The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1908-07-02

tQOW anu tH0lI4 SHohAACA - 1~
much as to say that 1t was my
fault If ! 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 after a curse that was
meant for encouragement.
Even when the first excitement q
passed away I felt none Of the stupe-
faction which / have heard that men
feel In such a position. My brain was
painfully active. In vain / longed to
sleep, IL 1T were only that | might not
be thought to fear death. But the fact
that l was to be tried first, though the
sentence was O certainty, distracted
and troubled me. My thoughts paced
from thing to thing, now dwelling on
the duchess and her husband, now fit
ting TO Petronilla and Sir Anthony, to
the old place at home and the servants.
to strange, petty things, long familiar
Ia tree in the chase at Cotton, a herb
/ had planted. Once a great lump rose
in my throat, and I had to turn away
to hide the hot tears that would rise at
the thought that I must die in this
mean German town, In this
corner, and be buried and forgotten!
And once, too, to torment me rthere rose
a doubt in my mind whether Master
BERTHE would recover, whether indeed !
had not thrown my life away for Moth
ing. But 1t was too late TO think OF
that, and the doubt, which the evil one
himself must have suggested, so ter
rible was It,, passed away quickly.
My thoughts raced, but the night
crawled. We had surrendered about 10,
and the magistrates, less pitiful than
the ~jailers, 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.
49,. As~..A A. 49," 10 arxy ~ fhn
watch going his rounds came drearily
to my ears, recalling to me the night I
had spent behind the boarding in
Moorgate street, when the
which was to end tomorrow-nay, to-
day, in a few hours--had lured me
away. To-day? Was l to die today?
To perish, with all my plans, hopes,
love2 1t seemed impossible. AS / gazed
at the window, whose shape began to
be printed on my brain, 1t seemed i'm
possible. My soul so rose in rebellion
against It that the perspiration stood
on my brow, and / had to clasp my
hands about my knees and strain ev-
cry muscle to keep In the cry / would
have uttered-a cry, not Of fear, but OF
rage and remonstrance 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 he stairs.
4 1IlS SOdIluS " 0dJ dkNQ hlC aStCo lhiO6A~
cally upon me. The horror of the night
passed off as does the horror Of a
dream. When O man, heavily cloaked
and with-his head covered, came in, the
door being shut behind him by another
hand, / looked up at him bravely. The
worst was past,
He replied by looking down at me for
a few moments without disclosing HIM
self, the collar of his cloak being raised
so high that l 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 q stranger, / said sharply,
Il hope you are satisfied, sir"
satisfied 2" he replied in a voice
which made me start SO that the irons
clanked on my feet. well, / think I
should be-seeing you so, my friend!"
1t was Clarencei OF all men, Clar-
ence! l knew his voice, and he, see
ing himself recognized, lowered his
cloak. ' stared at him In stupefied sill
ence, and heat me in a grim curiosity.
I was not prepared for the blunt
abruptness with which he continued,
using almost the very words he had
used when face to face with me in the
flood, New tell me who you are, and
what brought you into his company
I gave him no answer. / still stared
at him ia silence.
Come" he continued, his hawks
eyes BENT on my face, make q clean
breast of 1t, and perhaps-who knows?
IL may help you yet, lad. You have
puzzled and foiled me, and 1 want to
understand you. Where did my lady
pick you up just when she wanted you?
/ had arranged for every checker on
the board except you. Who are your"
This time I did answer him-by a
question. How many times have we
metz" / asked.
Three" he said readily, and the
last time you nearly rid the world OF
me. Now the luck is against you. 1t
4 generally is in the end against those
who thwart me; my friend" He
a chuckled at the conceit, and l. read in
his face at once his love of Intrigue
and his vanity. Il come uppermost. as
always"
/ only nodded.
What do you want?" I asked. L felt
a certain expectation. He wanted
something. -:
First to know. who you are"
81 shall not tell you'll" I 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, I might
have been attracted by the masterfuI
audacity, the intellect as well as. the
force which / saw. stamped on his feat
ures. Being warned, 1 e cunning In
his bold eyes and cruelty in the cur
of his lip. What do YOU want mex 2
I asked.
(Continued Next Week.J
n ..a..."