Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1905-03-02

chair between him and the screen;
che and his father are noble gentle
men, vino have shared with me in do
ing very daring deed-a deed which
shall place their threats in the hang
mans grasp il they keep not faith
with Zeno Sosia!"
What do you mean by that?" ex-
claimed Lord Genlis, rushing out from
behind the screen, sword in hand, and
livid with wrath.
AYE, traitor!" cried Capt. Osred,
also coming forward at the same in
slant, and cooking a pistol as he
spoke, while his sinisterly handsome
face lowered as dark as night with
some ferocious resolve.
AS the two advanced swiftly toward
Sosia, their mutual rage and murder
ols intention caused their resemblance
to each other, despite the difference in
parent.
Father and son seemed to bristle
out from every feature Of their
swarthy faces as Sosia's threat of the
gallows rang in their ears.
Martha, forseeing tragedy, and not
wishing to behold its enactment, in
stantly muftied her head in her shawl,
and as instantly drew it forth again,
prompted thereto by the passion all
her sex have inherited from Eve-curi.
osity.
Helen beheld in Lord Genlis one
whom she did not know; but as her
glance flashed to the face Of Capt. Os-
red, she exclaimed to herself:
",Ihe man. the sailor whom Clar.
ence struck down with blow in the
face when the rude fellow tried to
drag off my hood!"
But she had scarcely time to frame
the thought ere the apartment rang
with the sharp report of Capt. Osred's
pistol; for as he strobe out quickly
from behind the screen, cooking his
weapon, he exclaimed: "Aye, traitor!
Aye! and now that you have done our
work and speak of hangmen, here's
what shall cheat the gallows and make
us SSGul z. anu liz SpOhC LllO 1cloS
word he discharged his pistol at So
sia's head.
Halt, gentlemen" cried Sosia, both
of whose hands were at the moment
plunged deep into his portmanteau, as
it rested upon the table-the latter
now the only obstacle between him
and the advancing attack. "Is it pos.
sible that you mean to assassinate me
as reward for the service l have
done you? Am I to receive sudden
death instead of the five thousand
pounds which you bound yourselves to
pay me if should place Helen Beau.
clair wholly within your power?"
Lord Genlis and Capt. Osred had
checked their advance toward Sosia as
he began to speak, for his voice seem.
ed to tremble with accents of pitiable
terror, and his whole appearance be-
came suddenly that of cowardly
spaniel about to be whipped.
Both lowered the points of their
swords and gazed at the bent and
trembling man, scornfully and angrily.
as he seemed to crouch and cover over
the portmanteau, in which his hands
remained hidden.
Rascal said Lord Genlis, 1--WE see
that you are very dangerous tool.
While you have been serving US, you
have worked to achieve some purpose
of your own. You have revealed SO
much of your true character in this
room that. even had we not from the
beginning of your completely with our
plot resolved to make sure Of your ST.
lence, we should now make a speedy
end of you"
"Ah, then! even at the time when
you first sought nly service, you had
said to each other, After we shall
have no more need of Eeno Sosia, we
will put an end to him?' asked Sosia,
in quavering tones.
"Great heaven!" here cried Helen:
81 beseech you, sirs, whoever you may
be, do not Stay this wretched man in
my presence"
Ito Be Continued.)