Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1903-09-05
BY JOHN FINNIMORE.

FOLLY. In such weather as this an
enemy could mark you down at half
a dozen yards, and you none the wiser"
'Ay,' said Owain, but there is an
other side to 1t. You could pass with
In a dozen yards of an enemy and be
none the wiser"
Turn the thing how you like said
Sir Arthur, you shall not have a man.
l Will eaken my strength for no such
hare-brained devices"
There is no need OF It," said 1, IF
Miss Vaughan is resolved to see how
this poor woman is faring 1 shall only
be too proud IL she will allow me to
join her brother in accompanying her.
n turned and thanked me with a
smile, n Owain clapped me on the
shoulder.
You have proposed the best plan
imaginable" said he, I'VE will carry
IL out at once."
My uncle muttered something saw
agely, but we took no further notice
or him, and within ten minutes we
We're trotting away into the mist.
Luckily, the rain had stopped, and we
travelled the more comfortably for
that. Enid Vaughan was riding her
nlmble, qutck-stepping pony, and
Owain a strong gray horse. We chat
ted cheerfully in low voices as we rode,
Tor the weather had been very bad
Tor the last few days, and no one
had been out. SO that our present jaunt
seemed n very holiday trip. The easy
motion OF the horses over the turf, the
fresh, damp wine blowing in ones face,
the spice of danger which lay concealed
among the hills, stirred the blood n
gave a keen zest to the adventure.
1t seems rather a strange thing
said l, for the mar TO fly and leave his
wife"
Il never thought much of him." re-
marked Owain. 1T fits in we'll enough
with other things he has done"
There is one point quite certain
said Enid, and that is, she would never
have left him under like circumstances
she is StaniS sister, and truer, more
faithful blood you could never find"
L am sure of that" l replied, and
smiled to myself. as l always did when
l thought Of the Egyptian and her
sleshed bosom.
The place was about seven miles
from Nant-y-Bryn, but much of the
way was very bad under foot, either
stony or soft, and we were a full hour
and a half reaching 1t. When the house
came in sight I went forward, being
the best mounted, to look over the
ground. Everything was deserted and
silent. l waved my hand and the
others rode rapidly on. Enid sprang
down at once and a into the house.
We istened intently, and upon hearing
a cry of pleasure from the abandoned
woman, both Of US gave a deep breath
or relief and smiled upon each other.
Let us cad the horses inside" said
Owain; the place lies naked to the
hills all round, and II the mist should
lift we might be spied OF from q dozen
points"
We did so. and found hat the In
terror of the place presented a scene of
the utmost disorder. The simple fur
niture had been flung hither and
thither. the table turned upside down,
the dresser wrenched away from the
wall, meal and milk all split and trod-
den into the mud Of the floor, and a
pool Of blood, in the midst OF which
a strong, shaggy dog lay dead.
Good boy" said Owain, patting the
stiffened body of the faithful cur, and
went or to his sister, while 1 remained
near the door to keep watch.
The sick woman lay in a small recess
partitioned off at the further end OF
the kitchen, and l soon learned that she
had suffered nothing from the visit OF
the robbers save dreadful apprehen-
sion. They had not so much as visited
the nook where she lay, but Contented
themselves with ransacking the place
for food n weapons. The knowledge
hat her children were in safety Gained
her, and the presence Of the young lady
gave her such e~assuran that In q
short time Enid came TO tell us that
she had fallen asleep.
What can we do with herr" said
Owain.
will not her husband and children
come back?" said l.
Il don't think he will, at present.
returned Owain; "and to speak frankly
l believe Sir Arthur will encourage
him to remain"
For what purpose? ?" I asked. Sure
ly there are enough people now about
Nant-y-Bryn, and, if there were not,
such a fellow as that would be Of nc
service
1T is becoming a craze with Sir
Arthur to cram the house at night with
men from the farms near at hand, -
replied Owain. Since my sisters re-
urn with the story Of her adventure
the number quartered under the root
has risen to more than double the usuaI
count"
"Owain," said his sister, who had
been deep In thought while we were
speaking, I'VE must carry her TO Pen
lam"
How" he asked.
" ~ W ~ ASA ~ - my uAAI
put her on the sled"
You are right, Enid" he replied
after a little pause. 1T Is smooth
grass to Penlan. But had / not better
ride over first to see how matters
stand there?"
1T would be best" she said, moi
would 1t take o long"
Il will go at once" he returned, "you
will be quite safe here with Master
i n fInAtn - n.,I he Id 4-N IL 1-.-~
In another moment. we heard him gal.
Looping away, and Enid turned to me tc
explain. Penlan, it appeared, was q
farmhouse about two miles away, and
one not likely to be attacked, since the
owner had -four strong sons and the
family was noted for its courage and
resolution. If everything was right
there it would be easy to convey the
sick woman where she would be in
good hands. The woman now gave 9
sharp cry, and Miss Vaughan FASTENED
to her, but returned in a moment.
"She is not awake" she said; "hel
fear is still working in her mind, and
she is crying out in her sleep"
Poor creature" said /, "she ha
been through q dreadful ordeal"
Yes said my companion, Il had nc
great opinion Of Hugh, but certainly
did not think he was so bad as this"
At this ONE a soft nose slipped
over my shoulder, and Whitesock put
her head down to my breast and held
it there tightly. She was trembling sc
hat she shook me.
"Oh, yes said /, caressing her, I'll
is the blood. She has a great disgust
of blood"
In less than an hour Owain returned
accompanied by the farmer of Penlar
and his wife. A sled was brought out
for of wheeled vehicles there was none
in that country-a couple Of mountain
ponies harnessed to it, and her the
sick woman was well wrapped UP ano
laid upon 1t. The sled ran easily over
the turf, but, Of necessity, the journey
to Penlan was a slow one; and wher
we started from the solitary farmhouse
to ride back to Nant-y-Bryn, the short