Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1903-12-12
BY JOHN rINNIMoRE.

hand In return, and 1 kept my face
straight with much ado. The truth is,
1 could have Rugged him. His quiet,
pleasant face and clear brown eyes
were delightful to see again, and home
was in every line of him. a couple OF
strides carried him level with Enid, and
he jumped in his saddle. Two strides
again and he swung his hackney clear
across the path and pulled him up
dead, blocking u way.
stand" shouted Roger, but fear
nought. / am a true man, and l 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 took off his hat.
Madam said Roger, bowling polite
ly, where got you that mare you ride
on?"
Pray, why do you stop our road?"
asked Enid.
For sheer WONDER" replied Roger.
at 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 l must know
how you got her."
How came you to be so sure of ber?"
Il uGiIldilu6u III a. diSC NOiSN' PaSHiN
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. / would do him no
harm, but know the truth of this mat
ter l will and must. You are a lady and
kind, my own eyes are warrant enough
for that. Tell me, / pray Of you-and,
as for me knowing the mare, why, loo
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" l croaked.
A lovely, rosy lush 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 h~usband?"
"Geoffry Heathcote of Butley Croft"
1 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.
ooh, Geoffry," pleaded Enid.
I drew my hat right down pom my
face, then lower and lower, till my fore
head and laughing yes were to be
seen, and Roger Thorne," said l, in my
own voice.
He knew me then. He flung himself
from his horse. ran 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 l never
knew you, for your enemies will be in
like case. But keep your hat well pulled
down. l knew you without 1t at once
1 shook his honest hand and pre-
sented him to Enid.
Here, Roger said I, "is your mis-
tress. Not eve o 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 l were 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
well 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 were 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 on all who came and
went.
I'VE have but one weak place." said I
"Whitesock. 1t is for her sake hat ]
am skulking across the common here
instead Of riding up Butley street as
would be the safer way of approach"
THAT 1t 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. 1 will take
Whitesock to Ralph's cottage in the
chase, where she can be safely hidden
and do you, sir and your party take g
cast round and ride up the street bold.
ly."
"Ay, ay, Roger" said I, "a good plar
and the meeting with you has beer
lucky, indeed"
The cottage Of Ralph, the keeper
lay in a secluded spot en- the side furth.
crest from the village and avenue, and
far from any other house. No one
lived there but himself and his wife
and their fidelity was assured.
"Old Ranger IS there, too" remarked
Thorne, land 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
and / had to Danish him, or else suffer
him to be killed, and that l was unwill,
ing to see." Ranger was a staunci
bloodhound who had watched the house
by night, and / knew we'll his keen dis,
like of strangers.
While Roger was talking we had beer
busy shifting the saddles, and 1 nov
put him in possession of the part
intended to play.
we parted, Roger riding northward to
ward Ralph's cottage, while we strucl
across the common to the south Il
reach the main road, well out of sigh
of the village. Enid was now mounted
on her gray pony, and l marched OIL
foot. Roger had carried off my sword
too, for our journeys end was in sight
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 vas falling as we wen
up the village street. and lights wer,
shining in familiar windows on eithe
hand. Several people ran out to star,
at US, n Adam Bell, the landlord +,
h village inn, peered eagerly to Sc,
IL we were likely customers. But w,
pushed on and turned in at the gate,
of the long avenue which led up to tn,
house.
When 1 came to the front of the lat
ter ! beat a lusty tattoo on the grsa
door, and Roger himself came to opel
1t. He received us with an excellen
~affectation of wonder, for one or tw,
faces strange to me could be seen a
h further end Of the wide hall, per
leyed with Enid a short time, then con
Quoted her to the oak parlor, where
fire happened to be burning. He CAV,
orders hat l should be led to the sta
bles, and a groom came with me. Tn,
beasts were put up, and then I followe,
the man to the kitchen, where, Of som
five o. six servants assembled, I knew
but one, an old woman, parcel blint
and deaf.
/ had need here of my catchword a