The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1904-05-06
CHAPTER XVIII.


The clocks We're striking, n after
the other in monotonous initiative
fashion, the hou of nine when l de-
liVered my horse to a sleepy groom AT
the little tavern just outside the Yer
saliles gate.
Serigny was already in his rooms.
intent on some business. and opened
his door himself. There was no need
for concealing his qualification and the
intense Impotence he felt to know re-
suits, nor did he make any attempt at
concealment. On the contrary. he WAS
as urgent as a school child. Everything
o him, packed in boxes and tray-
cling bags. seemed prepared for in
slant journey. Upon his table a few
d~isarransed papers We're scattered be-
side a leathern portfolio. through
which he had evidently been looking
when I arrived. Without stopping to
replace any of the documents he has
tened me to a seat, n drawing his
chair close, commanded me to begin.
My coming had been so sudden | had
given no consideration to the nature
of my report to Serigny, and found
some difficulty in gathering ideas to-
gether in such shane they would be
understood. l had hardly begun my
statement When quick steps sounded
along the outer passage followed by
an almost imperative knock on the
door. Jerome, I thought. So 1t was.
Jerome, despatched and soiled from
his hard ride, q raw bruise across his
cheek. his clothing awry. He was pale
n determined. yet quiet withal.
l fnstinctively rose and laid. my hand
to my hilt. A glance treasured me.
His purpose. lying deeper. 1 could not
divine: 1t was plain though he brood
ed not that kin of quarrel. Nor do 1
to this day know what he intended
when he first entered Serigny's room
hat night.
II rode after you in all haste. Can
tain"
Indeed o did" I mentally agreed.
And met q fall, which, as you see,
has somewhat disfigured me- and he
laughed, while l agreed with him
again.
serigny, being so intent on the i'm
poreant transactions Of the hour, ac-
cepted his explanation without uues-
ton. The welcome, though cordial,
was brief, Serigny being a man of no
unnecessary words.
Go on, Captain" and 1 picked up
the broker thread of my narrative
where Jerome had interrupted.
AS I went on obediently, Jerome
would now and again supply some link
wherein my memory failed, or suggest
something 1 had left unsaid, until hav-
ing SO much the nimbler tongue he
took the telling out Of my mouth en-
tirely. I could not complain. for he de-
tailed the various adventures far bet
ter han l., and gave me more of the
credit than l would have claimed for
myself. We had, by common consent,
forgotten our late strife, and becoming
much interested I broke in upon q
glowing account Of my heroism:
Hold, Jerome, by my faith. you
grow more garrulous than a fish wife
of the barriers; tell but a plain.
Sf,~o ioh fo1n n nd ~ ,,1 ~re IN H.
mantle garniture Of thine" and thence
! reclaimed my struggling story and
brought it to a conclusion. All this
while the dispatches for which we had
risked so much lay safe in my breast.
I rather hesitated to produce them.
dreading what h hot-headed fellow
might do to get a hold upon that which
his lady love. I could not decline when
Serigny asked for them, but hauled out
both packets. taken from Ward.
the other from Broussard, casting
them upon the table. Jerome eyed
them so that I knew from the look his
late fury was not yet dead, and 1
watched him In readiness for any move
ne might make to repossess them.
He sat as unconcerned as If the
whole affair interested him no further.
now that the main object Of his solicit
tude was safe m the keeping Of his SUI
perior. l mlsdoubted whether this
was not all a sham, n could hardly
believe him the same frenzied Jerome
who had pleaded so hard, and fought
so desperately for this self same
packet OF wards, which at this time
reposed within "a reach of his hand.
Once he reached out and took it up
-negligently. inspected the seals and
marks, then replaced it. His examina-