The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1905-04-14
CHAPTER III.
IN WHICH MY ENEMY SCORES

FIRST.
True to his promise, Richard Jenni-
fer met in the cool gray birthlght OF
the new day at a turn in the river road
not above a mile or two from the re-
devious, and thence we logged on to-
gether.
After the greetings, which. as you
may like to know were gra teful enough
on my part, | would fain inquire how
the baronet had taken his seconds de-
lection; but of this Jennifer would say
little. He had broken with his prin-
cipal, whether in anger or not | could
only guess: and one of Falconnet's
brother officers that younger one of
the twain who had cried shame at the
baronet's vile boast, was to serve in his
stead.
1t was such a daydawn as I have
sometimes seen in the Carpathians;
cool and clear, but with that sweet
dewy Wetness in the lower air which
washes the overnight cobwebs from
the BRAIN and is both meat and drink
to one who breathes it. On the left
the road was Overhung by the border
ing forest. and where the branches
dropped lowest We brushed the frag-
rance from the wild grape bloom in
passing. On the right the river. late
in flood. eddied softly; and sounds 9TH
or than the murmurinG Of the waters,
the matin songs of the birds, and the
dust muiied hoof beats of our horses
there We're none. Peace. deep and abid-
ing, was the keynote of natures morn
ing hymn; and in all this sylvan byway
there was naught remindfu of the
fierce interneCine warfare a1ame in all
the countryside. Some rough forging
of this thought I hammered out for
Jennifel as we rode along, and his
laugh was not devoid Of bitterness
old Mother Nature ruffies her feath-
ers little enough for any teapot of
ours" he said. But speaking Of the
cruelties. we provincial savagcs. as my
Lord CORVALLIS calls US have no mo-
nOpoly. The post riders from the south
bring blood-curdling stories of Colonel
Tarlton's doings. It's said he over
took some of Mr.. Lincolns reinforce
ments come too late. They gave bat
tie but fundamentally being all I'M
ready for an enemy, and presently
threw down their arms and begged for
quarter--begged and We're cut down
as they stood
"Faugh." said T. THAT is but hang
mans work. And yet in London I
heard that this same Colonel Tarton
was with Lord Howe in Philadelphia
and was made much of by the ladies'
Jennifer's laugh was neither mirth-
full nor pleasant.
lis weakness Of the SEX" he
scoffed THE women have fondness
for a man with a dash of the brute in
him"
l laughed also, but without bitter
ness.
You say it feelngly. Do you speak
by the book 2"
Aye, that l do. Now here is my lady
Madge preaching peace and all man
ner of patience to me in one breath,
and Ipholding in the next this baronet
captain who, though l would have sec
onded him at a pinch. is but a pat
tern of his brutal colonel"
put two and two together.
$50 Falconnet is on terms at Apple
by Hundred, is he?"
"Oh, surely. Gilbert Stair keeps open
house for any and all of the winning
hand, as l told YOU"
The thought of this unspoled young
maiden having aught to do with such
a thriceaccursed despoiler of women
made my blood boil afresh; and in the
heat of it let my secret slip, or rather
some small part of it,
Sir Francis had ever a sure hand
with the women" l said; and then 1
could have bitten my masterless
tongue.
500" querled Jennifer. Then this
is not your first knowing of him?'
No" So much l said and no more.
We rode on in silence for a little
space, and then my youthling must
needs break out again in fresh be-
seedlings.
Tell me what you know of him, and
what it was he said of Madge,' he en-
treated. You can't deny me now.
Jack"
Il can and shall. 1t matters not to
you or to any what he is or has been"
"Why?"
Because. as God gives me strength
and Skill l shall presently run him
through and SO his account will be
squared once for all with all men-and
all women, as WELL"
God speed you" quoth my loyal al
ly. Il knew not your quarrel With him
was SO bitter"
1T is to the DEATH.
80 it seems. In that case, if by any
accident he
I OWNED what he would say and
broke in upon him.
Continued Next Weekly