The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1906-01-12
THE MASTER OF APPLEBY|
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
L.-continued.
By Francis Lynd..


CHAPTER L.-Continued.
Yet twice in his stamping PUSHES
found my opening; once the Ferara's
point passed HIS blade, and but for the
ringed guard of the German long
sword that stopped it when his parry
failed, the steel would have passed
through him. After this he crew war
Ter, having In mind, as l supposed. that
other time when 1 had shown him that
my wrist and arm could outweary his.
Yet his savage onset never hagged Tor
instant: and when the light fell up
on his hideous face, l could see the
fierce ayes glinting axe a basilisk's.
with no sign in them hat my time was
come to press him home.
None the less. l did press him. inch
by inch, driving him at each new clash
of the steel q little deeper Into the
gloom that crowded close upon the
narrow circle of candle-light. He saw
my Object-to push him to unfamiliar
ground where he might trip and stun
BILE in the darkness-and he stroVe
furiously to defent It,. Yet he had no
choice. and presently l had him anon
the empty w~ine-butts, fOining and par
lying for his life and pouring out such
blasphemies as would make your blood
run cold.
Here the end came quickly. Being
entangled among the preached butts he
had no room to play skilfully. SC pres
emily 1t CHANGED that he caught his
point in the chine of u cask and his
blade snapped short at the hllt. With
a yelling oath, kissing hot from the
DEVILS thumb-book, he snatched up. the
broken blade to fling and stick 1t jaw
elin-wise In my shoulder; and then l
saw the dull CLEAN of the candle-light
on the barrel of u pistol.
Had he aimed the pistol al me. l
trust 1 should still have given him his
gentleman's chance But when 1 saw
him level the weapon at my dear lad
they came in one and the
same heartbeat; the sword-thrust that
found his life and took it: the crash OF
the pistol shot echoing like a clap OF
thunder in the close vault, and pitchy
darkness to draw its curtain over all.
1 know not how l reached her. pull
ing the broken sword-blade from my
shoulder as l ran: nor a l tell you
how an upgushing OF thanktulness
choIS ed me when I eound her unframed
by the bullet which had snufed the
candle out.
She was in a most piteOus state, now
It was all over; and though ! charged 1t
tall where 1 supposed it should belong
to the account of a natural Womanly
passion to cling to something In her
| moment OF weakness-yet the blood
ran quick in my veins when she suf-
fered me to lead her out of that dis
NAL. smoking death-pit. she clinging to
me the while SO close that l could fee
the warmth of her n the futtering OF
her lear heart beneath my hand.
She said no word, nor did l. till we
were above stairs. We found the rooms
on the main floor deserted b., AL save
the blacks. who were clearing away the
debris OF the feast of leave-taking. II
the hall we came upon old Anthony
putting on the chain OF the outer door
Here my lady drew apart from me.
rs my lord gone??" she asked.
"Yis, missa. He say tell you hi
gwine TEX it mighty hawd yo' no com
ter glib him de sti-up-cup.'
And my father?"
Gone to de lib'ry to wait TO Massf
Pengarbin: yis, missn."
She turned away. shuddering at thii
mention of the factor for whose com
ing the master would walt long and II
vain, and I heard her murlnur: "Oh
the horror Of this night" But in
moment she came back to me an
was her cool, calm self again.
Fol that l am here, alive and vel
I thank you, Captain Ireton. Need
say more?"
II cannot tell you what was In tn
words to make me hot with anger, a
T had but now been hot with love. Blu
the new wound In my shoulder wa
bleeding freely, and l would not let he
see I hurt; and II aught WI
stanch q wound. tbs ange =
you need not say SO much" ] re
torted, bowling low. You have spoke
now ana then OF certain duties bindin
upOn those who are knOtted up, eve
so loosely, in the marriage bond;
have my part in these us we'll as 70,
Mistress Margery."
She bit her lip and was upon tn
edge OF tears. ! saw what l a dor
and would curse the masterless tongu
must needs add Its w~Ord-thong I
the nights whip of s~courgings.
When she spoke again 1t was to say
MThis la you own house. Captain Ire
ton: what will you do?"
"One question first. is Richard Jenn
fer safer"
.Then, by your good leave, I shall {
what ] came to do"
She bent her head in acquiescence.
You will find the-the person who
you wish to see in your old in Il
north gable. Shall I have Author
light you up?"
t "No; I can find the way"
!, My hand was on h stair rail wht
the cruel irony Of 1t struck me like
: blow. She had planned h lOosinE
: the bond in the very room where '
had knelt to take the good father
!, blessing upon 1t.
I stepped back, stumbled. 1 shou
say, for q curious weakness had co.
! upon me, and drew her arm In mine.
1--WE will 20 together, II you pleas
my lady. IT'S only Just to me that y
z should hear what ! must q TO Faith
Matthieu."
3 And so. dear heart! she bore with I
:, to the last; and together We climb
9 the stair to come into the upper CO
ridOr with the room of destiny at
farther end. .
w came as far as the door; I mi
AL It perfectly. for / remember mark
that the wooden bar my father had r
1 upon 1t was gone. and the iron brackt
rs well. But whilst I was cropping I
y the latch there came q taste OF bio
In my mouth, and I heard my de
g lady's voice q Q .tfashe were. calling
me across the eternal abysses. M
pieur John!-you are hurt!" And tn
from q still remoter distance: z
Father M&tthieu-Dick! come quick
He u dying!"
Ii.
81 IN WHICH THE GOOD CAUSE
GAINS "A CONVERT.
Us which one OF you. my dears. far
across the frontier of b shadow Il
Of dreaina into the no less mystert.
~ 81 onNantrnS Ofsf6A nnOt ra6nl&