Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1903-11-21
"Geoffrey Heathcote, Esq"
By JOHN FINNIM0RE. Copyright 1899, by 8. 8. Mcclure Co..

swept her hands over the grass heavily
laden with dew, and wetted her mis-
tress's hands and brow. In a few mo-
ments q long, futtering sigh and q
slight movement filled us with delight.
Then Enid started. and said, "Oh,
where am II"
safe, dearest" I whispered; SLANT
and / are here. No n else
How did 1 come here?" she cried:
Il must not leave the house. Owain-
Look" said /, and took her hand.
From our present position we could
see the eastern front of Nant-y-Bryn.
A dozen windows had splintered IN the
heat of the furnace roaring up wltnln;
and great cloud Of tawny. hre-stalneu
smoke eddied into the night. Then out
curled darling tongues Of red ana yell
low flame, leaping higher and h1ghe
and throwing dancing CLEANS even as
far as we stood.
'Fire!" she said. Nant-y-Bryn Is on
fire! oh, my brother. oh, Owain!"
and she wept as II her heart would
break.
A knot of yelling figures flew toward
us, dark against the fierce red hgnt
Of the burning house. L drew my
sword, and the tinkle OF steel caugnt
Ends ear. n checked her solfo"
with a great effort. Ga,
and I am imperiling your llVes,
said she, "by indulging In useless grief
Save yourselves"
I returned my sword to Its scab-
bard.
TT Is no attack" said I. "'Tis but a
plump of fugitives from the house
Long before the and reached US IL
melted away, rushing apart from each
other. ones and twos, scattering In the
darkness, screaming women and shout
ing men.
1 whistled loud and shrilly, then
again and again, but there was no sign
Of Whitesock.
She won't be far away, If she's un-
hurt" said I. Round the southeastern
angle came a band Of ponies. gallop-
ing, whinnying, throwing up their
heels, tossing their names, and ifting
their heads to sniff the smoke. They
had been turned on the hillside 10
Craze. and had been attracted and ex-
cited by the fire. and were now dashing
wildly about the burning house. can
tering easily at their heels came White
sock. 1 gave a sigh OF relief ana WINS
tied once more. She flew TO me
straight as an arrow. At sight of the
ponies, Siani ran toward them at the
top of her speed calling "Berro! Ber-
ro!"
I took the saddle-bags and swung
them across Whitesock's quarters, then
begged Enid to mount and ride.
And your! Sne asked.
II intend to walk for the present."
I replied, land at that pace 1T Will be
easy for you to sit my saddle"
l shortened q stirrup TO the right
length for her and swung her up. AS
1 did so, the soft thud Of a pony's feet
upon the turf came closer, and up rode
Slant on her brown mountain pony
Berro, whom she had captured from
amoung the herd.
We were now In marching order, n
Siani led the way over the open noun
tain.
Where away, now, Siani?" / asked.
ITO Maengwyn," she replied, about
seven miles over the mountain. n good,
safe place to stop this night"
In which direction"
ITO the east" said she.
Good" 1 answered, for our future
Journey must be eastward, and we
pushed on up the long, smooth slope.
At the crest we paused and looked
back. The eastern and southern faces
OF Nant-y-Bryn were spouting fame at
every opening. Every o was pan
elled and foored with wood. old and
dry, and the fire had made swift head
way. Goodby to Nant-y-Bryn! The
country about rang with the cries and
shouts of the people escaping from that
furnace. OF pursuit there was none.
AS 1 found a~fterward, the Red Men Of
the Dusk, having broken and scattered
their enemies. surrendered themselves
to the JOY Of plundering those parts Of
the house last reached by the fire.
1t was Enid who ave the signal to
move. With a last, long look at the
grim old house, now O glowing. fiery
blot on the night, II her brothers
funeral pyre, she touched the rein and
Whitesock stepped forward. Half a
dozen strides carried us below the
ridge, and we were alone in the night.
l walked at the mares head, and, for
the first time in her life, Whitesock
marched easily and contentedly with
another thar myself on her back.
You see," said 1, this OF itself Is a
good omen. Whitesock understands"
A sudden nickering and ~whinnying
broke out behind us, and Siani's pony
answered at once.
What Is that ?" asked.
ut Is the gray pony Of my mistress"
answered SLANT. He Is not easy to
catch, but he will follow Berro every
where"
That's lucky" said 1; eve shall be
furnished hen with mounts, and no
more ado. But we'll spend no time
with him nov Let him follow to our
destination, and it will be easy to take
him then"
Within half an hour again, a red
moon came UP and put out the stars,
and we marched swiftly by her ample
light over the dewy grass and by stony
hill-tracks, until Maengwyn was
reached.