Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1904-05-07
CHAPTER XVIII.
SERIGNY'S


The clocks were striking, one after
the other in monotonous initiative
fashion the hour of nine when I de-
livered my horse to n sleepy groom at
the little tavern just outside the Ner-
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
about him, packed in boxes and traV-
cling bags, seemed prepared for in
slant journey. Upon his table q few
disarranged papers were scattered be-
side a leathern portfolio, through
which he had evidently been looking
when l arrived. Without stopping 70
replace any of the documents he has
tened me TO n seat, II 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-
gethCi in such shape they would be
understood. / had hardly begun my
statement hen quick steps sounded
along the outer passage followed by
an almost imperative knock on the
door. Jerome, l thought. So 1t was.
Jerome, despatched and soiled from
his hard ride, a raw bruise across his
cheek, his clothing awry. He was pale
and determined, yet quiet withal.
l instinctively rose and laid my hand
to my hilt. A glance treasured me-.
His purpose, lying deeper, / could not
divine; it was plain though he brood
ed not that kind Of quarrel. Nor do l
to this day know what he intended
when he first entered Serigny's room
that night.
Il rode after you in all haste, Cap
tain"
Indeed you did," I mentally agreed.
And met n fall, which, as you see,
has somewhat disfgured me-" and he
laughed, while l agreed with him
again.
Serigny. being so intent on the i'm
portant transactions of the hour, ac-
cepted his explanation without uues-
ton. The welcome, though cordial,
was brief, Serigny being a ma of no
unnecessary words.
Go on, Captain" and / picked up
the broken thread of my narrative
where jerome had interrupted.
AS l went on ~obedfently, Jerome
would now and again supply some link
wherein my memory failed, or suggest
something l had left unsaid, until hav-
ing so much the nimbler tongue he
took the telling u Of my mouth en-
tirely. | could not complain, for he de-
tailed the various adventures far bet
ter thar l., and gave m more of the
credit than l would have claimed for
myself. We had, by common consent,
forgotten our late strife, and becoming
much interested l broke in upon Il
glowing accoun of my heroism:
Hold, Jerome, by my faith, you
~ 49, pa rt,,l,,,. 49,. a. -.
Of the barriers; tell but a plain,
straight tale, and leave off all that ro-
mantle garniture of thine" and thence
l 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.
l rather hesitated to produce them.
-dreading what the hot-headed fellow
might do to get a hold upon that which
peradventure would cause trouble 10
his lady love. | could not decline when
Serigny asked for them, but hauled out
both packets, one taken from Ward,
the other from BrousSard, casting
them upon the table. Jerome eyed
them so that l knew from the look his
late fury was not yet dead, and l
watched him in readiness for any move
he might make to repossess them.
He sat as unconcerned as IL the
'AOa "AA"iA hlll lIO luTlIlsl,
now that the main object Of his solicit
tude was safe in the keeping of his SUI
perior. l "misdoubted whether this
was not all a sham, and 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 Easy reach of his hand.
Once he reached out and took 1t I'D
n~egligently, inspected the seals and
marks, then replaced 1t. His examina-
ton seemed n of mere idle curiosity,
or would have so appeared had l not
known that he was already perfectly
acquainted with every mark borne by
our charge. The eyes, half closed In
dreamy contemplation, spoke appar-
emily OF q man who has been relieved
OF some grave responsibility and en-
joys the relaxation, yet, for all of that,
was listening most intently 10 what
Serigny and l were talking of. Serigny
was now fondling the instruments
which We're to be the restoration OF his
WI n his brothers influence. His
words were addressed to neither of us
in particular.
Here Is the seal of Spain. Celle-
mare again& Egad! They are bold,
or must have great confidence In their
emlssalies, Here, too, is Madame, All,