The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1908-08-13
CHAPTER XIX.

The bitterness or that hour long
past. when he had left me for death,
when he had played with the human
longing for life and striSSn without
a thought OF pity to corrupt me by
hopes and fears the most awful that
mortals know, was In my voice as
spoke. / rejoiced that vengeance had
come upon him at last, and hat l was
Its instrument, j saw the pallor OF a
great fea creep into his dark cheek
n read In his eyes the vicious pas
sion OF a wild beast trapped and felt
no pity. Master Clarence" / said M
laughed-laughed mockingly. You do
not LOOK pleased to see you friends,
or perhaps you do not remember me
stand forward, Master BERTHE. May be
he will recognize you"
But though Master BERTHE came for
ward and stood by my side, gazing
at him, the villains eyes did not for
an instant shift from mine. 1T is the
mani" my companion said after a
solemn pause, for the other, breath
Ing fast, made no answer. "He was
q spy In the pay of Bishop Gardiner,
when / knew him. At the bishops
death ] heard that he passed into the
service of the Spanish ambassador, the
Count de Feria. He called himself at
that time Clarence. / recognize him."
The quiet words had their effect.
From full one half Of the savage
crew round us a fierce murmur rose
more terrible than any loud cutlery, yet
this seemed a relief to the doomed
man. He forced himself to look away
from me and to confront the dark
ring OF menacing faces which hemmed
him In. The moment he did so he
appeared to find courage and words.
They take me for another mani" he
cried In hoarse accents. Il know moth
ing OF theml" and he added q fearful
oath. He knows me. Ask him"
He pointed to Walter Kingston,
who was sitting moodily On a tram
outside the ring. and who alone had
not risen under the excitement OF my
challenge. On being thus appealed to
he looked up suddenly. IF / am to
choose between you," he said bitterly,
"and say which is the true man. /
know which I shall pick"
which," Clarence murmured.
(which? 2" This time his tone was diff
ferent. In his voice was the ring OF
hope.
II should give my vote for YOU"
Kingston replied, looking contemptous-
~ at him. II know something about
you, but Of the other gentleman
know nothing"
And not much of the person you
call Crewdson," I retorted fiercely,
"slnce o do not know his real name
know this much" the young
man answered, tapping his boot with
his scabbard with studied carelessness
that he lent me some money and
seemed a good fellow and one that
hated a mass priest. That is enough
for me. As for his name, IL is his
fancy perhaps. You call yourself Carey
Well, 1 know a good nan Careys
but do not know you, nor ever
heard OF you.'
/ swung round on him with a hot
cheek. But challenge which was upor
tiny tongue was anticipated by Mas
ter BERTHE, who drew me forcibly back
Leave this to me, Francis" he said
rand do you watch that man. Mas
ter Kingston and gentlemen" he con
tinued, turning again TO them and
drawing himself to his full height as
he addressed them. listen II you please
You know me, IL you do not know my
friend, The honor of Richard BERTHE
has been challenged until to-
night, nor ever will be with ippunity
Leave my friend out of the question
and put me in 1t, T. Richard BERTHE
say that that man Is a paid spy and
iinformer, come here in quest OF blood
money, n he, Crewdson. a nameiess
man, says that I lie. Choose between
us. or look at him and Judge. Look!'
He was right to Bid them look. A;
the savage murmur rose again and
took from the wretched mar his las
hope, as h ugliness OF despair and
wicked. impotent passion distorted hi,
face, he was indeed the most deadly
witness against himself.
The lights which shone on treach.
erous weapons half hidden or on the
glittering yes OF cruel men whose
blood was reused fell on nothing Sc
dangerous as the livid, ~despairing fac,
which, unmasked and eyed by all witt
aversion, still defed us. Traitor and
spy as he was, he had the merit o.
nAIIra on M 1AacffrH liz rrpl,,I5 at. ..-~n
And eve as /, with a first feeling. O
pity for him, discerned this, his SWORD
was out, and with a curse he lungeC
at me.
Penruddocke saved me by a bulIe
which sent me Keeling against tn,
wall, so that the villains thrust wal
spent on air. Before he could repea
1t four or five men flung themselvei
upon him from behind. For a momen
there was a great uproar, while tn,
group surrounding him swayed to AMI
fro as he dragged his captors up an,
down with a strength / should no
nave expected. But the end was Ger,
tain, and we stood looking on quietly
In a minute or two they had him down
and disarming him bound his hands.
For me he seemed to have a specia
hatred. Curse you," he painted, glar
ing at me as he lay helpless. "Yo,
have been my evil angeli From tn
n t1Aot icy odW yuu you nave InWartG
me in every plan, and now you hav
brought me to this!"
Not i, but yourself" / answered.
MY curse upon youi" he cried again
h rage and hate in his face so ter
fible that / turned away s~hudderin,
and sick at heart. IF I could hav
killed you" he cried, II would hav
died contented.n
sEnoughi" interposed Penruddock
briskly. 1T is well for us that Maste
Bertie and his friend came here to
night. Heaven grant 1t BIZ not to
latei We do not need" he added, look
ing round, any more evidence,
think?"
The dissent was loud, and, save 70
Kingston. who still sat sulking apart
unanimous.
&sDeath?" said the C~ornishma
quietly.
No one spoke. but each man gave
brief, stern nod.
Very well" the leader continued
"then ! propose
zone moment" said Master Berti,
i~nterrupting him. "A word with yo
apart. with our friends permission