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

came up, and grumbling at us as II
he had never seen us in his life be-
fore, and never wished to see us again,
took our horses. We went into the
kitchen. and taking the first chance
of slipping upstairs TO No. 10 we were
admitted with the same precautions
as before, and descending the shaft
gained the cellar.
Here we were not, as we had looked
to be, the first on the scene; sup
pose sense of the insecurity OF our
meeting place had led every one TO
come early, so as to be gone early.
Penruddocke indeed was not here yet.
but Kingston and half score of
others We're sitting about conversinS
in low tones. 1t was plain that the
distrust and suspicion which we had
remarked on the previous day had
not been allayed by the discovery of
Clarence's treachery.
Indeed II was cles5Mthe distrust and
dependency had today become panic.
Men glared at one another and at the
door and talked in whispers and started
at the slightest sound. glanced round.
The one / sought for with eager yet
shrinking eyes was not to be seen. l
turned to Master BERTHE, my face mute
ly calling on him to ask the question.
Where is the prisoner" he said
sharply.
A moment I hung In suspense. Then
one of the men said: He is in there.
He is safe enough He pointed as he
spoke to a door which seemed to lead
10 an inner cellar.
Right" said Master BERTHE, still
standing. II have two pieces of bad
news for you nevertheless. Firstly,
have just been recognized by the Span
lsh ambassador whom | met in the
courtyard above" Half of the men
'ose TO their feet. What is he doinG
lere?" they cried, one boldly, the Others
with the quaVer very plain in their
voices.
Il do not know, but he recognized me
Why he took no steps to detain or ar
:est me ] cannot tell, He rode away
by the north road"
They gaZed at one another and we al
them. The wolfsh look which fear
orings into some faces grew stronger IN
heirs.
What is your other bad news?" said
Kingston, with an oath,
"A person outside. friend of the
prisoner, has a list of our names and
knows our meeting place and our plans
She threatens to use the knowledge un'
less the man Clarence or Crewdson be
set free"
There was loud murmur of wrath
and dismay, amid which Kingston alone
preserved his composure. I'VE might
have been prepared for that" he SAID
quietly. 1T Is an old precaution OF
such folk. But how did you come tC
| hear OF it?"
My friend here saw the messenger
and heard the terms. The man mus
| De set free by sunset
| And what warranty have we that III
viii not go straight with his plans anC
mis- list to the council?"
Master Bertie could not answer that
| neither could /. We had no surety, anC
e we set him free could take none say,
his word. His word. Could even / asl
chem to accept that? To stake the lif,
| Of the meanest of them on it?
! ! saw the difficulties Of the position
ana when Master Kingston pronounce,
coolly that this was a waste of time
and that the only wise course was t,
dispose of the principal witness, both II
he interests OF justice and our safety
and then shift ourselves before tn
storm broke, l acknowledged in m,
heart the wisdom of the course and fel
that yesterday it would have receive,
ny assent.
The risk is about the same eithe
way" Master BERTHE said
Not at all" Kingston objected,
sparkle of malice in his eyes. Las
night we had thwarted him. Tonight 1
was his turn, and the dark. lowerin
looks on those round him showed tha
Iumbers were with him. This felloN
can hang us all. His accomplice VIII
escapes can know nothing save throug
him and could give only vague and ur
certain evidence. No, no. Let US cas-
lots who shall do it, get 1t done quickl
and be gone"
I'VE must wait at least" Berti
| a1n Il, ThA,,noc
No" retorted Kingston, with hea
I'VE are all equal here. Besides tn
man was condemned yesterday wit
the full assent of all. 1t only remain
to carry out the sentence. Surely tn
gentleman he continued, turning sue
denly upon me, who was so ready
accuse him yesterday, does not wis
him spared today"
Il do wish it," said in a low tone.
"Ho! ho!" he cried, folding his arm
and throwing back his head, aston
ished at the success OF his own que
ton. Then may we ask for your re;
sons, sir? Last night you could not la
your tongue TO words too bad for hir
Tonight you wish to spare him and !,
him go"
II do" / said. l felt that every ey
was upon me and that. Master Bert
excepted. not one there would feel syn
pathy with me in my humiliation. The
were driven to the wall They had I
time for fine feeling, for sympathy, f,
appreciation Of the tragic, unless
touched themselves. What chance hs
] with them, though ] was a son plea,
ing for father? Nay, what argumeI
had save that / was his son, and th
| had brought him to this? No arg
ment. Only the appeal to them th
they would not make me a parricid
And l felt that at this they wou
mock
And so. in view of those stern. cur
Gus faces. new temptation seized n
the temptation to be silent. WI
should / not stand by and let thin
take their course? Why should | n
spare myself the shame which | alreat
saw would be fruitiess? When Mast
Kingston, with cynical bow, sal
Your reasons, SIR l stood mute al
trembling. IL ] kept silence if I r
fused to give my reasons. IL / did n
acknowledge the prisoner, but mere
begged his life he would die, and Il
connection between us would be know
only to one or two. / should he fire,
from him and might go on my wa
The sins Of Ferdinand Cludde were WI
nigh forgotten. Why take to myse
the sins of Clarence, which wou
otherwise never stain my name. wou
never be associated with my father
myself?
Why, indeed? 1t was a great al
sore temptation as / stood there befo
all those eyes. He had deserved deaf
! had given him up in perfect inn
Cence. Had l any right to call on the
to risk their lives that 1 might
harmless in conscience, and he in pc
son? Had L
What! Was there, after all, sor
taint in my blood? Was / going to b
come like hin--to take to myself
shame of my own earning in the effo
to escape from the burden of his
fame? i remembered in time the oa
I had sworn, and when Kingston r
peated his question / answered hi
quickly. II did not know yesterda
who he was" l said. IT have disco
cred since that he is my father. / a,
nothing on his account. Were he on
my father / would not plead for hir
| II rIao1 fC,- 7