Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1905-06-15
CHAPTER XVIII.

| - linen IKE HSDInlng MS SWORD
| glittered in his hand, but Mount, be
hind him, tore the timber blade from
his grip and flung 1t ringing at my
feet. Now, weaponless and alone, But
Ter stood confronting US, his blank
eyes travelling from one to another. his
thin lips twitching In an ever deepen
ing sneer. Nor did the sneer leave his
| face when Mount slammed and locked
| the door behind him and unsheathed
his broad hunting knife
Something is dreadfully wrong. gen
tlemen," quavered poor Cade Renarl,
This is Captain Butler, my daugh-
ter's affianced. pray you follow no
ancient quarrel under my roof, gentle
| men"
Mount quietly drew the little old
man aside to the door and led him out,
saying tenderly: "All Is well, old
| friend. You have forgotten much In
these long days"
| Suddenly Butler turned on Silver
Heels, his darkening face distorted.
You have played the game well!'
he whispered between his teeth.
"What gamer asked, with deadly
calmness. Pray say what you have to
say at once, Mr. Butler
Again hts evil gaze shifted from face
to face. There was no mercy in the
eyes that met his His visage grew
loose and pallid.
''That she devil swore to wed mel
he broke out hoarsely, pointing shak-
ing finger full at Silver Heels. "She-
swore itv' His voice sank to hiss.
ITO save my father from highway
mans deathv said Silver Heels.
She turned to me, quivering. mi
chasl. am a thiefs daughter This Is
what am come toto buy my fathers
life with my own body and fling my
soul at that mans feet. Now will you
wed meT
A cold fury blinded me SO l could
scarcely see him. l cooked my rifle
and drew my hand across my eyes.
This Is not your quarrel" he said
desperately. This woman is the
daughter Of Cade Renard, notorious
highwayman known as the Weasel. I
doubt that Sir Michael Cardigan-for
your uncle Is dead. whether you know
II or not-wouId care to claim kinship
In this house"
He turned like snake and measured
Mount from head to foot.
'Give me my sword" he said harsh
ly, ''and will answer for myself
against this other THEIR His glazing
eyes fell on Foxcroft.
What the devil are you doing here?'
he snarled- Are you knave or fool
that you stand there listening to this
threat on my lifef You know that this
woman is Renard's child. You have
Sir Johns papers to prove 1t. Are you
not his attorney, man? Then tell these
gentlemen that speak the truth and
that will meet them both singly and
carve 1t on their bodies lest they for
get ity'
att Is too late" I said "a gentle
mans sword can never again be soiled
by those hands,"
AYE" cried Foxcroft suddenly, sit
IL too late. You say hav asoapers to
prove the truth? have, and you shall
hear the truth. you cursed scoundrel!'
"She Is the Weasel's childr' cried
Butler hoarsely.
'Tf she were the child Of Tom O. Bed
lam she is still betrothed to me-" I
said.
And laid my hand on his arm and
asked him il he was minded to die
quietly in the garden, while Mount,
knife at his throat, pushed him toward
the door.
do you mean it?~ he burst out,
shuddering. Am I not to have a
chance for life7 This Is murder, Mr..
Cardigan
80 dealt you by me at the Cayuga
stake" said I.
Yeti Is murder you do. II my
| hands are not clean, would you foul
your ownY'
80 dealt you by me In Queen street
| prison." said slowly.
yet, nevertheless, It II murder. and
| you know 1t. Are the Cardigans the
public hangmenr'
| ~Cive him his swordr cried pas
! sionately. II cannot breathe while be
draws breath! Give him his sword
or win slay him with naked handsr'
"Noy' roared Foxcroft hurting me
back.
Butler scowled at the lawyer; Fox
croft scowled AZ him and placed his
heavy shoe on the fallen sword Then
he suddenly stopped. seized the gihted
hilt and snapped the blade In two
casting The fragments from him n
| contempt.
| sThe sword Of scoundrel," he said
'the sword Of petty malefactor q
| pitiful forger'
"Liarr' shrieked Butler. springing Al
him. Mount hung the maddened mar
into chair. where he lay. white and
painting. staring at Foxcroft, whs
now stood by the table, coolly examin
Ing packet Of documents.
1T - all here" he said 1.-THE stor,
Of two cheap dabblers in petty crime
Sir John johnson and Mr.. Walter But
lor-how they did conspire to stea
t~rs., Me- We p~nx h<v ~voo TN her faf