The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1908-07-03

their. wine and had pointed to the wills
dow and shrugged their shoulders, as
much as to say that it was my own
fault if l suffered from the draft. Nay,
from time To TIME one of them would
turn from his game and look at me. in
pity, J. think. and utter Il curse that Was
meant for encouragement.
Even when the first excitement had
passed away ! felt none of the stupe-
faction which l have heard that men
feel in such a position. My brain was
painfully active. In vain l longed to
sleep. if it We're only that l might not
be thought to fear death. But the fact
that L was to be tried first, though the
sentence Was u certainty, distracted
and troubled me. My thoughts paced
the duchess and her husband, now fit
ting 10 f'etronilla and Sir Anthony, to
the old place at home and the servants,
to strange, petty things. long familiar
had planted. Once a great lump rose
in my throat, and L had 20 turn away
TO hide the hot tears that would rise at
the thought that | must die in this
mean German town, in this unknown
corner. and be buried and forgotten!
And once, too, to torment me there rose
a doubt in my mind whether Master
Berthe would recover whether indeed I
had not thrown my life away for MOTH
ing. But it was too late TO think OF
that. and the doubt, which the evil one
himself must have suggested, so ter
rible vas it, passed away quickly.
My thoughts raced, but the night
crawled. We haG surrendered about 10.
and the magistrates, less pitiful than
the ~iailers, had forbidden my friends to
stay with me. An hour or more after
midnight two of the men lay down, and
the other sat humming a drinking song.
or at intervals rose to yawn and stretch
himself and look out OF the window.
\ From time To time the rrv 0f tina
watch going his rounds came drearily
to my ears, recalling to he the night I
had spent behind the boarding in
Moorsate street. when the adventure
day, in a few hours--aad lured me
away. Today? Was to die today?
To perish. with all my plans, hopes.
love? 1t seemed impossible. AS I Eazed
at the window, whose shape began to
be printed on my brain, it seemed i'm
possible. My soul SO rose In rebellion
against ii that the perspiration stood
on my brow, and L had to clasp my
hands about my knees and strain ev-
cry muscle to keep in the cry I would
have uttercd-a cry. not of fear, but of
rag and renonstrancc and revolt.
was glad TO see the first streaks. OF
dawn, to hear the first cock crowings,
and, a few minutes later. the voices of
men in the street and on the stairs.
The sounds OF day and life acted magi-
cally upon me. The horror of the night
passed off as does the horror of a
dream. When a man, heavily leaked
and with his head covered. came in, the
door being shut behind him by another
hand, l ookcd up at him bravcly. The
worst was past.~
He replied by looking down at me for
Il few moments without disclosing HIM
self. the collar of his cloak being raised
so high that 1 could see nothing of his
features. My first notion that he must
be Master Lindstrom passed away, and,
displeased by his silent scrutiny and
thinking him a stranger. 1 said sharply,
Il hope you are satisfied. sir"
"Satis1ied?" he replied in a voice
which made me start so that the irons
clanked on my feet. We'll. I think I
should be-seeing you so. my friend!"
ence! 1 knew his voice, and he, see
ing himself recognized, lowered his
cloak. . stared at him in %stupefed sill
ence, and he at me in a grim curiosity.
was not prepared for the hunt
abruptness with which he continued,
using almost the very words he had
used when face to face with me in the
flood. NOW tell me who you are, and
what brought you into this %
L gave him no answer. 1 still stared
at him III silence.
Come" he continued. his hawks
eyes bent on my face, make q clean
breast of it, and perhaps-who knows?
I may help you yet, lad. You have
Pd-AiCd Sliiu IollGd iliS, anu L WGIlJ 10
understand you. Where did my lady
pick you up just when she wanted you?
l had arranged for every checker on
the board except you. Who are you 90
This time 1 did answer him-hy a
question. How many times have we
metz" 1 asked.
Three he said readily, "and the
last time you nearly rid the world of
me. Now the luck is against you. 1t
generally is in the end against those
who thwart me. my friend" He
chucllled at the %conceit. and l read in
his face at once his love of intrigue
and his vanity. Il come uppermost. as
always"
1 only nodded
"What do you want?" I asked. I felt
a certain expectation. He. wanted
something.
First to know who you are"
81 shall not tell you!" 1 answered.
He smiled dryly, sitting opposite to
me. He had drawn up a stool and made
himself comfortable. He was not an
uncomely man as he sat there playing
with his dagger, a dubious smile on his
lean, lark face. Unwarned, 1 might
nave been attracted by the masterful
audacity, the intellect as we'll as the
force which 1 saw stamped on his feat
ures. Being warned. l read cunning in
his bold eyes and cruelty in the curl
of his lip. What do you want next 90
l asked.
Continued Mex. Week)
Il Il T-si@A --l AL