The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1905-09-28
The MASTER OF ApPLEBY|
b--- BY Francis Lynde. ---
BY Francis Lynde.
CHAPTER xxxI.-continued.

AsNAhkT G&t
Ras when the strain was of AND
Dick WAS W and fit again, the misery
OF 1t an came back with added goad-
1ngy. / had never dreamed how cut
aing sharp 'twould be to see these two
together day by day; to see her loving,
tender care Of him, and to hear him
babbae OF his love for her in his fever
lisa raporings. Yet all this l must en-
dnre. and with It q thing even harder.
For. TO make 1t worse, If worse could
be. the shadow OF complete e~strange-
Miaat had fallen between MarEery and
1sa. True to her word, given In that
moment when I had besought her not
30 speak aloud for her own safety's
sake, she had never opened her lips to
me; and for aught she said or did /
might nave been a deaf mute slave be-
meath her notice.
And an she drew away from me, she
seemed 10 draw the closer to Richard
IanntssT, nursing him alive when he
was al his worst, and giving him all
tha Syomanly care and sympathy a sick
man longs for. And later, when he was
fit TO ride again. she had him always at
her size in the onward fartng.
Az ] have said before. his was all
as i would nave 1t. Yet it made me
sick An my souls soul; and at times
4 Enurt needs fall behind to rave 1t out
In solitude, cursing the day that l was
born, and that other m~isfortunate day
when I had reared the barrier impass-
able Between these two.
WHIST wonder, them that, as we
neared The fighting field Of the great
war, I grew more set Upon Selling the
first nance that might offer an honor
able escape from all these heartburn
1ngs? Twas a weakness, If you
choose; I set down here naught the
simple fact, which had by now gone as
Tar beyond excusings as the underly-
ing cause of it was beyond forgiveness.
Twas on the final day, the day when
we were riding tantivy to reach
Qs1eensborough by evening, that my
delaverance came. l say deliverance
beencSs at the moment it had the look
Of a short shrift and a ready halter.
We had crossed our own Catawba
and we're putting our horses at the
steep bank on the outcoming side, when
my saddle slipped. D~ismounting to
tighten the girth, I called to the others
to press on, saying I should overtake
them shortly.
The promise was never kept. T
scarce had by head under the saddle
Hap before a couple of stout knaves in
honnespnn, appearing from I know not
where, had me fast gripped by the
arms, whilst a third made sure of the
horse.
"a dispatch rider" said the bigger of
the two who pinioned me. Search him,
Martin, lad, whilst I hold him; then
Wen pay him out for Tarleton's hang
ing OF poor Sandy M'Guire."
I held my peace and let them search,
taking the threat for a bit of soldier
b~uilyTaggtng meant to keep me quiet.
But when they had turned the pockets
OF my borrowed coat inside out and
ripped the lining and made it otherwise
NJ 1-.Nnl, - - A ,,1r~ ~ So III
handling as 1t was for wear, the third
man fetched a rope.
Did o mean that, friend?-about
the hanging" | asked, wondering If
this should be my loophole of escape
from the life grown hateful.
Sure enough" said the big man,
cooiiy- You'd best be saying your
prayers"
] laughed. Were you wearing my
coat and / yours. you might hang me
and welcome: In truth, you may as it
is. Which tree will you have me at 2"
The man stared at me as one de-
mentea. Then he burst out in a outlaw.
'Ioanlne. II you bean't a cool plucked
onei Fye a mind to take you to the
%colonel."
Don't dc 1t, my friend. Though I
am something loath to be snuffed out
by abe men Of my W side, we need
not haggle yer the niceties. Point out
You tree
mo. By God! you're too willing.
What's at the back OF all this?"
Nothing, a v a decent reluctance to
spofl you sport. Have at it, man, and
let's be done with it"
No II o beg me on your knees.
You'll go to the colonel, I say, and he
may hang you II he sees fit. You must
be n mast 6amnable villain to want to
die by the first rope you lay eyes on"
I'll Wit nd i,- &. tt m ". ho WTI1 TO- ~ :,
coIoneTy~
Nay, rather, who are you?"
I gave my nam and circumstance
and WRs loosed of the grip,
though the third man dropped the cord
and stepped back to hold me covered
with hSs rifle.
An greton. you say? Not little Jock,
surely"
"No. big Jock; big enough to lay you
ON ySsar back, though you do have a
hand as thick as a ham,"
He ignored the challenge and stuck
TO his text II never thought to see
the SON OF old Mad-bull Roger wear
ing a red coat" he said.
That is nothing. Many as good a
Wing Al I am has been forced to wear
a red coat ere this. or go barebacked.
H-hy don't you mot the halter? In
Cornsrsyyn Justice YOU should either hang
me ar feed me-. IT'S hard upon noon,
ana 1 breakraSteQ early.
Fall inl' said the big man; and SO
! WA marched quickly aside from the
anaf into the densarathicketing of
the wood Here my captofs blind
folded me. and after spinning me
around to make me lose the compass
points. hurried me away to their en-
~ca1nprnent which was inland from the
streasn~ though not far. for I could still
hear The distance unfinished splashing
OF the water
When the kerchief was pulled from
ms syesT was standing in the midst Of
a mounted riflemen's alt-camp, face to
face with a U officer wearing the
Uniform OF the colonelcy In the North
EagEssaa home troops. He was a hand
some EyrIg fellow, with curling hair
ard trim sfde-whiskers to frame a face
fisfe-lirsRG ard eager-tle face of a gem
Herman wef1-born and Well bred.
Captain Ireton?" he said; by which
/ guessed that one of my e%apturers had
run on afead to make report.
The sarTle, Z / replied.
Ard Egu are the son of MI. Jus
tice Roger Ireton, Of Appleby Hun
dned q
= have that honor
He gave me his hand mostgcordially.
YOu are very welcome, Capfafn:
Davleh rs my name. i trust we mayd5
come 10 Know each other better. yo,