Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1904-06-23

cause thought could get rid of yo,
once and for all. Perhaps that will
teach you what kind of game am
playing; perhaps that will show you
that can fight, toe"
| Very well; we'll see who wins" he
| said, with grim laugh; I'm not sure
| that / don't like you better than ever
for this; If you'd caved in I mightnt
| have thought you were worth winning
! back. see we understand each other;
it'll have to be a fight to finish"
He put leg over the window-sill,
| glanced back into the room at her for
| a moment. and then dropped over and
was gone. She laughed little uneast
ly, then slipped across the room, closed
the window and fastened it.
Owen Jaggard, with her threats and
her scorn of him ranking in his breast
turned his back on the house for the
last time, as he told himself, and made
his way straight down through the
woods to the gypsy camp. In that mo-
! ment there was probably more deter
mination in him than there had ever
been before.
I'll beggar her; I'll let her see she
has some one to reckon with she has
not yet understood. I'll declare who
she is: FL put this other girl in her
rightful pace. Perhaps then, Joyce
Bland" he added. turning and shaking
fist in the direction of the house
perhaps then you'll come creeping
back to me to beg that I'll take you to
added dejectedly, and in quite another
tone-"I suppose then l shall do SO,
and be glad of the chance"
He made his way straight into the
camp, and came face to face with Neal
Ormany, the elder gypsy, who looked
at him inquiringly and seemed for a
moment to bar his way.
You have an old man here-a tall
old man. named Enoch Flame-he has
girl with him." said Owen Jaggard
suppressing his excitement with an ef
fort.
"Well, what of it?" was the surly re.
ply.
II want to see him now. at once"
cried Jaggard. Cant you see for your
self it's matter of moments; can't
you understand it may mean some,
thing of life and death? Where is the
MANI"
At the sound of the raised voices
Enoch Flame himself had come strid'
ing in through the trees; the flap OF
the tent had been lifted and the two
women-the young and the old-had
come out also. In the midst of that
curious group old Enoch Flame faced
Owen Jaggard and waited for him to
speak.
when met you before, Mr.. Flame
said Owen, speaking in a suppressed
voice, and yet loud enough for them all
to hear, Il told you I did not know
which side would take, which woman
would cast my vote for. Flame
he stretched out his hand to him sud.
denly-'I play the straight game. The
woman up Ut the house is no more
Grace Yarwood thar you are; the girl
who is with you in this camp is the
Grace Yarwood that's wanted. and
can prove it. I'm with you heart and
SOUL"
Another figure joined the group,
coming slowly and timidly among
them. 1t was Grace. She looked won.
deringly from one to the other. and
seemed to ask question with her
eyes, Old Flame put an arm about her
and drew her close to him.
My DEAR" he said softly, mo more
trouble or anxiety for you. This is our
witness he pointed to Owen Jaggard
"the man who was with this woman
the night she stole your birthright in
Nevada. He can prove it; he means to
do the square thing. The fortune Is
yours; the one witness we wanted is
found"
Grace stepped forward a pace and
held out her hand to Jaggard. He did
not seem to notice it. From the bot
tom Of my heart thank YOU" she
said. She looked back, as 1t seemed
into the depth of the wood from which
she had come; there was strange
light in her eyes. 1T is all so wonder.
full" she said, softly. II never wanted
my fortune so much as I want 1t to-
day, and it has all come to me in Q
moment"
Ito Be continued.)