Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1903-11-14

was silence for a few moments. She
stood up and stepped forward.
Surely" said I, "you do not think OF
going down again."
II ought to do So" she began, then
stopped.
1t 1 will come with you, and see that
YOU are unmolested as far as l can
compass it."
"Oh, no." she said hurriedly. "Oh. no,
no, you must not DO SO. You u not
leave this secure post"
"And I am to sit here, then, In COM
parative security, and picture you
somewhere below, exposed to the In
suits Of drunken rufians?"
you could escape" said She; Il am
sure you could escape. There Is no
watch posted about the house; all are
indoors, engaged too much In their
drink and quarreling to give any atten-
ton to what goes on Without
"Ay," / returned, escape easily
enough at present. / believe. 1t would
be simple to slip down from a window
and whistle to Whitesock, who, thanks
again to you, Is wandering somewhere
at hand on tn hillside"
"And you will?" she whispered eager
"And I will not" 1 whispered back;
what! Jog off owe the hills and leave
YOU here, uncertain what may happen
you whom I love. oh, SO dearly
Siani had vanished somewhere, ana L
put my arm about Enid and drew her
closely to me, and laid my cheek
against the soft velvet Of hers.
mo. no" I went on, from this time
your fortune is my fortune. / am all
alone In the world n you 1
paused, vexed at my stupidity In bring
ing up such thoughts. and ten times
more so when / felt warm tears roll
from her check to mine. Forgive my
clumsy tongue" / whispered; Il only
meant that we must be all in all to
each other. Escape is the word, truly
enough, but we shall go together and
ride away across the hills and get mar
ried. Do you agree?
She pressed her cheek a little tighter
for answer, and my heart leaped up as
tightly as though danger and death
were far away instead of all around.
Soft footsteps were heard gliding to-
ward us. and Enid drew a little away
from me. 1t was Siani returning from
her own room, which was on this noor'
and bearing with her a warm CLOAK,
in which she wrapped her mistress
well done, Siani," said l.. Tor the
night was growing very ole. NOW,
I went on, could you n me an
other roll of linen stuff like that one
had?" u1.
yes. indeed" replied SIAM, the
room TO keep them is up here Ana
away she went again.
Then you will go tonight, SAID my
love, laying her hand on my arm. on,
do go, and 1 will only walt TIL AFTER
Dearest" said /, II Will press you 10
nothing. If the place quiets and these
rascals from a distance are got rid or
7 believe YOU would be safe here once
more. and 1 will go my ways ana come
again for you before long. But, as mat
tiers are, l will not bulge an inch from
your side"
and yet you sent siani for the
cloth?" she said.
"Yes" 7 returned, "for 1 will make
preparations to At any case. And tnere
are several possible turns to tonights
work" -,
Siani came back with the roll
dropped II at my feet, shot down the
stairs, fell on hands and knees at the
foot, and glided along the gallery IKE
a snake. Enid stepped forward anG
was about to call out, then checheo
herself.
1t would only give an. alarm ano
there was nothing to do now but to lie,
Slani carry out her plan, Whatever II
might be. 1t was not likely any one
would venture up to the gallery again
Just yet, for l held a deadly advantage
from my dark watch above, ano
| hurried to charge the empty pistols
Minute after minute passed, n al
last Siani crept into sight again In the
fashion she had departed, but now
laden like a pack-horse. She dragged
after her a pair Of great bullying SAD
dlebags which / remembered mac
Tapped against the sides of the hylnl
pony when l first saw them, and a darF
red riding dress.
7 slipped down the stairs, relieved he
of the saddlebags and ran back. Sht
came closely after me, the dress hylnt
over her arm, her teeth, trailed afteI
her.
"Why, siani," said ], you read m!
very thoughts"
The keen-witted girl was doing eX
actly what l had wished for, yet scare
knowing how to set on foot. The rol
Of stuff had given her a hint that OH
was the word; she had come 20 the con
clusion her mistress would not be LEI
behind. and here she was getting thing
to hand.
suddenly the keen tinkle and clash o
steel against steel rose to my ears.
ran down a few steps and peeped int
the hall below.
The iI-feeling and drunken fury ha'
run to blows, and n couple of men Wer
| IdIu d. IL III NAioNOHo
ing and hewing at each other furiousl
while their companions were drawn u
in bands on either side of the plac
yelling encouragement to the combat
ants. With q dozen blows the due
was decided. The Nant-y-Bryn ma
had failed to parry a savage cut at tn
head. and went down all in a heap wit
his skull split across.
This was a signal for general compa'
Three or four friends Of the falle
man sprang in and struck at the VlctoI
whose companions were no less read
to save him than the others were anS
ious for revenge, and upon the lnstar
a mad h~urly-burly of battle rage
within the hall.
I glanced upward. Enid hao disaI
peared, and l turned my eyes agar
upon the turmoil below. SWORDS ros
and fell, pistols cracked, shouts an
yells rang out, and a reek of THE
yapor gathered over them.
There wants but one thing now,
thought /, where are the Red Me
of the Dusk?"
Continued Next Weekly