The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1903-12-18
NNEH
IEuAN,S ERRANn

E LIN hiIti1 oNtI my CltdlRt.
lie was alone, as l had hoped, and ]
old him whittier I was bound.
is he a safe man, Master Geoffrey?'
whispered Roger. "Oh, be careful. 1t
may be a plot to trepan you
why, Roger, as to that" said I, "he
knew who l was at the inn, and if ne
had been minded to do me mischief he
had only to Expos me to Postgate. |
must see him and find out what brings
him about this country"
L went into the hall and carried wood
to replentsh the fire. Enid was not
there, n as / stood looking into the
gallery, hoping she might come out of
her room, a waiting woman descended
from the upper regions. This woman
had detected as very watchful upon
Enid and Siani, and, indeed, upon my
self, though my supposed ignorance of
the language caused me to be IN
troubled by inquisitiVe folk. She was of
the Postgate faction, and, without
doubt, was in the interest of the son, for
| have never credited the father.
though my enemy, with u~nderhand
work.
1 wen out of the house and made an
opportunity to slip into the wood,
which at II point ran up nearly to
the garden wall, and was soon in the
depths Of 1t, making my way toWard
the meeting place | had fixed upon. 1t
was still quite light when I reached it,
and, after accommodating carefully from
an adjacent brake, l advanced upon it
II found hat l was first there. The
road by which leuan would approach
ran across the common, dipping into
holloWs and winding through tllickets
and brushWood, and was as grassy as
the land or either side. 1t had been
.disused since the cottage was deserted
but was still clearly marked by it's
deep ruts. l went slowly down it, keep
ing a sharp watch about me.
Half a milo from the cottage: I saw
a head against the sky, someone COM
ing over a healthy slope before me.
~"Jeuan," thought l. Then a second
head came in sight, n I dropped be-
hind q clump of gorse and wofmed my
way into it like a make. It was not 50
much that | suspected Ieuan as that
an instructive warincss and caution had
become a part of my nature.
They came on, two of them, and al
ing Welsh. That of itself was a good
sign and the first glimpse I had of
leuan's companion treasured me. Hin
no disguise could conceal from his ac-
quaintance. 1t was the dwarf harper.
l let them pass, for [ feared to offend
Ieuan's touchy temper by disclosing
that had hidden from them, then rose
and ran swiftly back by a circuitous
path, n was seated on a bank be-
side the cottage when the two Red
Men of the Dusk rode up at a foot
pace.
well" called out Ieuan. cheerfully,
I'VE are meeting once more" and the
harper wagged his huge, elf-like head
at me and smiled.
~"Ieuan," said I, how did you know
me?"
Indeed, not easily from YOU looks"
laughed he, but nan things We're
helping me. Tor one thing, I had found
out that Owain's sister wass at the
house, and then I wass sure that you
were not far away. When [ heard that
only one man wass with them l wass
ready to look for you in that man. And
besides, I had found that you could not
show yourself openly. You never said
tome that Q were at Nant-y-Bryn
to hide yourself"
mo, Ieuan, 1 did not" said I.
Never mind for that" replied Ieuan,
waving his hand. every man must
look for himself. But, you see, I wass
already beginning to think you are that
man, SO 1t Wass a great help for me
to I'M you out"
True" said I, "it was
WELL" continued he, the next
thing ISIS that you are wondering what
business brings me here. What have
you been thinking since you found 1
wass in your village?"
IT have formed no opinion at all on
the matter" 1 replied. ct was a great
surprise to see you, certainly"
Surprise" repeated Ieuan, that ISIS
IT.. It ISIS all surprises. l came here
thinking to see you a rich man, riding
the beautiful mare about this country
like a king. And I found a Siac y My
nydd."s
g Jack a~-mountain.
His tone was one of keen disappoint-
A sudden light broke Upon me,
%"Ieuan,' said I, II see it now. You
for that hundred pounds to stock
the little farm"
Yes, indeed" confessed Ieuan; you
your finger on the place. And
in my mind as If it wass in my pocket"
"How much money did you get out
Of Nant-y-Bryn?"
Very little, very little. I took it all,
for 1t was of no use to the others, and
they carried the rest Of the plumber
the hills"
"Ay, ay," said I, land what are the
people of Nant-y-Bryn doing?"
Il believe they will be very happy
replied Ieuan. There iss no
master over the place and no one will !
be paying rent. Yes, they will be sat
And the house is gomez
"The. walls are standing" he re-
Piled. mo fire could harm them, but
the rest ISIS h all"
The walls are standing, eh?" I re-
peated. Then, Ieuan. you have been
turning your back IN your hundred
pounds all the time"
what" he cried: "you know of
some money hidden there 2"
Il do" said I, and told him of the
which I had unquilted from my
coat and given to the keeping of Sir
49,
And why did you not ask for it back
when you went away?" said Ieuan.
Il had plenty for my immediate
1 replied, "and / was not on
terms 10 have cisaAs~saasHS 60 With Str
Arthur"
Ieuan nodded. and beat his fist light
upon his knee.
However" 1 continued, I'VE must
see what can be done STILL :
do you mean that you can help me-,
he asked quickly; you. who look SO
poor?"