The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1908-08-27
CHAPTER xX--contlnued.

N LA4liG u lOHts we UIuSA JOlA Jul = ~
and take their advice. We seem to
be surrounded by pitfalls
At this m the lame hostlei
came up, and ~grumbling at us as II
he had never seen us In his life be-
fore, and never wished to see US again
took our horses. We went into the
kitchen, and taking he first chance
Of slipping upstairs to No 10 we were
admitted with the same precautions
as before, and descending the SHAFT
gained the cellar.
Here we were not, as we had looked
20 be, the first on the scene 1 sup
pose a sense OF the insecurity Of ouI
meeting place had led every n e
come early, SO as to DO gone early,
Penruddocke indeed was not here yet,
but Kingston and half o score OF
others were sitting about ~conversinG
In low tones. 1t vas plain that The
distrust and suspicion which we had
remarked on the previous day had
not been allayed by the discovery OF
Clarence's treachery,
Indeed Ii was clear the distrust and
dependency had today become a panic,
Men alared at one another n at the
door and talked In whispers and started
at the slightest sound. / glanced round.
The one / sought for with eager yet
shrinking eyes was not TO be seen, ]
turned to Master BERTHE, my face mute
~ calling on him to ask the question.
Where is the prisoner he said
sharply.
a moment I hung in suspense. Then
one Of the men said: He is In there.
He IS safe enough!" He pointed as he
spoke to a door which seemed to lead
to an inner cellar.
Right said Master BERTHE, still
standing. II have two pieces OF bad
news for you nevertheless. Firstly, !
II "a as. 1s.a Aao.ar .sonorpf1aA nv the Gro ~
fish ambassadors, whom / met In the
courtyard above" Half OF the men
rose to their feet. what is he doing
hcre2" they cried one boldly, the others
with the quayer very plain in their
voices.
II do not know, but he recognized me.
Why he took no steps to detain or ar
rest me ! cannot tell. He rode away
by the north road"
They gazed at one another and we at
them. The wolfish look which fear
brings into some faces grew stronger n
theirs.
What is your other bad news?" said
Kingston, with an oath.
IA person outside. a friend Of the
prisoner, has a list OF our names and
knows our meeting place and our plans.
She threatens to use the knowledge I'M
less the man Clarence or Crewdson be
set free
There was a loud murmur OF wrath
and dismay, amid which Kingston alone
preserved his composure. we might
have been prepared for that" he said
quietly. 1T Is an old p~recaution OF
such folk. But how did you come to
hear or it7s
NY friend here saw the messenger
and heard the terms. The man must
be set free by sunset"
And what warranty have we that he
Will not go straight with his plans and
his list to the council?"
Master BERTHE could not answer that,
neither could I. We had no surety, and
~ we set him free could take none save
his word. His world Could even I ask
them to accept that? To stake the life
OF the meaneB OF them on It?
/ saw the difficulties OF the position,
and when Master Kingston pronounced
coolIy that this was a waste OF time,
inc that the only wise course was to
dispose OF the principal witness, both in
the interests or justice and our safety,
then shift ourselves before the
storm broke, I acknowledged IN my
heart the wisdom OF the course and felt
THAT yesterday Il would have received
my assent.
"The risk is about the same either
way Master BERTHE said.
Not at all" Kingston objected. a
sparkle OF malice In his eyes. Last
night we had thwarted him. Tonight 1t
was his turn. and the dark. lowering
looks OF those round him showed that
numbers were with him. This fellow
hang vi all. His accompilce who
escapes can know nothing save through
him and could give only agu and I'M
certain evidence. No. no. Let us cast
lots who shall do It, get It done quickly
and be gone
I'VE must wait at least" Berthe
urged. until Sir Thomas comes"
MOI retorted Kingston, with heat.
I'VE are all equal here. Besides the
man was condemned yesterday with
the fun assent OF all. 1t only remains
10 carry out the sentence. Surely this
gentleman" he continued, turning sud-
denly upon me, who was so ready to
accuse him yesterday, does not wish
him spared today"
II do wish It." i said in a low tone.
lilo! hoi" he cried. folding his arms
and throwing back his head, aston
ished at /the success OF HIS W cues
ftion. Then may we ask for your rea-
sons, sirY Last night o could not lay
your tongue to words too bad for him.
Tonight you wish TO spare him and let
him 20
IT do / said, I felt that every eve
vas UPON me and that. Master Berthe
excepted. not one there would feel sym-
pathy With me in my humiliation. They
were driven to the wall. They had no
time for fine feeling. for sympathy. for
appreciation of the tragic, unless II
touched themselves. What chance had
4 with them, though I was a son plead
Ing for a father? Nay. what argument
had ! save tlWt I was his son, and that
I had brought him to this? No argu-
ment Only the appeal to them that
they would not make me a parricidei
And ! felt that at this they would
mock.
And so In view OF those stern. Curl
GUS faces. a e temptation. seized me
1.-The temptation TO be silent. why
should I not stand by and let things
take their course? Why should I not
spare myself the shame which / "a already
saw would be fruitless2 When Master
Kingston, with a cynical bow, said.
Your reasons. sir Z / stood mute and
trembling. If / kept silence, IL I re-
fused to give my reasons, if I did not
= acknowledge the prisoner, but merely
begged his life. he would die, n the
connection between Us would be known
only to one or two. / should be freed
frnpa him and nofphf GO on nv ~ ~