Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1907-04-11
CHAPTER XIX.
Haunted.

That one thought dominated all else
in the mind of Philip Chatter. She be-
lieved him innocent-and she loved
him. True, the message was not for
him. in reality; it was for the man
who lay In an unknown grave. But,
having taken the dead mans place, he
claimed this message also, as belong
ing to him.
II have taken the burden of his sins
upon mel am in peril of my life on
account of Them" he thought Surely
l have the right to claim this sweeter
portion. Of what was his, as some leav-
en- in the weight OF my punishment.
Yes, I'll see her first; after that, il
they capture me, I'll go back with a
light heart"
Caution was necessary in approach
ing the village; for, by the time he
reached it, daylight had fully come and
the people were astir. Keeping well
on the outskirts Of it, and yet in a
place from which he could easily and
rapidly reach the spot he had marked
out in his mind as his destination, he
came to a. little sopse on the edge OF
some fields, and settled himself, as
comfortably as possible, in deep, dry
ditch, overhung with brambles and
bushes, which completely hid him
from the sight of any one passing near.
Knowing that he must wait until night
fall before daring to venture out, he
resolved to remain in this place, with
all the patience he could muster
He had borrowed from Captain Quist
little tobacco and pipe; and, after
cautiously looking about him, he filled
and lit this. and began to feel more re-
signed to his position. From where
he lay he could see, through the tang
led growth above him, the towers and
chimneys of Chatter Hail. raising his
head little he could see path, which
wound across some slightly rising
ground and appeared to lead from the
Hall down to the road near which he
| lay entry to the road from it being
i obtained through wooden gate in the
| thigh palings, which surrounded the
grounds at the point where they joined
the road. The Hall being high above
him. he could see this path in its wind.
| ings and twistings very clearly; and
as it was short cut to the village, ii
appeared to be used pretty often.
1t amused and Interested the fugitive
l lying there, to watch the path and
those who came down it; he found
himself wondering idly whether he
should ever tread that path again OF
! set foot I'M Chatter Hall, and under
4 what circumstances.
\ Knowing nothing Of the locality
Philip had not chosen his hiding place
so well as he had hoped; for presently
he was startled by the noise Of wheels
behind him. Rising hurriedly he look
ed over 9 bank, sheer down into {
road beloWa road not so broad al
that which lay at some distance II
front Of him. but broad enough for We
j hic1es. In deed, the vehicle which
4 Philip had heard had stopped immedi
ately below him, and man In 1t wa.
alighting. So close was 1t, and so i'm
mediately underneath where he lay ii
I the thick underground, that Philil
could hear distinctly what this maj
said to the driver.
Il brought you this way because
4 have q fancy for going to the Hall un
d announced Just a mere whim OF mine
{. Lean get over from here. It'll be ha
ha IA little surprise for them won
4 1t q l68a5
I. The driver muttered something
/ which Philip could not catch, receive,
4 his fare, turned his horses head. an,
\ Edrove back the way he had come. TIL
d man stood quite still In the road unit
i II the yehiele was out OF sight then be
n gan to climb the bank which led to th,
1 place whore Philip was concealed.
a nrst Phil g afraid that ID,