Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1905-03-09

40 not ike MIN SO muCn az 10
desire to see him the husband of this
beautiful heiress."
"You were very near seeing him be-
come her husband. What If the cour-
age, or despair, or whatever prompted
Helen Beauclair to swallow the pellet,
had failed her before the altar?"
'The marriage should not have gone
on. l could and would have prevented
it. told you so, my lord"
eyes, you did. And now tell me how
you could have prevented the mar
riage?" asked Lord Genlis.
Sosia only shrugged his shoulders in
reply.
1T does not matter now" said Lord
Genlis. Hold out your hands"
You really mean to bind me, and to
give ME into the hands of Neil Bash
fort to be strangled!"
Hold out your hands, or this wom-
an, who has thrice your strength, shall
seize you
On hearing this threat Martha be-
gan to tremble. She dreaded the anger
of her lord, but she felt that she would
rather grasp coiled serpent than be-
gin struggle with zeno Sosia.
"My lord.' pleaded Sosia, you may
Stay me, or your henchman, Bashfort,
may strangle me--yet take care. Muir
der Is dread crime. 1t always cries
for vengeance. Remember the four
sailors who are not far off, and who
accompanied us hither."
81 have remembered them" began
Lord Genlis. grimly: but as he spoke a
shrill and distinct whistle greeted the
ears of all in the room
ut is Neil Bashfort's whistle"
thought Martha. One may hear it at
miles distance at times. 1t, sounds
as if he were far away-perhaps on
the platform of the cliff-the window
is in that direction. At what devilish
work is he? MY lords eyes sparkle
as with some devilish joy!"
"Listen!" said Lord Genlis. the in
slant the sound of the distant whistle
"Ope,"
There was dead silence in the
apartment for long moment. and
then the distant whistle was heard
again.
Two said Lord Genlis. his hand
still raised to command perfect 81
lence
All gazed at him wonderingiY. for
his swarthy features seemed to glow
with the exultant sparkle of his eyes.
Devils work is being done!" NUT
tered Martha in her shawl.
"There!" said Lord Genlis, as the
whistle was heard for the third time.
Then a long pause, much longer
than any that had taken place between
the other whistled signals.
"Patience!" said Lord Genlis. though
his brow began to lower.
At last the whistle for the fourth
and last time.
"Four!" exclaimed Lord Genlis
ala, Neil Bashfort is worth his weight
in gold. Sosia, have remembered the
four sailors. They are only to be for
gotten now, for they are as you soon
snail De-QeaQ
"Dead!' exclaimed Cant. Osred,
more amazed than shocked.
AYE! Would you have four to bear
witness against us if we could not bend
her TO our will?' demanded Lord Gen.
lis, with nod toward Helen, who
could only comprehend that something
terrible had Just been done not far
away, though, as she had no knowl-
edge of the recent presence of the four
sailors. she could not understand much
of what had passed.
Great heaven!" she thought, who
are these fearful men into whose pow
ser have fallen?"
Aye" muttered Martha, shudder-
ing. II knew twas some fearful work
Neil Bashfort done at cur masters
bidding!'
Dead the four sailors who came
with us-they are dead ?" asked Sosia,
his voice shrill and husky.
Aye, they are dead land the man
who made them SO will soon be here
to take charge of Zeno Sosiawh
will be a wizard indeed if he escapes
from Aranmore to prate ,of what he
did for the Osreds Of Genlis," replied
Lord Genlis. n
may, then it is time for me to be
Comet exclaimed Sosia, suddenly
drawing what appeared to be a pistol
from his portmanteau, and brandishing
it over his head and about him in
every direction, and with marvellous
Quickness.
Volumes Of green and red flames
and .sisssoly black smoke. Kissed and
fnmed from Sosia's strange weapon
and In an instant the whole space
about him was mass Of smoke inn
Ipenatrable to the eye; and in an In,
lcredibly short time every quarter Of
lsthe large apartment WIS filled with
this smoky vapor, amid which nothing
could be seen distinctly and the odol
ofs which rapidly produced q feeling d
Igreat exhaustion and an uncomfortable
desire to lie down.
Az the moment when Sosia snatched
his bands from the portmanteau, Lord
1 Genlis and Capt. Osrea detecting III
Intantly the shape Of i large cavalry