The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1903-11-06
"Geoffrey5 Heathcote, Esq.
BY JOHN FlNNiMoRE. Copyright 1899. BY S. S. Mcclure CO..

R.
With the sound of my movements the.
door was opened and the face OF Slant
appeared. .s. al
Eat, eat" said she, and pointed 10
the table. I stepped briskly across, for
the Injunction chined gratefully with
my humor. 1 was as empty as a drum
and as hungry as a wolf, and the table,
was furnished royalty. I sat down and
did as I had been hidden with q will
Twice during my meal Siani's 5peering
face came at a crack Of the door, and
i took 1t for a hint that there was no
time to be lost, and that she was there
on guard, and 1 ate the faster. l stood
up, feelinr myself another man, and
back of my chair.
You can walk! oh. yes,' said she,
showing a Very disturbed and anxious
face. I thought for a moment. since
Siani's English was no easy thing to
%unravel. then replied. in a little won
der:
Walk! Ay, ay, quite easily"
To walk away is the best" went on
Sfani, nodding az me a face which
looked all the paler for the obstinate
patches of red burnt into the middle Of
her cheeks. !
rose and approached the door,
which Siani opened a little wider, vet
held up a hand to forbid me passing
through. w ~
Not go OUT said she, It'll the mis-
tress bring G word"
I listened and heard faint tumult4o OF
voices. 1t sounded as IL there weresa
rare hubbub In the hall and courtyard.
Who are quarrelling >--ere?" said I.
All, all" whispered Slant, 'just go
At that moment a swift shadow fitted
along the passage toward us. It was
Enid herself.
"oh!" said she, quickly, Il am afraid
i AVE done you a great mischief in
bringing you here" She stopped and
caught her breath, then went on. but
what else to do. And now they are
saying the most dreadful things. I
know they are not true-they are try-
Ing to screen themselves"
I understand perfectly what you
mean" l returned. Those two whom
you found with me declare that I am
in the fault Of Owain's death.'
Yes" she said, with a sob. "but Z
Knew 1t impossible. Besides, Gwilym
FOLLOWED them secretly and saw every
thing, till Hugh Mervyn struck Owain.
Then he ran back in terror and shouted
1t all out In the house."
A y ay," said I. "and that brought
you up in a body. But how dc they
meet the old mans testimony?'
1T Is thrust aside as of no weight
said Enid, and the only manner in
Which concord can be restored ia ia.
turn n whole force Of vengeance upon
you
Last night makes 1t look the black
err admit" said I. seeing how natural
vas the outburst Of fury In my direc-
ton; but no finger was laid upon that
Whitesock threw him and
broke his back"
Their rage Is running higher and
higher" went on Enid in a strained,
hurried voice; you must 60 at once,
or they will kill you And it is I who
have brought you into this trap. 7.
mad enough influence to get you safely
here, but I fear I cannot
raised the little right hand which;
was clenched at her side and pressed
1t to MY lips. All my belongings had
been carried to the room, and I hastily
buckled on belt and sword. Hooked at
her and she knew very well what I
meant.
'fWhitesock is safe and in the stable"
h said. Sinai shall she paused
and bit her lips for, a moment. No.
she went on, they would put her aside
and refuse her. I must. go myself,
Siari, who had been outSin the gallery
accommodating, now ran silently back
n spoke a few hurried words to her
mistress. Enid lifted a hand in despair.
They have set a guard at the foot Of
the. stairs" she whispered; -four men,
we'll armed, two of each party,
Then they haSe4come to an agree
ment," said !, ian 1t Is time for me
to move"
I raneacross to the window and.
glanced out cautiously Two men, car
bines on shoulder. stood there talking
together.
What is the attitude of the men at
the s~tatrioot?" / asked, moving swiftly
back. Enid went herself to look upon
them.
Careless" she whispered. as h re-
turned one is sitting on the lowest
the wall
Then they have no immediate inten-
ton Of marching upon me-" I re-
marked: "the guard Is simply to make
sure, and without doubt they believe
me still unaware OF their Intentions.
Now, If / could find anything like a
rope to slide down on a side OF the
house where a watch is not placed, and
were Whitesock set free, 1 should be as
safe as a man could wish
The empty room at the end OF this
gallery" said Enid, quickly, that is 1t.
1t has one window looking out on the
north side Of the house, which, but for
lnat, is a DlanK wal. Come, cOmei"
Siani, at q word from her. mistress.
had disappeared, and I now followed
n cautiously. Luckily, we had not
to pass tbs s~tair-head, and we soon
reached the mouth of a winding passage.
which led to the room in question, a
great bare apartment. with windows
iooldng to the north and east.
We We're scarcely there when Slant
ran in ~noiseless, in her stocking feet.
and bearing in her arms a roll Of linen
cloth. It was about eighteen inches
wide, II the piece was many yards
long. Better stuff for the work could
not be, and I seized upon it at once.
Il will bring Whitesock to tina side"
said Miss Vaughan.
mo. no." said I, do not identity
yourself too closely with my escape. It
may be unpleasant for you in the pres
ent state of feeling.
III" said she; there is no need OF
fear for me. Our people, though rude
and rough to strangers, ere faithful to
their w to the last. They would
STAY o against my will, true, but hurt
me, neycr!"
Butt urged, there is no need for
It. Do but turn l1er loose on the hill
side and she will find her way to me as
surely as she has four legs under her.
Enid grayely bert her lovely head