Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1908-04-04
CHAPTER v.--CoNTINUED.

| and had caught MN as nedtiy 40 W,
! be When | came upon them, the taller
| woman was standing at bay with a
passion that was almost fury In her
| pose and gesture Her face. from
| which the hood OF a coarse CLOAK nau
| fallen back, was pale with anger. her
| gray eyes flashed. Her teeth gimmered'
! Seeing her thus, and seeing the pur-
] den she carried under her cloak, whlch
| instinct told me was her chliu. i
! thought of tigress brought 10 pay.
You lying knave." she Kissed. you
! Judas"
| The man recoiled a. couple OF PAGES
! and in recoiling nearly touched me.
What would YOU" she contl,iueu. i i.
| What do you want? What would you
| do? You have been paid TO go. GO,
and leave us"
Il dare not" he muttered, keeping
away from her as II he dreaded blow:
! She looked woman who could deal
| y blow. a woman who could both love
! and hate haNely and, openly--as proud
| ;nd frank and naughty n lady as
| J ad ever seen in my life. Il dare not
he muttered sulenly. Il have my or
| ders"
OH" she cried with scorn. You
have your orders, have you? Ihe lnuTdei
is out. But from whom sirrah? Whose
orders are 10 supersede mine? would
King Harry were alive, and ! would
have you whipped to Tyburn SPEAK
rogue. Who bade YOU follow me-"
He shook his head.
She looked about her wildly. passion
ately. and ! saw that she was at her
wits end what 10 do or now TO escape
him But she was a woman. When
she next spoke there was a marvellous
change in her. Her face had grown
soft, her voice low. Philip" she said
gently, the purse was light l will
give you more. ! will give you treble
the amount within a few weeks and |
will thank you on my knees and my
husband snail be such a friend to you
rs YOU have never dreamed Of If you
will only 20 home and be silent. only
thst-0r better still walk the streets
an hour and then report that you lost
sight Of rs Think man think she
cried. with energy. The times may
change. A little more and Wyatt had
been master Of London last year. Now
the people are fuller Of discomfort than
ever. these burnings and tOrturings.
these SDaniardS In the streets Eng
land will not endure them long. The
times win change. Let us GO and you
will have a friend when most You need
one"
He shook his head sullenly. Il dare
not do it," he said. And somehow |
got the idea that he was telling the
truth and that ii was not the mans
stubborn nature only that withStood the
bribe and the plea He spoke as II he
were repeating a lesson and the master
were present
When she saw that she could not
move him. the anger which ! think
came more naturally TO her broke out
afresh. You will not, you hound!" she
cried. will neither threats nor prom
ises move you?'
Neither" ne answered doggedy. q
have my orders"
tot liCI-
ener standing In the mouth of the lane
which opened upon the court where
they were The women had taken no
notice OF me, either because they did
not see me or because, seeing me, they
thought that | was hanger on OF the
man before me. And he. having his
back to me and his eyes on them,
could not see me. 1t was a surprise
10 him--a very great surprise, ! think
when | took three steps forward and
gripDed him by the sCruff of his neck.
You have your orders. have you?"
] muttered in his ear as ! shook him
10 and fro. while the taller woman
started back and the younger uttered
Il cry of alarm at my sudden appear
ance We'll you VIII not obey them.
DO you hear? Your employer may go
hang, You will do just what these
ladies please to ask of you
He struggled an instant, but he was
",
loosen the hold which ] had secured
ST my leisure. Then / noticed his hand
going to his girdle in a suspicious way.
stop that" | said. flashing before his
eyes a short. broad blade which had
cut many a deer's throat in old Arden
forest. you had better keep quiet or
Il will be the worse for YOU Now
mistress" continued. you can dispose
Of this little man as you please"
who are you she said after a
pause. during which she stared at me
IN open a&tonishmcnt. Nc doubt | was
a wild looking figure.
A friend" l replied. "or one who
would be such. | saw this fellow fol-
low you ana / followed him For the
last five minutes | have been listening
to your talk. He was not amenable
to reason then, but | think ne will
be now. What shall / do with him."
She smiled family. but did not an
Rwer at once, the cOolness and resolu-
tiOn with which she had faced him be
fore falling her now. possibly in sheer
establishment or because my appear
ance at her side, by removing the
strain, sapped the strength. Il do not
know she said at length in a vague,
puzzled tone.
We'll" ! answered, you are going
10 the Lion wharf. and
"Oh. you fool'' she screamed out
bitterly. Now You have told him
all"
] stood cOnfounded. My cheeks burned
with shame, and her look of contempt
cut me like a knife. That the reproach
was deserved / knew at once. for the
man in my grasp gave start, which
proved that the information was not
lost upon him. Who told YOU" the
woman went on, clutching the child
lealously to her breast, as though she
saw herself menaced afresh. who
told you about the Lion wharf?"
Never mind" / answered gloomily.
Il have made q mistake. but it is easy
10 remedy it," And | took out my
knife again. DO you go on and leave
us
| hardly know whether l meant my
threat or no. But my prisoner had no
doubts. He shrieked out wild cry
of fear which rang round the empty
court-and by rapid blow, despair
giving him courage, he dashed the
hunting knife from my hand This
done, he first flung himself on me,
then tried by sudden jerk to free
himself In moment we were down
on the stones and tumbling over one
another In the dirt while he struggled
to reach his knife, which was still in
his girdle, and | stroVe 20 prevent him.
The fight was sharp, but 1t lasted bare
ly minute. WheE the first effort of
his despair was spent, | came upper
most and he was but a child in my
hands. Presently. with my knee on
his chest. | looked up. The women
were still there. The younger clinging
to the other.
Co Got" | cried impatiently. Each
second ] expected the court to be in
vaded, for the man had screamed more
than once.
But they hestated. had been forced
to hurt him little, and he was moan
ing piteously. Who are you?" the eld-
er woman asked, she who had spoken
all through.
Nay, never mind that" / answered.
do you go. Go while you can. You