The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1904-05-06
CHAPTER XVIII.
SERIGNY'S

~ NNit ST. ihlliS, one tllti
the other in mOnotonouS initiative
fashion,, the hour of nine when / de-
lVered my horse to a sleepy groom at
the little tavern just outside the Yer
SalileS gate.
Seri$ny was already in his rooms.
intent on some business, and opened
mis- door himself. There was no need
for concealing his qualification and the
intense lmpatience he felt to know re-
suits, nor did he make any attempt at
concealment On the contrary, he WIS
as urgent as 4 school child. Everything
about him.. packed III boxes and trav-
cling bags, seemed prepared for in
slant journey. Upon his table a few
dlSafftnged papers were scattered be-
Slue Il leathern portfolio, through
winch he had eVcidently been looking
when | arrived. Without stopping to
replace II of the documents he has
tened me to Il seat. and drawing his
chalr close, commanded me to begin.
MY coming had been so sudden had
given no consideration to the nature
OF my report to SeIigny, and found
some difficulty in gathering ideas to-
Sether in such shape they you'd be
understood. | had hardly begun my
statement when quick steps sounded
along the outer passage followed nv
an almost Imperative knock on the
door. jerome, l thought. SO it was.
Jerome, despatched and soiled from
ms nard ride, a raw bruise across his
cheek' MS clothing awry. He was pale
and determined, yet quiet withal.
lnstlnctively rose and laid my hand
TO my hit. A glance treasured me.
His purpose, lying deeper, l could NOT
divine; it was plain though he brood
ed not that kind of quarrel. Nor do I
TO this day know what he Intended
WAen he first entered Serigny's room
that night.
Il rode after YOU in all haste, Cap
tain"
Indeed You did" l mentally agreed
And met a fall, which, as you see.
has somewhat d~istigured me-" and he
laughed, While l agreed with him
again.
Serigny, being SO intent on the i'm
portal't transactions of the hour, &C
cepted ms explanation without ques-
1lon. The welcome, though cordial
was brief, Serigny being a man of no
unnecessary words.
60 on, Captain" and I picked up
the broken thread of my narrative
where jerome had interrupted.
AS went on obediently, Jerome
would now and again supply some link
wherein my memory failed, or suggest
something had left unsaid, until hay
ing SO much the nimbler tongue he
loGt the telling out of my mouth en-
tlrely. could not complain, for he de-
tailed the various adventures far bet
ter IMAM l., II gave ms more of the
cfeolt than would have claimed for
myself. We had, by ommon consent.
forgotten our late strife, and becoming
much interested L broke in upon .
ioWin account of my heroism:
HOLD, Jerome, by my faith, You
grow more garrulous than a fish vito
of the barriers; tell but a plain
straight tale, and leave off all thai rol
mantle pl TniiIr1,n Of .,Ii,n.,, -
| reclaimed my Struggling story ana
brought it to Il conclusion. All mis-
while the dispatches for which we had
rlsked SO much lay safe in nv breast.
L rather hesitated to produce them.
what the hot-headed fellow
might 40 TO get q hold upon that which
petadVenture would cause trouble in
his lady love. l could not decline whan
Seligny asked for them, but hauled out
both packets, one taken from Yvard
the other from Broussard, casting
them upon the table. Jerome cyed
them SO that knew from the look his
late Jury was not yet dead, and
matcnea MN IN readiness for any move
he might make to repossess them.
He sat as unconcerned as if the
whole affair interested him no further.
that the main object OF his solicit,
was safe in the keeping Of his su-
peflor. misdoubted whether this
a. III d Slam, and could hardly
believe him the same frenzied jerome
who had pleaded SO hard, and fought
SO desperately for this self same
Jacket of Wards, which at this time
reposed within easy reach of his hand s
once he reached out and took it up
legligently, inspected the seals and
marks, n replaced it. His examine !
seemed one of mere idle curiosity,
II would have so appeared had not t
that he was already perfectly {
with every mark borne bv
,ur charge. The eyes, half closed in :
'feamy contemplation, spoke appar-
my OF a man who has been relieved S
II some grave responsibility and en- '
oys the relaxation, yet, for all of that. q
.e was listening most %intently to what /
and We're talking of. Sarignv v
vas now fondling the Instrument t
;hlch We're to be the restoration of his a
and his brothers influence. His il
fords We're addressed to neither of us v
n particular. Z
Here is the seal of Spain. Celle- a
lare again, Egad! They are bold C
: must have great confidence in their n
Here. too. is Madame. All. p