The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1908-09-24

selves. "fIe Is in one of his mad fits
Baldwin muttered. Still the stewart
showed no fear. "A swallow, mani" he
cried aloud. Come. talk sense. There
are no swallows flying at this time
or year. and II there were they do
not fly by night nor give men wounds
like that. What was 1t? Out with 1t,
now! Do you not see, man. he added.
giving Martin IN impatient shake. that
Sir Anthony Is waiting"
The fool nodded stupidity. "A swal-
low, he murmured. AYE, twas a
swallow. a great big swallow. IL
nearly put my foot on him.
And he few UP md hit you in the
face" Baldwin said. with huge con
tempt In his o NIL
Martin accepted the suggestion plac-
idly. AYE. twas so. A great big swal-
low and he few In my face" he re-
peated.
Sir Anthony looked at him com
~passsonately. Poor fellow" he said.
BALDWIN. see to him. He has had one
OF his fits and hurt himself"
4 never knew him to hurt himself"
Baldwin muttcred darkly.
Let somebody see to him." the
knight said, disregarding the Interrupt
ton. And now come, P~etronilla. Why,
Wnere pas the girl gomez"
Not far. Only round to the other
side Of him. that she might be a little
nearer to Martin. The curiosity in the
other women's faces was ii, small thing
In comparison with the startled, ear
nest look In hers. She gazed at the
man With eyes not OF alright, but OF
eager, avid questioning, while through
her parted lips her breath came in
gasps. Her cheek was red and white
by turns. and for her heartwweIl. II
mad seemed to stand still O moment
ands now was beating like the
neart OF some poor captured bird
held In the hand. She did mot
seem to hear her father speak
10 her. and he had to touch her sleeve.
Then b started as though she were
awakening from a dream N followed
him sadly into the house.
Sadly, and yet there was a light In
her eyes which had not been there five
minutes before. A swallow? A greet
Dig swallow? And this was December.
when the swallows were at the bottom
or the horse ponds. She only knew Of
one swallow whose return was possible
IN winter. But then that one swallow-
aye, though the o should lie inches
deep In the chase and the water should
freeze IN her room--would make q sum
Iner for her. Gould 1t be that one9
Could 1t be? P~etronilla's heart was
beating SO loudly as she went UP stairs
after her father that she wondered he
ulQ hot near IL. .WH II
The group left round Martin gradu-
any melted away. Baldwin was the
only man who could deaf with him in
his mad fitssGand the other servants,
with a shudder and a backward glance.
gladly left him to the steward. Mis-
tress Anne had gone In some time. Only
FERDINAND Cludde remained, and he
stood a little apart and seemed more
deeply engaged In listening for any
gOiInda yyhiNhf tr,f.rt,k lN14~l.~~ L,LN
his approach than in ~hearkening TO
their conversation Listen as he might
he would have gained little from the
latter, O IL was made up entirely OF
seolatng on M side and stupid reit-
Grafton on the other. Yet Ferdinand,
ever! suspicious and on his guard, must
have felt some interest in 1t, for he
presently called the steward to him. sIs
be more fool or knaye 20 he muttered.
pointing under hand at Martin, who
stood In the gloom q few PAGES away.
Baldwin shrugged his shoulders, but
remained silent. what happened?
What IL the meaning of Ii all ?' Ferdi-
nand persisted, HIS keen eyes on the
stewards face, ibid he do ID him
self, or who did itT' @
Baldwin turned slowly and nodded
toward the moat. II expect you will
find him who did IT there" he said
grtmly. Il never knew a man save Sir
Anthony or Master Francis hit Martin
yet but he paid for 1t, and when his
temper Is UP he is mad, or as good as
mad. and better than two sane men!"
III e Is dangerous fellow" Ferdi-
nand said thoughtfully, shiyering a hit
tie. 1t was unlike him to SILVER and
shake, bu the brayest have their
moods.
Dangerous? 2" the steward answered.
AYE, he is to some and somefimess'
Ferdinand Cludde looked sharply at
the speaker, as IL he suspected him OF a
covert sneer. But Baldwin's gloomy
face betrayed no CLINT of intelligence or
amusement, and the knights brother,
treasured and yet uneasy, turned on his
heel and went into the house, meeting
at the door a servant who came to tell
him that Sir Anthony was calling for
him. Baldwin Moor, left alone, stood
a moment thinking and then turned to
speak to Martin. But Martin was gone
and raj nowhere to be seen. The lights
in h hall windows twinkled cheerily,
and the great fire cast its glow way
across the courtyard, as lights and fire
had twinkled and glowUl at Cotton End
on many a night before. But neither
In hall o chamber was there any
answering merriment, Baldwin, COM
Ing in, cursed the servants who were in
his way, and the men moved meekIy
1AAd "ANAVuS NohAAA6 ~ OdluE lot
what they were--a mans tears. The
women folk sat listening, pale and
frightened, and one or two of the
grooms, those who had done least in
the skirmish, had visions of a tree and
a rope and looked sickly. The rest
scowled and Diinked at the fire or
kicked up a dog IL 1t barked in its
sleep.
Hasn't Martin conn in?" Baldwin
growled presently, setting his heavy
wet boot on a glowing log, which Kissed
and sputtered under 1t, Where is he r."
Don't knowlns OF the men took
on himself to answer. HE did not
come in here"
II wonder what he Is up to now 90
Baldwin exclaimed, with gloomy irri-
tation, for which, under the circum-
stances, he had ample excuse. He
knew that resistance was utterly hope
less and could only make matters
worse and twist the rope more tightly
about his neck, to put the thought as
he framed 1t. The suspicion, there
fore, that this madman-for such in.
his worst fits the fool became-might
be hanging round the place In dark
corners, doing what deadly mischief
he could to the attacking party, was
not a pleasant one.
Asgray haired man In the warmest
nook by the fire seemed to read hts