Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1908-08-22

Master BERTHE broke in on my rev.
erie much as II ne had followed its
course. Understand one thing, lad"
he said, laying his hand on the witherf
Of my horse, yours must not be the
hand to punish your father. But after
today you will owe him no duty. You
will part from him today and he
will be a stranger to you. He deserted
you when you were a child, and II
you owe reverence to any one II is
to your uncle and not to him. He has
himself severed the ties between you"
Yes" I said. II will go abroad. ]
will go back to wilma"
IF Ill comes of our enterprise, as
fear 1t will come, we will both 60
back, II we can," he answered. II
good by any chance should come Of
It. then you shall be my brother, our
family shall be your family. The
duchess 10 rich enough" he added,
with smile, ito allow you a younger
brothers portion"
could not answer him as ! de-
sired, for We passed at that moment
ly involved In the hustle going for
ward in the courtyard. Near the prin-
cipal door of the inn stood eight or
nine horses gayly caparisoned and In
the charge Of three foreign looking
men, who, lounging in their saddles,
were passing jug from hdnu 10
hand. They turned as we rode IN
and looked at US curiously, but not
with any impertinence. Apparently
they were waiting for the rest Of their
party, who were inside the house. Civ
lily disposed as they seemed, the fact
that they were armed and wore rich
liveries Of black and gold caused me,
and / think both Of US. momen-
tary alarm.
who are theyr' Master Bertie asked
in a low voice as he rode to the op-
posite door and dismounted with his
back to them.
They are spaniards. fancy" said,
scanning them over the shoulders of
my horse as l. too, got of. "old
friends, so to speak"
They seem wonderfully subdued for
them" he answered, and on their best
behavior. II half the tales we heard
this morning be true, they are not
wont to carry themselves like this"
Yet they certainly were Spanish, for
! overheard them speaking to one an
other in that language. and before we
had we'll dismounted, their leader
whom they received with great respect,
one Of them Jumping down to hold
his stirrup-came out with three or
four more and got to horse again.
Turning his rein to lead the way out
through the north gate, he passed near
US. and as he settled himself In his
saddle took a good look at US. The
look passed harmlessly over me, but
reaching Master Berthe became con-
centrated. The rider started and
smiled family. He seemed to pause
Then he raised his plumed cap and
bowed low, covered himself again and
rode on. His train all followed his ex-
ample and saluted US as they passed
Master Bertie's face, which had
flushed a fiery red under the others
gaze, grew pale again. He looked at
me, when they had gone by, with
startled eyes.
do you know who that was?" he
said, speaking like one who had re-
ceived a blow and did not yet know
how much he was hurt.
NO" said.
1T was the Count de Feria, the
Spanish ambassador he answered.
And he recognized me. met him
often years ago. ! knew him again
as soon as he came out, but I did not
think he would by any chance recog-
nize me in this dress"
Are you sure" asked in amaze
ment, that It was he?"
quite sure" he answered
But why did he not have you ar
rested or at least detained? The war
rants are still out against you"
lContinued Next week.l