Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1904-07-28

much as others had suffered by Ii. but
I'm the case OF Alice, Hamilton's min
gled resentment and admiration were
but q powerful irritant to the coarsest
and most dangerous side of his nature
After some fumbling and delay he
fitted the key with steady hand and
moved the wooden bolt. creaking and
jolting. from its slot. Then fiinging the
clumsy door wide open, he stepped in.
Alice started when she recognized the
midnight intruder, and a second deep
er look into his countenance made her
brave heart recoil, while with sink
ing sensation her breath almost stop
ped. 1t was but a momentary weak
ness, however. followed by vigorous
reaction.
what are you here for, sirT" she
demanded. What do you wantT
81 am neither burglar nor a muir
derer, mademoiselle," he responded,
lifting his hat and bowling, with
smile not in the least reassuring.
You look like both. Stop where
you arer'
Not so loud, my dear Miss Roussil-
lon. I am not deaf, and, besides, the
garrison needs to Sleep"
stop, sir; not another stepr'
She poised herself, leaning slightly
backward, and held the iron ball In her
right hand ready to throw 1t at him.
He halted still smiling villainously.
"Mademoiselle, / assure you that
your excitement is quite unnecessary.
/ am not here to harm you"
You cannot harm me, you cowardly
wretchr'
"Humph! Pride goes before a fall
wench," he retorted, taking a half step
backward. Then a thought arose in
his mind which added a new shade to
the repellent darkness OF his counte-
nance.
"Afiss Roussillon." he said I'm Eng
lish and with a changed voice, which
seemed to grow harder, each word de-
lfberately emphasized, "I have come to
break some bad news to you"
"You would scarcely bring me good
news, sir, and am not curious to hear
the bad"
He was silent for a little while. gaz-
ing at her with the sort OF admiration
from which a true woman draws away
appalled,. He saw how she loathed
him, saw how impossible 1t was for
him to get line nearer to her by any
turn of force or fortune. Brave, high
headed, strong as a young leopard,
pure and sweet as a rose she stood be-
fore him fearless even aggressive,
showing him by every line Of her face
and form that she felt her infinite SUI
periority and meant 10 maintain 1t.
Her whole personal expression told
him he was defeated, therefore he
quickly seized upon a suggestion
caught from a transaction with Long
Hair, who had returned a few hours
before from his pursuit OF Beverley.
''It pains me. assure you, Miss
Roussillon. to tell you what will prob
ably grieve you deeply" he presently
added; "but / have not been unaware
OF your tender interest in Lieutenant
Beverley, and when l had bad news
fsom him I thought II my duty to In
form you"
He paused, feeling with n DEVILS sat
isfaction the point Of his statement 10
home to the girls heart
"The Indian, Long Hair, whom sent
upon Lieutenant Beverley's trail, re-
ported to me this afternoon that his |
pursuit had been quite successful He
caught his game"
Alice's voice came to her now. She |
drew In quivcring breath OF relief.
Then he Is here-he is You have |
him prisoner againr
"A part of him. Miss Roussilion.
Enough to be quite sure that there Is |
one traitor who will trouble his king /
no more Mr.. Long Hair brought I'm
the lieutenant's scalp"
Alice received this horrible statement |
In silence, but her face blanched and
she stood as II frozen by the shock.
The shifty moon glimmer and the vel.
low glow Of the lamp showed Hamil-
ton to what nm extent his devilish cru
city hurt her. and somehow Il chilled
him as IL by reflection, but he could
not forego another thrust
He deserved hanging, and would
have got II had he been brought to me
alive. SO. after all. you should be sat
isfied. He escaped my vengeance and
Long Hair got his pay. You see, am
the chief sufferer"
These words, however, fell without
effect upon the girls ears, I'm which
was booming the awful, stormlike roar
OF her excitement. She did not see
her prosecutor standing there. Her
vision. unhindered by walls and dis
hlnce. went straight away to a place
IN the wilderness where, all mangled
and disfgured. Beverley lay dead. A
low cry broke from her lips She
dropped the heavy swivel balls. and
then, like a bird. swiftly. with a rus.
Ting swoop, she went past Hamilton
and down the stair.
For perhaps O full minute the man
stood there motionless, stupefled,
amazed. and when Mt length he recoy-
cred himself II was with difficulty that
he followed her. Everything seemed
to hinder him. When he reached the
open mir, however, he quickly regained
his activity OF both mind and body
and looked In all directions The
clouds were breaking into parallel
masses with streaks of sky between.
The moon hanging aslant against the
blue pcepcd forth just In time TO show
him flying figure which, even while
hc looked. reached the postcrn. opened
II and slipped through.
With but brenth OF hesitation be-
tween giving the alarm and following
Alice silently and alone he chose the
latter. He was swift runner and light
footed. With n few bounds hc reached
the little gate. which was still oscillat-
Ing on its hinges. dartcd through and
away. strnining every muscle In des-
perntc pursuit. gaining rapidly In the
race, which bore eastward along the
course twice before chosen by Alice In
leaving the stockadc.