The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1903-10-22
HAPTH Xxx.

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regarded the events Of the twilight.
CHAPTER Xxx.
FOUL PLAY.
The next morning there was no sign
of Ieuali, or, indeed, of any of the men
about the place, and I saddled White
sock and galioped off In the direction
had followed the previous day. I
kept a sharp lookout as I rode over the
gray, naked hills, but saw no sign OF
people abroad. / did not know when IL
was Intended to beat up the quarters
OF the Red Men of the Dusk. and half
expected to meet scouting parties I've
n rise. But the mountain opened be-
fore me, mile after mile. bare and SOM
Der n lifeless.
Within an hour I had ensconced my
self among the boulders commanding a
view Of Nant-y-Bryn, and hero / began.
q patient watch saw plenty of move.
ment about the house--men coming
n going, carrying water and groom
the gate. figures rambling idly, figures
running busily. but among them no
sign of the tall, straight form for which
Hooked.
Hours slipped slowly away, and I
glanced at the sky and saw that the
sun was at Its zenith. I rubbed my
dazzled yes and turned them on Nant-
y-Bryn again. A cluster of figures
seemed moving In my direction
through the bright fog which. staring
at the sun, had spread before me. I
shut my eyes for few moments. then
looked out eargeriy. Yes, four people
We're walking up the hill. two and two,
strolltng carelessly. and Owatn was one
OF the leading pair. They am slowly
on. not heading directly toward me- but
more in a line for the spinney be-
low.
AT some distance from the house
they glanced back. and Immediately
BEGAN to walk briskly. with the air of
men carrying out q definite plan. From
my perch I had the whole country be-
low me. and in a moment I fancied I
saw the meaning OF 1t.
A dip in the hill had hidden them
from the house. and there was now no
need for them to assume a careless
air. They were cent on something in
which they wished to avoid Interior
ence, and knowing Owain as I did. I
was half assured what it was Il OBJ
served that they walked strictly two
and two. and that there was no turn
ing OF heads, as there would be were
q general conversation going on.
In a short time they passed out OF
AAAJ W. SAS ll1Cl ~
the spinney, and I made down for the
trees, leading Whitesock by the rein. l
trod softly through the larches and
peered out. 1t was exactly as I had
fancied. Forty yards away the four
figures We're gathered on a level patch
OF turf. Owain and another young fell
low about his w age had their goats
already off and their naked swords In
their hands.
His opponent and the two seconds
We're the young men whom I had seen
riding with him on the previous eve
ming, and I shook my head as I thought
how hot-blooded and foolish it all was.
/ am not one myself always to run
away from the like Invitations, but
with such business on hand as root
ing out the Red Men Of the Dusk it
seemed to be a very ill time to be turn.
ing their weapons against each other.
1t Is true that I vas blessed, for
could I have enjoyed my way l would
lever a had Owain go a yard from
his sister until she stood In safer cir
cumstances than the present. Yet I
never dreamed OF the bloody end to
which matters were shortly to rum, but
waited to see one OR the other get a
scratch sufficient to satisfy all parties.
I have never known to this day what
the quarrel was about, but that it was
over a trivial affair 1 am assured by
the way the duel commenced, going
forward for a time more like q calm
fencing match than aught else.
This RAJ greatly to my satisfaction,
for I felt certain that first blood would
settle tfIe affair. end I observed. too.
that the seconds never offered to en-
gage, as Is commonly lone In case OF
a serious quarrel
Yet the Jingle and CRATE OF cold steel
had. before long, It's customary mad.
dening effect. 1T excited even me, as I
stood in shelter OF the larches: how
They gradually grew warmer, the
Iunges became faster and fercer, 1
could hear their painting breaths at
each swift bound and rebound, and the
formal fitting swiftly merged into
deadly combat.
i watched with al my eyes. longing
to see Owain safely through It, and
soon I heaNed a sigh OF relief. There
was no &Guestion as to the better man,
and saw that Owain was completely
master of his opponents pay. The lat
ter began to sgiye ground, and Owain
followed steadily up. The losing mans
second. a short red-haired fellow, be-
gan to shout and scream in his excite
ment, seeming beside himself at pros
ypect OF Owain's victory. :
This strange conduct in a second
caused me to view him more attentive
". and discovered a great likeness
between him n the fighting a I
Judged them, and ] found afterward
that I had Judged rightly. to be
brothers.
Lunge by lunge. owain drove his op-
ponent back. and, suddenly engaging
him more fiercely than ever pluckcd
HIS sword from his grasp. The defeat
ed swordsnianQgave a shrill, thin cry
upon finding himself defense .ess, put
up his hands, and covered.
h little red fellow gave a horrible
yell like a mailman. leapcd in. whip
ping out his sword as be spranz. and
drove 1t clean through Owain.s body.
poo friend. already reaching for
ward. dropped on HIS fnce. biindly
cropping the turf with his hands, End
gaspiEg out blood and fains gfoans
For an instant he waa the only ny
ure. My heart stood Sly. and ] was
EAlTrIME