to set tongues wag-
ging with a will, and there is no need
for you to do so now / will take
Whitesock to Ralph's cottag, in the
chase, where she can be safely hidden
and do you, sir and your party take 9
co CT round and riAn 1n.til. cTI,9af. hold.
~"
cay, ay, Roger" said / "a good plar
and the meeting with you has beer
lucky, indeed"
The cottage Of Ralph, the keeper
lay in a secluded spot on the side furth.
crest from the village m venue. ant
far from any other house. No on
lived there but himself and his wife
and their fidelity was assured.
"Old Ranger is there. too remarked
Thorne, "and that will help to keep PEG
pie who might carry tales, for he flew
out at Sir Johns folk time and again
as if he well Knew they were enemies
n l had to Danish him. or else suffe
him to be killed, and that I was unwill
ing to see Ranger was a stauncl
bloodhound who had watched the hous
by night, and I knew we'll his keen dis
like Of strangers.
While Roger was talking we had beel
busy shifting the saddles, and 1 nov
put him in possession Of the part
intended to play.
In a few minutes all was ready an,
we parted, Roger riding northward to
ward Ralph's cottage, while we struc,
across the common to the south t
reach the main road, well out of sigh
of the village. Enid was now mounte
on her gray pony, and I marched O
foot. Roger had carried off my swort
too, for our journeys end was in sigh
and it was hardly the weapon to swim
at the waist of a serving man who wa
about to be scrutiniZed by unfriendl
eyes. The dusk was falling as we wer
up the village street, and lights wer
shining in familiar windows on eithe
hand. Several people ran out to star
at US, and Adam Bell, the landlord {
the village inn, peered eagerly to sc
if we were likely customers. But W
pushed on and turned in at the gate
: CT the long avenue which led up to tn
house.
When l came to the front of the lat
ter l beat a lusty tattoo on the gref
door, and Roger himself came to ope
it, He received US with an exceller
~afrectation of wonder. for one or tw
faces strange to me could be seen
the further end of the wide hall. PAL