Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1904-02-25
CHAPTER XII.
"Better 1 Than You'll"

Inc dagger ne he1d clatLered down
on the oaken floor. He flung out his
arms with hoarse sob. Once more
he clasped her to his heart-once
more mighty love knit soul to soul.
The servants, aroused by the girls
wild cry, had hurried up and stood in
little knot at the further end Of the
hall, trembling with superstitious
dread.
Master Clive!" they whispered.
The officers clustered about in blank
amazement. Baby's inquiring face was
looking out of the breakfast room.
For one moment, before Cynthia's Wis.
ion the place and the people danced in
a black whirl.
Look" Laurie cried suddenly
"look to Lady Darlington
She had staggered to her feet and
was tottering across the room to
where her son stood. She would have
fallen had he not sprung forward and
caught her.
"Mother!" he said, and bent and
kissed her.
She looked up at him feebly, bewil-
deredly. Her face worked convulsive-
ly, but no word came from between
her pale lips. Her head fell heavily
beck on his arm.
Quick" he called in alarm. "She
has fainted!"
He was surrounded in an instant
Willing hands and tender bore her
away. Among the faces bending over
her was Cynthias. She turned to hold
out her hand to Give.
Welcome home!" she whispered,
and vanished with the rest.
No one had thought to close the hall
door. Without the snow had begun
to fall, and the feathery flakes were
whirling In.
Now that the first sharp confusion
was over, Mr.. Stack, accustomed to
exciting scenes, had sufficiently re-
covered himself to proceed with the
official duty assigned to him.
Miss Lisle," he suggested, 81 am
waiting. Are you ready"
The words struck Give likt the
thongs of a whip. He wheeled round
quick as lightning. He flung one arm
about the trembling girl, and out
stretched the other in defiant com
mand.
How dare you?" he cried. keep
back!''
Little Mr.. Stack did nimbly fall back
a pace. He looked up, in meek terror,
at the superb, lofty figure before him.
My duty, sir" he began. "a
You are quite right / respect your
sense Of duty, sir. In this case, how
ever, believe me, you are mistaken as
to its proper fulfillment. You shaft
not arrest her! She is innocent. You
must take met"
your
''Yes--I."
But our warrant is for"
You must have 1t revoked and 9
new one made out. You have no eyi-
dence against her"
I'VE have none against YOU"
i give myself UP to Justice. | can
prove that arrived at Blackcastle be-
AOAS viz 11OOh ACI ~
He stopped and picked up the weap.
on which had fallen from his hand at
sight of Laurie.
a servant had brought great can
delabra and placed it on pedestal.
They gathered around it, quite q
group.
Mr.. Stack took the preferred weap-
on, and holding it full in the light ex.
amined it closely.
"A curious handle Of beaten gold-a
long. slim, shining blade, with dark
blotches staining it at intervals from
point to socket.
"1'he very dagger" he cried-.'the
very dagger with which the deed was
done! The cash was peeuliar-this
blade is peculiar. The very one!''
He passed 1t over to his colleague
and looked up at his self-surrendered
prisoner with alert interest.
9 Give, what are you doing. deal?
What are you saying 2"
But for answer he only bent and
kissed the sweet, anxious face Laurie
lifted to his. v! ..s5.
Hallol" came rough voice from,
down the hall. "ef that amt Give
stuarts How do ye do. mate? how
dye dor
And the Sailor Mr.. Bowers had
brought down to Rlackcastle ran IN
and shook Gives hand In fervent. IL
excruttating friendship.
For one minute the latter looked at
him blankly. Then light broke over
his face.
Why. OF course. O. remember You
now. You were one Of the crew OF the
Dolphin Cicero Stubbs.' I
That It +. the salt cried. ID hearty.
approval why. W. thought you'd
gone to kingdom come! Z e.
No. certainly was not SO fortunate
- You. But . pert e. " Ell. a Hs1If iii.
which had escaped the IRE. was shat
tered from the remainder Ii the gen
eral collapse. and doated II with 1t.
Next day = steAme Amer1ca bound.
picked me up and carried NE tree
pAsasnger tO New York 81 5s sgss
. the other chuc kled, Ia Rleeful8
recoiteE tionI a. sudden thought