The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1903-10-30
CHAPTER Xxx.

regarded the events Of the twilight.
CHAPTER XIX.
FOUL PLAY.
The next morning there vas no sign
Of Ieua1l, or, indeed. of any Of the men
about the place, and l saddled White
sock and galloped off In the direction
we Mad followed the previous day. I
kept a sharp lookout as / rode over the
gray, naked hills, out saw no sign Of
people abroad. I did not know when 1t
was intended to beat up the quarters
Of the Red Men of the Dusk, and half
expected to meet scouting parties over
any rise. Blu the mountain opened be-
fore me mile after mile, bare and SOM
Der and lifeless.
. Within an hour 1 had ensconced my
self among the boulders commanding a
view Of Nant-y-Bryn. and here l \ began
a patient watch. I saw plenty of move-
ment about the house-men coming
and going, carrying water and groom
the gate, figures rambling idly, figures
running busily, but among them no
sign of the tall, straight form for which
l looked.
Hours slipped slowly away, and I
glanced at the sky and saw that the
sun was at its zenith. I rubbed my
dazzled eyes and turned them on Nant-
y-Bryn again. A cluster of figures
seemed moving In my direction
through the bright fog which. staring
at the sun had spread before me. I
shut my eyes for a few moments, shen
looked out eargerly. Yes, four people
were walking up the hill, two and two,
strolling carelessly, M Owain was one
of the leading pair. They came slowly
on. not heading directly toward me, but
more in a line for the spinney be-
low.
AT some distance from the house
they glanced back, n Immediately
began to walk brislly. with the air OF
men carrying out a definite plan. From
my perch l had the whole country be-
low me, and in a ONE / fancied I
saw the meaning of it.
A dip in the hill had hidden them
from the house, n there was now no
need for them to assume a careless
air. They were bent on something In
which they wished to avoid interfer-
ence, and. knowing Owain as l did, I
was half assured what it was. | OBJ
served that they walked strictly two
and two. and that there was no turn
ing of heads, as there would be were
a general conversation going on.
In a short time they passed out OF
my sight behind the further edge of
the splnney, and l made down for the
trees, leading Whftesock by the rein. I
trod softly through the larches and
peered out. 1t was exactly as I had
fancied. Forty yards away the four
hgures We're gathered on a level patch
or turf. Owa1n and another young fell
low about his 6 had their coats
already off and their naked swords in
their hands.
His opponent and the two seconds
We're the young men whom | had sean
riding with him on the previous eveA.
ming, and l shook my head as 1 thought
now hot-blooded and foolish it ali was.
l am not one myself always to RIM
away from the like invitations. mn
with such business on hand as root
ing out the Red Men of the Dusl, II
seemed to be a very i'll time to be turn
ing tnelr weapons against each other.
II is true that / was blessed. for.
could l have enjoyed my way | woi,Id
never have had Owatn go a yard from
MS sister until she stood in safer cir
cumstances than the present. Yet r
never dreamed of the bloody end To
Which matters were shortly to run. but.
waited TO see one or the other get a
scratch sufficient to satisfy all PARTIES
! nave never known to this day what
the quarrel was about, but that II wa 9
49, Z" Il L LII dSS1rdT@ hyy
the way the duel commenced go,,s
LorWard for a time more like n cnln,
Ienclng match than aught else.
lhls was greatly to my Satisfaction
lor l telt certain that first blood would
settle the affair. and I observed too
tthat the seconds never offered r. an,
gage. as is commonly lone in case of
a serious quarrel.
Yet the tingle n crate Of cold staa,
mad, before long. It's customary mod.
oenlng effect. It excited even mo aa r
$1,000 IN shelter Of the larches. how
much more the actual omhat,nts
Ihey gradually grew warmer Tho
lunges became faster and f1ercar ~1
could hear their painting breaths at
eacn swift bound and rebound, and the
deadly combat INTO
l watched with all my ewes. 1o,o,,n
70 see OWain safely through It. ang
soon heaVed q sigh or relief. There
was no question as to the better man
ana | saw that Owain wa comnlatain,
master OF his opponents play. TTbeiat,
eer began to give ground. and OwaIn
iollowed steadily up. The losing man,a
= d snort red-haired fellow. he
gan 10 shout and scream in his axo,te-
ment, seeming beside himself 81 nroe
pert 9. oWain's victory.
Inns strange conduct In . 49,
caused me to view him more %attsn etuno
~, n / discovered a great nLanass
y him and the fighting man
t y them, and I found afterward
hrath a judged rightly, to he
Lung by lunge, Owatn drove
onent back, and, suddenly ena as Up
nun more f1ercely than ever. ninssLass
ms na SWORD from his grasp. The dafnat1
go swerdsman gave a shriil. thin uslo orv
!, nnding himself defenselea.. MY ny
The little has re ana covered.
yell like e'e q m rea 1ellow gave a horrible
ping y his sword as he snra ~, WHIP.
M aroVe " clean through owain.. hodn
NY poor friend. already reachirr ,oy
wara, dropped IN his face. hf,r1 1
sa.pirs me turf with bis hands. and
saSplHs out blood and faint grosn.. @A'
ure, NJ hs tans he -.: .se only ar