The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1908-06-19

sure the ferryboat can CROSSE" I ssked.
Our host was not certain, and there
pom an unexpected voice struck in.
"Oh, dear, do not let us run any
more risks 1t said. 1t was Mistress
ling. excited, bright eyed, as different
as possible from the Anne of Il few
minutes before. a great change had
come over her. Perhaps the warmth
had done it..
A thira course was sug gsa Ito
Gus stood at some little distance
from the road. and though 1T was rough
it was very rough, consisting only
of two rooms, in one of which a COW
was stalled-still it could furnish food
and shelter Why not stay there?
But the duchess wisely. I think, de-
cided against this. 1T is unpleasant to
go wandering again." she said with a
shivrr. But l shall not rest until we
are within the walls OF a town. Master
Lindstrom laid so much stress on that.
And 1 fancy that the party who over
took US last night are not the main
party. Others will v one to Vessel
by boat perhaps or along the other
bank There they will will meet, and
learning VIC have not arrived they will
probably return this way and search
for u.s."
"~Clarence"-
Yes, IL we have Clarence to deal
WITH" Master BERTHE assented gravely.
we cannot afford to lose IL point. We
will try the ferry"
1t was something gained to start
dry and warm. but the women's pale
faces-for little by little the fatigue,
the want of rest, the fear, were tell
ing oven nm Tho I1,onncc ,,,,,r 10
to see. l was sore and stiff myself.
The wound l had received so mys-
teriously had bled afresh, probably
during last nights, fight. We needed
all our courage to put a brave face
on the matter and e up and go out
week in May was cold and nipping.
suspense and anxiety a told in var
tous ways on all of us. While I felt
a flerce anger against those who were
driving us to these straits, Master Ber-
Tie was and excited. alarmed
Tor his wife and child and inclined to
see an enemy in every bush.
However,, we cheered up a little
when we reached the ferry and found
the boat could cross without much
risk. We had to go over in two de-
tachments, and 1T was nearly an hour
pasI noon when We all stood on the
farther bank and bade farewell to
the honest soul whose help had been
OF so much importance to us. He told
US We had three leagues to go. and
we hoped to be at rest in Santon nv
4 o'clock. ~
The three leagues turned out to be
more nearly five, while the road was
so founderous that we had again and
again to quit it.
The evening came OF, the light
waned. and still we were feeling our
way SO to spealS-the women tired
and on the verge of tears. the men
muddy to the waist, savage and imna-
tient. 1t was s O'clock and dusk was
we'll upon US before we caught sight Of
the first lights OF Santon, and In fear
lest the gates might be shut pressed
forward at such speed as our horses
could compass.
D you go on" the duchess adjured
US. Anne and I will be safe enough
beh1nd you. Let me take the child and
do you ride on. We cannot pass tha
night in the fields"
me Importance of securing admission
was so great thai Master BERTHE n I
agreed and cantered on, soon outstrip-
ping u companions and almost, in the
gloom, losing sight OF them. Dark
masses of woods, the last remnants
apparently of a forest. lay about the
road we had to traverse. We were
passing one of these, scarcely 500 PAGES
snort Of the town. and 1 was turning
IN the saddle to see that the ladies' were
safely, when I heard Master
bertle, who was a bowshot in front Of
me. give a sudden cry.
l wheeled round hastily to learn the
reason and was just in time to see
Three horsemen sweep into the road be-
fore him from the cover of the trees
Ihey We're so close to him-and thev
MED n road-that his horse carried
MIN among them almost before he
could check it. or SO 1t seemed to me.
l heard their loud challenge, saw his
arm wave and guessed that his sword
was out. 1 spurred desperately to ioin
MIN. giving a wild shout of pc
ment as L did so. But before I could
come up. or indeed cross half the dis-
tance. the scuffie was over. One man
fell headlong from his saddle, one horse
fled riderless down the road, and at
sight of this. or perhaps of me. the
others turned tail without more ado
and made off. leaving Master Rertie
m possession of the field. The whole
thing had passed in the shade of the
wood in less than half a minute. When
l drew rein by him, ne was sheathine
his sword. rs it Clarence?" I cried
eagerly.
mo. no, I did not see him. 7 think
not" he answered. He was breathing
nara and was very much excited. "They
were poor swordsmen. for Spaniards"
he added-"very poor 1 thought"
I jumped off my horse and kneeljnp
beside the man. turned him over, He
was badly hurt, if not dying, cut across
the neck We looked hard at him by
such light as there was and did not
recognize him as one of our assailant s
of the night before.
II do not think he is a Spaniard." I
said slowly. Then a certain suspicion
occurred to my mind. n 1 stopped
lower over him.
Continued Next Week.)
The Character of Labor Has Improved
From the New York Times.
A peculiar and unexpected, though east
ly comprehensive. result of the hard
tines and business depression Is re-
ported in the shape of a marked advance
IN the efficiency Of the men who are still
employed. Now that jobs are compare
lively hard to get. the man who has one
6oeS hiS heat or at least his much hot.