The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1904-05-06
CHAPTER xviii
.@ER1GNY,s

81
The clocks were striking, one after
che other in monotonous initiative
Fashion, the hour OF nine when / de-
zivered my horse to q sleepy groom at
the little tavern just outside the Yer
Saifies gate.
latent on some business, and opened
his doc himself. There was no need
Tor 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
about him. packed in boxes and tray
cling bags, seemed prepared for ia
tayat Journey. Upon his table q few
ai~tsarranged papers We're scattered be-
side q leathern portfolio, through
which he had evidently been looking
replace any Of the documents he has
1esed me to a scat, and drawing his
rEtsazr close, commanded me to begin.
My coming had been SO sudden I had
given no consideration to the natur
of my report to Serigny, and found
j sethar In such shape they would be
understood. I had hardly begun my
Statement when quick steps sounded
along h outer passage followed by
Kan almost imperative knock ON the
SssoT. Jerome, I thought. So 1t was.
Jerome. despatched and soiled from
dis hard ride, a raw bruise across his
cheek. his clothing awry. He was pale
and determined, yet quiet withal.
L instincuyely rose and laid my hand
fsD nny hIlt. A glance treasured me.
Ills purpose. lying deeper, I could not
divine; 1t was plain though he brood
ed not that kind Of quarrel. Nor do I
TO his day know what he intended
uhen he first entered Serigny's room
that night.
tain"
Indeed you did" 1 mentally agreed.
And met a fall, which, as you see.
ss.as somewhat disfgured me, and he
laughed, while l agreed with him
-again
serigny. being 80 intent on the inn
Dortant transactions Of the hour, ac-
cepted his explanation without ques-
ton. The welcome, though cordial.
was brief. Serigny being a man Of no
unnecessary words.
Go 7. Captain" and I picked up
the broken thread of my narrative
where Jerome had interrupted.
AS I went on obediently. Jerome
would now and again supply some link
s~@osnething J had left unsaid, until hav-
Eng so much the ninbler tongue he
look the telling out Of my mouth en-
tirely. I could not complain. for he de-
tailed the various adventures far bet
TER thar /, and gave me more OF the
credit han l would have claimed for
myself. We had. by common consent,
forgotten our late strife, n becoming
much interested I broke in upon a
glowing account Of my heroism:
Hold, Jerome. by my faith, you
Hruw more garrulous than a fish wife
OF the barriers; tell but a plain,
straight tale. and leave of all that ro-
mantle garniture Of thine" and thence
II reclaimed my struggling story and
brought it to a conclusion. All this
while the dispatches for which we had
4xisked SO much lay safe in my breast.
L rather hesitated to produce them,
threading what the hot-headed fellow
might do to get a hold upon that which
.peradventure would cause trouble to
his lady love. 1 could not decline when
sSerigny asked for them, but hauled out
both packets, one taken from Ward,
the other from Broussard, casting
the upon the table. Jerome eyed
Their SO that I knew from the look his
late fury was not yet dead, and I
watched him in readiness for any o
he might make to repossess them.
He sat as unconcerned as If the
whole affair interested him no further,
now tina the main object of his solicit
areude was safe in the keeping OF his u
t~s,erior. / misdoubted whether this
was not all a sham, and could hardly
believe him the sam 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 up
zs~gligently. inspected the seals and
~..saarlss. tnen replaced 1t. His exanaina-