Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1904-03-19
CHAPTER XI.
THE DAWN AND THE DUSK.

THE DAWN AND THE DUSK.
Gradually, so gradually the change
could hardly be observed, the inner
grating of the window became visible;
the Chinks between the edges of the
stones assumed distinctness. A ghost
~ blOtCh grew into Il fact upon the
floor. a leaden hue, less black than the
pulsing sea of ink about it, spread and
spread, lighter n lighter, until it in
Vaded the dim recesseS where / stood.
My hand became ono more Il tangible
possession, unreal and grim, yet all my
own. The opposite wall doomed up, my
utmost frontier Of the domain of GER
tainty. DINNER. darker, more obscure,
the door, a vast UNEMPLOYED aver
gathered to itself the hobgoblins OF evil
and gave them shelter. As still as the
creeping on OF day we two men stood,
glaring at ach other and watched 1T
come.
Exactly when l began to see him I
could not say. Every impulse and vital
force of nature centered in my eyes,
and they fastened themselves upon
that one Irregular shadow in the OPP
c2sinS corner which slowly-oh! with
" a~gonizing slowness-assumed the
outlines of a My fascinated gaze
Wandere not nor wearied. When in
the moist light of the morning / clear
ly saw Broussard, haggard, pale and
submerged, watching me thirty feet
away, 1t seemed that l had seen him
all the night.
No detail of his dress or manner but
/ observed. There was n scar across
his forehead, fresh and bleeding a bit.
A confusion rather. He had probably
struck the dOor-faCing as he rushed in.
Yes, it bled. A few drops had trickled
down his nose; there hung one, quite
dry, from his brow. Precisely beneath
this there were some dozen or so upon
the floor. All could nave been COW
cred by my hand. Like myself Brous-
sard had not moved throughout that
awful night. God, how I pitied him.
With such a weight of treason on his
soul. And yet, looking back, the night
was less awful than the coming day,
far more merciful than the hideous
night which followed 1t. With the sun
Broussard heartened up, and first
broke the silence.
Who are you comrade, and what do
you here?"
was at a loss for reply. 1 had no
faith in him, yet even a rotten stick
might serve to get me out.
Il am trapped like yourself, and
feared you all the night. God in heaven
what a long night it was"
Broussard had no words, his con-
vulsive shudder expressed more than
mine.
DO you know how to get out OF
here?" | asked.
Not l, except by the door, or the
window" looking at that.
I'll try the door," he continued,
smiling the treaCherouS smile Of the
tiger. l remembered so well the first
day he showed his teeth aboard ship.
The man we'll knew l recognized him,
he had heard me speak his name, and
l feared If he found the door open he
would shut me up again, and escape.
I'll test the door softly and see what
is outside and he moved as if 10 put
his thought in action.
Hold on, not yet; methinks I'll try
that door myself" l could see he had
the same idea which had occurred to
me. for he demurred.
No, my fine sir; why you and
not II"
Because I know you, sir, and fear to
trust YOU"
Verify, you have honorable inten-
tons yourself to suspect me so read
ily." He was bent on engaging me in
conversation, so he might perhaps
recognize me from my voice. The
mask still hid my features, and the
entire difference in my mode of dress
made recognition almost impossible.
The puzzled expression of a half recol-
lection still rested on his face as l con-
tinued:
Il do not merely suspect you, l know
you for a traitor-nay do not clap your
hand upon your sword until / have
finished. You have now in your pos
session certain traitorous dispatches
which were given you by one Carne
Ward in exchange for others which
you brought over with you in a vessel
called lie Dauphin. All, you begin to
pale and shrink, and well you may"
You lie!" he shrieked, convincing
me 1 had, made a home thrust.
Softly, softly, have a care, lest you
call the marshal's bloodhounds down
upon us. The dispatches with the
such care from Biloxi, have been taken
from Ward, n are now in safe keep
ing for the king. The lie. an. well. I'll
pardon that for the while. You cam
not leave here, and l have ample time
for avenging my honor after / have
had the pleasure OF your delightful
conversation"
He leaned morosely against the wall,
staring at me-, as I went on.
Now listen 10 mt quietly, You have
those dispatches upon your person. l
want them, and by all the gods l will
have them. If l have to kill you for
them, then so much the worse for you.
Now listen. Give me those dispatches.
will then get out of here together,
and once outside, I will give you full
four n twenty hours. That time
elapsed, I will turn the dispatches over
to the authorities. If you can escape
with your miserable life so be It. Do
you agree?"
Il have no dispatches" he sulienly
replied, land who are you to dare
charge me with treason?"
There was no ring of resentment in
his tones, though he strove manfully
to stimulate offended and indignant in
nocence. 1t was necessary to keep him
in ignorance for a while, because 1
feared he might set upon me, and be-
ing really an excellent swordsman, the
issue Of conflict would be doubtful. But
the weightier reason lay In the fact
that the clash of steel might draw
down upon us the occupants of the
house. Here I was in a much worse
plight than he, though he knew it not.