Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1903-08-01
BY JOHN FINNIMOHE.

After supper I sat idly TO: a while,
until a young woman came In to clear
away the dishes. Then I thought OF
the saddler and stepped outside to find
him. I closed the inn door behind me.
took a few steps. and stood to look
about upon my surroundings. The Inn
was close and none too sweet smell
ing. and I drew several hearty breaths
TO fll my lungs with the clean, fresh
air of the night. The place lay In pro-
found repose. Here and there a faint
ndle-shine betokened life in a dwell
ing, but no sound was to be heard.
Above. the sky was full of frosty,
~twinkling stars, thick-set and clear
shining. The only strong light In the
dusky picture was that of the inn win
dow, q vivid patch of crimson In the
black wall at my elbow.
The CRATE Of an opening door came
to my ears. and / glanced across the
way. My eyes were now accustomed
to tho faint starlight, and l saw a fe-
male figure approaching me. AT her
first word I knew her for the girl who
had spoken English SO purely.
Sir" said she, Il should advise you
not to follow the route Of which you
spoke to me-"
II intend to take a guide" I return-
ed: but she went on
1T 10 not the difficulties OF the road
] have In mind. But since reaching
here. I have heard that there is danger
lurking among the hills. To those
familiar with every turn Of the coun-
try, 1t may be avoided; a stranger
would have no such chance, II his guide
knew but the direct way"
You are kindness itself" I said. but
in these days such dangers are part
and parcel Of the journey. Witness our
little ARRAY this afternoon.
"Ah," she returned. But this Is OF
a darker cast. / assure you. 1t would
be visa to turn back"
Why. there you nPme O thing I car
not no." I replied. Frankly. / should
return to the galIJws. To be hung, or
at besC. shot, IL a certainty for me, un-
less / tiud o sure hiding place. Can
yonder hills hold a worse fate2"
She gave o little startled cry, and
now, for the first time, I caught q
glimpse Of her. OF a sudden, the GRIM
son curtain was twitched back, and the
shine of the candles fell fair upon her
face. Trusting to the dark the muffling
cloak was carelessly thrown about her,
and I saw for a second q matchless pro-
file and caught her full liquid glance,
Then with a swift turf of the home
spun, her lustrous eyes were yelled and
she appeared to all seeming the sim
pie country girl. At the window the
gaping face of the wench OF the inn
peered u into the night. The cur
tain was dropped and my companion
glided way. The latch OF the door
clicked, and in another moment the
serving maid thrust her head out. She
must have caught our voices, low as
we spoke. I stood perfectly stIl!; the
door on the opposite side OF the way
had been already softly closed. The
girl stared until she was satif1ed that
! was quite alone. then went back into
the house.
Fol- myself I remained IN a pleasant
kind of waking dream. An elation OF
blood possessed me that I had seen
this beautiful vision; the night seemed
full Of magic Of romance and mystery;
my heart drlmmed a merry marching
music In my ear. That the gray home
spun was a disguise I now knew very
well-no milkmaid who eve lived had
such an air-and 1 judged the disguise
well chosen. For with our present
swarms Of footpads and broken mer
there are but two ways of marching
safely; one with such a show of force
as to overawe, the other with such
modesty as to draw no particular no
tice. and l reckon the second way the
safer.
After q while my errand came into
my mind, and I moved slowly up the
street. l saw 2 window with a bride
hanging In IL, cad entered the house
The smell of Leather assured me of the
place, and next 1 came upon the sad.
dler himself seated behind a screen and
busy at his work. In two words 1 told
him what / wantedI in one he re-
fused
mo, no." said he, shaking his head
tT HuiII nnf no tbot manu-
Come" l continued, II will pay you
well. You shall name your own price
1T is not the money" he said, but
they are there" He lowered his voice
TO an uneasy whisper, II heard 1t to-
day." he went on: they are about
there now"
"They?" said 1; and who are they?'
~ Gwylliaid Cochion," he replied.
The name Is familiar in my ears now
but upon that first time Of hearing it
I cought nothing but a kissing click
followed by a harsh cultural, sounds
which had no meaning for me.
What are they like?" said /.
WELL" said he, they are red. Oh
yes, they will be red"
Are they men or what?"
Some say they are men," replied the
saddler, and some say they have beer
men once but now" He broke of
and drew a deep breath. IL will not &c
with you" he cried sharply. nor vii
any other man."
That he was frightened at something
or somebody among the hills / SAW
clearly; and If his neighbors were in,
fected with the same fear then good,
by to hopes of a guide.
Look here" said /, II have a gift
Of finding my way about places. Give
me a full description Of h Dad and
I'll try 1t alone"
Yes, / will do that" he said, and he
spread out a piece Of thin leather or
his cutting board. Upon his he traced
a map with his awl, and very well he
did II, too. as l found out afterward
and for q half an hour or more | stored
away landmark after landmark in my
memory-a hill of peculiar shape, q
cairn, q great rock, a shepherds cot.
tage. an inn. Twice or thrice we rar
over the route, and / felt confident
could follow It. Then I rewarded hin
for his trouble. and returned to the
snn