Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1905-09-14


few hundred yards between this pit
and myself. Heavens, how wish !
could forget what 1t contains! ! won
der If she had many friends? People
who will start inquiries being made
about her? She didn't look as Ii she
had decent friend in the world. The
hoy being weak in mind is certain not
to be able to give any information
that can lead to his mother being
traced. But, hang it all, I'm fool to
waste time on wondering If they'll try
to trace her or not. What I've got to
decide is where to go now, and how to
get home again and allay Hilda's an
xiety. Poor girl! That word poor
does not represent one hundredth part
of the pity l ought to feel 70 her and
do. How she dotes on her boy! If
she ever learns the truth, heaven help
her.
But she shall not know! She shall
not know! Have l stained my hands
with blood to no purpose? No, indeed
1t shall not be for no purpose! Then
why am / still here within a stones
throw of her dead rival? Why can't
l pull myself together and decide as
to what l shall do? I'll risk all! I'll
Hi"
He was walking quickly now, nois-
ily carelessly. Another five minutes
and he would have reached the road.
But he was walking away from home.
What could he be thinking OF? He
stood still and turned his haggard
face In the direction whence he had
just come. Indecision, vacilotion, ag-
ony, misery-all were written on that
haggard face.
"Confound It," he muttered "Hilda
moment. She is certain to have called
at the Pennant's and ascertained
when I left, and has returned home
by the high road. l begin to feel as
IL l were doomed man. II I could
only get into communication with her
and tell her a number of reassuring
lies. To think that three short hours
ago thought myself an Immediately
honorable man. Now But what's
that noise? Footsteps? Someone
coming? Yes! Which way shall
go? How escape being seen? Hide
here? Yes! Amongst these trees.
My limbs! Why do they shake so?
But already the man had noticed
him. Already he was making straight
towards him Just passing wish to
dart off and run his hardest away
flashed across Sir Georges mind, to
be dismissed the next instant as being
an act of discriminating madness. Each
instant he was growing more sick
eningly limp and cold; each instant
the man was coming nearer and near
er. Quickly, unhesitatingly, he was
walking straight toward Sir George,
as if intent on speaking to him.
And he was intent on so doing,
dillingham; he exclaimed, in a low
voice, when only about ten, feet di-
vided them.
"Halloa, Erskine! What's brought
you up here?" was the reply, spoken
with well-feigned carlessness.
II have been close at hand and In
this wood watching you for hours. I
was near you when you killed that
woman. / have seen ALT"
There followed dead silence for q
few moments, during which Sir George
lost and regained self-command; then,
husllily, TREMENDOUSLY, he stammered:
"You-you-won' inform? You'll
keep it all secret?"
Yes, for the sake of your wife and
child, I'll not hand you over to the
police to be tried and hung. But IL
it were not for Hilda you would have
no mercy at my hands. From the
moment saw you strike the woman
I have been thinking the matter over.
It's fortunate for you that you did not
walk off Immediately after committing
the crime, when was in white heat
of passion with you, and mad not had
an opportunity of cooley debating the
whole matter with myself. If you had,
you would have enjoyed no mercy at
my hands. Now But first tell me
what you have to say for yourself"
Nothing! You heard all that she,
the woman, had come to say?''
(To Be continued.)