The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1906-01-05
THE MASTER OF APPLEBY|
BY Francis Lynde.
>AnexnaAAAAAAAANN~
cuAprnR y11X-Continued.

fE
80 Tybee has come alive in good
time to square the old account with
u.s. he would say; but my wonder was
greater on the other head. Your
father?" l gasped. And he sent you
to save me?"
Surely" she said. Are you no once
again his guest. Captain %Ireton?" Then
she stamped her foot. and though the
candle light was Of the poorest, I
could see her eyes flash. will you
squander the last moment in silly dues-
tions?'' she burst out. Come, l say!"
L smiled. Give me that sword you
the door whilst you spirit Dick away.
He is not to be in this"
She gave me the weapon. though not,
as l made sure. in any consenting to
my proposal. l could have cried out In
sheer joy when I found the sword to
be my own good blade of proof-the an
cient Ferara willed me by my father.
Sharp as the crisis was, l made no
doubt I should have asked her then
anl there how she came by the blade
1 had last seen when my Lord Corn
wallis tried to break 1t owe his knee;
but the march of events suddenly be-
came too swift for me. There was a
sound of cautious footsteps in the In
cl!ned passage leading from the hut
ler's pantry above. and u chance for
escape that way vas gone.
Too late!!" said Dick; and with an
arm about Margery he whipped be-
mind the great oaken door opened back
against the cellar wall. whispering me
to follow.
We We're scarce in hiding, with he
door well drawn back to screen us.
when the cautious footsteps came slow
ly into the u cellar. Peering through
the crack behind the door we saw Pen
garvin-alone.
What brought him there without his
tale OF armed men at his back no man
will ever know: but since his ways
were always crooked and devious, l
guessed he would not wish to appear In
the matter in his w proper person,
and yet could not deny himself a fore
hand peep to see If the trap We're still
safe shut and secure.
Twas evident he was much discon-
certed at finding the door open and
the wine vault apparently empty. AT
first he would start and dodge as II to
run away; then his rage got the better
OF his caution and he had one OF those
senseless cursing fits I have before told
you of, raving and swearing and prom
Using all manner of fiendish recompense
to Mistress Margery when he should
have her In his power.
A little longer dwelling upon this
variation Of the cursing .theme-ravings
inxwhich,Dick learned for the'f1rst time
OF the factors design to marry my wild
oW and the estate-and I do think the
lad would have gone out to make him
sing another tune. But now the factor
left of suddenly to cock his q and
listen. and afterWard to come tiptOeing
into the cellar, all eyes to spy and legs
to u II a house should but squeak at
MIN.
He was muttering to himself as he
passed our hiding place. +
BY all the devils, he must be here,
some gait. The little jade would have
warned him If she had known; but 1t
IL known only to the doddering old
miser and me, and the girl is safe in
her bedroom. Happen this devil of an
Austrian captain has drunken himself
sodden; ah, that would be q rare jest
to wake with the rope around his neck!
II those cursed, slow-footed Dragons
would but come! Damme! I'll have that
bull-necked lieutenant cashiered II his
high and mighty lettering balks me in
this
He stopped before tho Wine cask
Whereon the Pickering candle stuod
5andszeraned his neck to look be-
You'd 1t. The candle was guttering
SMOKEY, and he reached a shaking
thumb and finger to pluck the
dead man from the wick. At that
we heard him muttering again.
Twas q playrtO make the very devil
ienvious; and to have 1t married by that
pig of q lieutenant No one knew me
In 1t save the legioll colonel. and could
we have sprung the trap fair and soft
~, not even Mistress Margery herself
could have laid this swashbuckler's
death at my door. But now; he's gone
vanished like a straw bailee, and all
because that damned understrapper Of
Colonel T%arleton's must needs turn up
his nose ut a bit OF sheriff's work.
Curse him!"
The candle was burning brightly now,
he crept catlike around the cask
to peer into the bin beyond 1t. Just
then h shutter Of the little window OF
esptal fell open with q shrill creaking
OF its rusty hinges, and a blue glare
OF lightning came to prick u every
nook and corner OF the cellar. Being
almost within q blades length Of the
factor, 4 saw him plainly: saw him
start back and put his hands4to his face
dropgdownS all Of q tremble on the
bins edge. where I had been sitting
when he discovered me.
To second the flash, q prolonged
,druTn-ron OF thunder sdinned upon the.
SILL ~ OAgStAS tAulSp AuQ mll&leO Win
the thunder am other flashes, soaring
the ~ and making the candle flame
appear as ~ sickly orange halo In the
glare. What with the play
OF the storm artillery we could neither
see no hear for the moment; but when
thesscandlelight came to Its own again
the scene was changed ASH by magic,
Under cover of the thunder din a squad
OF dragons had come to ring the fac.
tor In where he sat upon the edge Of
!tneswtneg bin:
Soho" said my good friend Tybee.
with q little strident laugh. tits you T
am TO take out and hang, ID 1t, Master
Lawyer? thought mayhap you'd
double on your track once too often.
seNn1ss you have,2sUp with you
and I'M along
All In . HASH PengAryinswas up and
bursting out In trembling frenxy-fit
;oI protestati0n.
.8saOhsssgsstis all . mistake. III sHoods sir
asadeytlss own trap! I'll am not the
maan; pledge you my sacred word!
IS-hands "a. you cursed villains or I'll
have the lAwSOh yOu!'s this last when
one " the men scast. the moose OF asrope
over hi1 head whilst . second drew his
llrnn4sto: his sides tnathe looping Of an
other cord. God! you shall ali
.DlnArt 1Orstlhis;;S ali, II say! rTake.me to
Colonel TAfleton. The king has no
.stancher friend I'm att province than
Is%HNhys EstwasI Who
4 NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. hehind5sand gagged
imAW4AhSt11A on H. SxM,n M