Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1908-08-29

Infinitely dreaded the moment when
I should tell him this and hear his an
swer, and fingered with my hand on
the key until an abrupt knocking on
the other side IF the door brought the
blood to my face. Before could turn
the key the hasty summons was repeat
ed and grew to frantic, hurried drum
ming on the boards--a sound which
plainly told OF terror suddenly con-
ceived and in an instant full grown.
A hoarse cry followed. coming
DULY to my ears through the thick
ness of the door, and the next mo-
ment the stout planxs shook as a
heavy weight fell against them.
turned the key and the door was
flung open from within. My father
stumbled out.
The strong light for an instant
blinded him, and he blinked as an owl
does brought to the sunshine. Even in
him the long hours passed in solitude
and the blackness of despair had
worked changes. His hair was grayer.
In patches 1t was almost white. and
| then again dark. He had knawed his
| lower lip and there We're blood stains
on il. His mustache, too, was ragged
and torn. as IL he had gnawed that
also. His eyes were bloodshot, his lean
| face was white and haggard and fierce.
"Ha!" he cried, trembling as he
peered round, II thought they had left
I
| there! | thought"
| He stopped. He saw me standing
! holding the edge of the door. He saw
| that otherwise the room was empty,
J the farther door leading to the shaft
! open. An open door! To him
doubtless 1t seemed of all sights the
most wonderful, the most heavenly
His knees began to shake under him
! What is it?" he muttered. What
| were they shouting about? l heard
! them shouting"
The queen is dying" answered
simply, "or dead, and you can do us
no more harm. You are free"
"Free?" he repeated the word
leaning against the wall, his eyes, wild
and glaring, his lips parted.
! Yes; Free" l answered in a lower
voice--"free TO go out into the ali
of heaven living mani" / paused. Fol
IL moment / could not continue. Then
/ added solemnly, Sir Providence has
saved YOU from death and me from 8
| crime"
! He leaned still against the wall
dazed, thunderstruck, almost incred-
ulous, and looked from me to the oper
door and back again as II without
! this constant testimony of his eyes
he could not believe in his escape.
ut was not Anne?" he murmured
| she did not
ENle lr1eu 10 save your lie,
answered, but they would not lister
TO her"
Did she come here?"
AS he spoke he Strengthened him.
self with an effort and stood up. II,
was growing more like himself.
NO" ] answered. she sent for me
and told me and told me her terms
But Kingston and the others woulC
not listen TO them. You would hav,
been dead now, though / did all
could 10 save you, If Penruddocke hat
not brought this news Of the queen.
she is dead"
she is dying. The Spanish ambassa
dor" ! added to clinch the matter fol
| saw he dodbted. rode through her,
this afternoon to pay his court to tn,
Princess Elizabeth at Hatfield"
He looked down at the ground
thinking deeply. Most men would hav,
been unable to think at all, unable [,
concentrate their thoughts on any
thing save their escape from death
But a life of daily risk and hazar,
had so hardened this man that l wa
certain, as l watched him, that h
was not praying nor giving thanks
He was already pondering how n
might make the most out of tn
change; how he might to the best ad
vantage sell his knowledge of the gov
ernment whose hours were numbere
to the government which would 500
be. The life Of intrigue had becom
second nature to him.
(Contiaucd Next WeekJ