Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1905-10-05
FALSELY ~ ~
CONDEMNED
Mrs. E. Bagot Harte.
Mrs. E. Bagot Harte.
CHAPTER Iv.-(contInued.,

4. CHAPTER lV.-(continued.)
"Ill be right glad to sit down." he
! murmured to himself. "But it's been
worth many times over the trouble of
| going there. l never counted on get
ting more than a five-pound note-not
as really counted quite on that. And
/ here be with thirty pounds to carry
me along until | wants more. It's a
pity as Margaret Is one of them as
never know which side their bread is
buttered. Why, all along she and her
boy could have lived that comfortable
like! No working, no going hungry,
no troubling about the rent. Days in
and days out there'd been allus
enough and to spare. Well, anyhow,
! It's come to me to enjoy it all in my
old age--and | shall enjoy it. Not
/ that I'll live too extravagant like;
enough to set Jim Blame and Bill Card
ner a-talking and a-wondering where
the money comes from. No; I'll be a
bit cautious-just a decent coat to my
back, plenty of baccy, and three glass
es of beer day. Then, too, I'll get
respectable body to come in and tidy
up Tor Harry and me. And he shall
have all he wants-victuals, clothes,
and all. II Pm took I'll just tell Law
yer Formby wher money for the child's
| keep can be had for asking.
"And as for the poor lass herself?
! Well, she's gone to where it's no easy
thing to follow her, as she didn't give
me so much as the name of the place
and perhaps she's safe back home al
ready--who knows? If she is I'll not
say anything bout the money until
I've let drop few words about Har-
rvs father, casual like, as it will lead
her to speak up and let me see which
way she'd take my having been to see
him. My, what a lovely place he's
got! It's fit for an emperor to live
/ in! Them carpets in the hall shall
never forget EN-.
But shall be glad to get home.
Sitting down afore the fire all day
tomorrow will be more in my line
than going to the Royal Arms. This
bit Of hill takes my breath away to-
night as 1t never did before. Lor'!
there's twelve o'clock striking! I'd
for q minute or two. My! What's
that a-moying along near the hedge?
Something higgish and dark and a.
crawling along all Of heap.
Il don't like the looks of it. That
/ don't!" The old man struggled to
his feet again as he spoke "I'll hurry
along. But how my limbs do ache
and drag! Who'd have believed my
going there'd have knocked me up
like this? oh. there's that thing a.
! moving again. 1t puts me all OF
tremble.
ooh, bless my soul! It's man!
| What's he UP to, not showing himself
like decent folk ought to? Now he's
coming straight toward me. wish a
cart would come along Or"
| Whizz! A bullet had passed close to
Searle. Whizz! another WAS following
Instantly.
Don't, don't; for mercy's sake,
don't!" he cried in weak, piteous
voice. Let me be, and I'll pay yer
| WE'LL he added, halt turning round,
but at the same moment forcing his
weak, rheumatic limbs to carry him
quickly UP the hill.
The cottage was in sight now! Five
minutes more of stumbling along;
them
But before the first of those five
minutes had passed shrill cry rent
the air, and the old man stumbled for
ward, shot through the heart.
Mrs. Brown heard the shots being
fred and opened the window Of the
cottage.
"strange, them sounds" she muir
INJURED. One night'll be enough for
me In this place! OF all the lonesome
spots never saw, its like! If Searle
don't turn up again tomorrow, I'll
my! another shot! and that cry! Lor',
II At isn't enough to freeze the blood
| In ones veins! I'll shut the window
It's the first and the last night I'll
bide in this place. Mrs. Williams as
she calls herself III have to come
back There's that boy a-waking up
now! How / wish this ere night was
over! And It's only gone twelve just
q minute or SO ago. Searle said he'd
be hack about eleven. But there's no
placing any dependence upon mans
promises when he'l get back at night,
as i knows to my cost, 'aying 'ad four
husbands already. I'll be right glad
when daylight comes, and only 'ope
shall live to see it,
Before that yearned-for daylight
came. the dead body Of old Searle
had been found and recognized.
CHAPTER v.
Daylight dawned as the body Of the
murdered man was being removed