Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1903-12-19
CHATTER xxxr.-contInued.

sage, blocking the door without MY
first idea was to beat q retreat. But II
was hopeless and 1 must face IL out TOT
Jack Postgate and a tall man now
stepped in at the only door. Upon JACK
/ wasted not a glance, but liked my
eyes upon his companion. Inc mar
was tall, as 1 have said, and powerfully
built. His face was smooth n thin,
and would have been handsome u TOT
q square, bony jaw. His hair was
cropped close and he wore q pain sun
Of decent brown, with boot ana spurs
Here's the man." said Postgate, rup-
bling his hands in high
Now, / want you to turn MIN lhslde
out, like an old glove. Find out every
thing YOU can about his mistress, as i
told you, and tell him to carry this let
ter to her" and he took q letter which
ne held between thumb n nnger'
Here was a pleasant string of words TO
fall into a mans ears about MS WlIe'
and he utterly bound, both in tongue
and hands. l became suddenly aware
that / was moving uneasily and rest
Iessly on my seat, chatting furiously at
the bonds of circumstance, and that
the strangers keen, bright eye was
fixed full on me. With an enort l
gulped down my wrath and assumed an
impressive air.
The tall man saluted me In Welsh and
1 replied, for a simple thing such as
! passing the time of day l could man
age. This / did of set purpose, for TO
refuse to make a sound at all might
raise suspicious, while to be obstinately
dumb when questions upon private
matters were put, would bear a natural
explanation.
The stranger made a short speech full
of rasping %gutturals. He might as Wei
have spoken Hebrew, n / stared sui
11x1,, gptA tho fire He smoke again, Il
remained silent. -,
whats the matter with the fellow?'
said Jack. Hes turned dumb all OF a
sudden"
"Well," said the stranger, Every like
" he has been told to keep his tongue
quiet"
TRY him again" and warn him that
II he doesn't speak I'll lay this lash
around his shoulders" and he cracked
his whip as he spoke.
While he was going on l had been
groping in my consciousness to mt Two
things together; the strangers voice
and a name; where had / heard II De
fore and who's was 1t? He began to
speak in gentle, melting tones, and my
heart leaped In my side. l pulled my
hat lower. and looked up. The first
glance taught me that the utmost eau
ton was needed. Jack Postgate was
staring gloomily at me, angered by my
silence: the strangers broad, bright
eve was bent upon me, with lhtnlte
meaning and warning in the look. his
voice ran on, LIQUID n even, M ne
paused; then, with the utmost sloWness
and elaboration, he added,
Ieuan Gwyllt!"
The utterance of this name had no
meaning for his companion, everything
for me. Yet it was not needed, for l
had known him upon the beginning Oh
his third speech. Other people cou!d
play at DISCUSSES, too. leuan's tangle
of hair was gone; the forest of beard
and mustachio. which formerly hid his
face to the very eyes, had vanished; his
worn and dirty clothes were replaced
by a suit Of sober color and excellent
texture; he had followed my own eX-
ample in almost every point or MS
change, and my ignorance of him
showed the strength Of my own dis
guise.
down in the fire, and cleared my
throat. =
Jack Psstgate took a step forward. l
did not raise my eyes, but l heard leuan
| cav. No, no. You will spoil everything.
| He is going to speak. ] have just per-
suaded him. Keep quiet His tones
were fierce and eager, and | knew n a
lack s WILD nlsIlS III lllt all
He'd better be quick" growled Jack,
whose temper was not of a nature TO
barley long with any one whom he be-
lieved he could safely beat. | spoke a
sentence from my stock, and glanced
at Ieuan. .
l happened to know the meaning Of
that. IT was an invitation to come into
the house, sit down by the fire, and rest
awhile.
Ieuan listened gravely and attentive
". and gave me Il zoe Of intelligence
which meant a great deal more than
his companion could perceive.
"NVel?" cried the other, impatiently.
'He saws" began Ieuan, that he was
silent because he has nothing to tell
YOU"
What does he mean?"
Ieuan spoke to me again, and |
| hauled UP the phases and f~ag-ends OF
speech that had been drilled into me,
and we ~conversed in this fantastic
style for some minutes.
Not n muscle of his face moved as he
received my astonishing replies, but he
nodded his head th~oughtfully and APP
pSared to be enlightened.
Now you've got hold of something. -
said Postgate. What is it?"
"Well, it ISIS like this" said Ieuan. Il
have got hold of nothing. This man
wass hired on the road, and does not
know anything in particular. The
young lady started from home with an
other man, an old man 1t Wass, and ne
fell i'll as they Travelled. That wass at
a little place on the hills, about nine
miles from Rhayader, a place called
Bryngarw, so he says. The old man
wass left there, and they told him to
go back home when he wass better, and
this man wass hired in his place
Upon this simple story being narrated
with the utmost innocence of face, voice
and gesture. Jack Postgate fell to ours
ing. and at that moment Adam Bell en-
tered with the vessel of wine.
Here's for ye," said Adam, and hand
ed me the vessel. The action interpret
ed for him, had there been need of 1T,
and I stood up and took it, and went
al once from the house. / was a good
distance down the village when l heard
Isuin shouting behind me. / looked
back and he was coming on, with a
letter in his hand. l glanced round but
no one was near us.
1--WE must talk somewhere" said
Ieuan, in a low voice. Where? Tell
mel"
When are you going on?" 1 asked.
ANY time. / do not care" answered
he.
start from here" said ], and keep
straight south along the main road.
Two miles On you will come to a heath,
and half a mile further to a great, with
cred oak, standing alone. You cannot
miss it. A dozen yards beyond the oak
n rough heath road runs into the msin.
urn up that n follow it for three
miles until you come to a deserted cot
tage beside the road. Wait for me
there"
II will do it," said Ieuan. and turned
back at once. / looked over my should
er as l went, and saw Jack Postgate at
the door of the inn, watching us. At
the same instant / became aware that
Ieuan had thrust a letter and a piece
OF money into my hand. and that l was
carrying them mechanically.
Ieuan had said never a word about
them, but L understood. Jack had re-
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