The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1908-08-28
CHAPTER xx-continued.

CHAPTER XX-Continued.
Master BERTHE shook his head. II
cannot tell" he said darkly. HI is a
time to lose. We must Join our friends
and talk their advice. We seem to
be surrounded by pitfalls"
AT this moment the lame hostler
came up, and grumbling at US as if
he had never seen us in his life be-
fore. and never wished to see us again,
took our horses. We Wen into the
kitchen. and taking the first chance
of slipping upstairs to No. Is we We're
admitted with the same precautions
as before, and descending the shaft
gained the cellar.
Here we We're not, as we had looked
to be, the first on the scene. i sup
pose a 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 a score of
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 it was clear the distrust and
dependency had today become a panic.
Men Rlared at one another and at the
door and talked in whispers and started
at the slightest sound. 1 glanced round.
The one I 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 momen I hung in suspense. Then
one of the men said: He is In there.
spoke to a door which seemed to lead
to an inner cellar.
Right" said Master BERTHE, still
standing. II have two pieces of bad
news for you nevertheless. Firstly, 1
have just been recognized by the Span
ish ambassador, whom 1 met In the
rose to their feet. What is he doing
here?' they cried, one boldly, the others
with the quaver very plain In their
voices.
81 do not know, but he recognized me.
Why he took no steps to detain or ar
rest me l cannot tell. He rode away
by the north road"
They gaZed at N another and we at
them. The wolf1sh look which fear
brings into some faces grew stronger in
theirs.
What is our other bad news?" said
Kingston, with AN oath.
"A person outside. a friend Of the
prisoner. has a list of our names and
knows our meeting place and our plans.
She threatens to use the knowledge UNI
less the man Clarence or Crewdson be
set free"
There was a loud murmur of wrath
and dismay, amid which Kingston alone
have been prepared for that" he said
quietly. ut is an old p%recaution Of
such folk. But how did you come to
heal Of TT"
My friend here saw the messenger
and heard the terms. The man must
no set Pro0 hH C,,poof ~
And h warranty V W. that he
will not go straight with his plans and
his list to the council?'
Master BERTHE could not answer that.
neither could I. We had no surety. and
II we set him free could take none save
his word. His word! Could ever I ask
them to accept that? To stake the life
of the meanest Of them on it?
1 saw the difficulties of the position,
and when Master Kingston pronounced
coolly that this was a waste Of time,
and that the only wise course was TO
dispose of the principal witness. both in
the interests Of justice and our safety,
and then shift ourselves before the
storm broke, acknowledged in my
heart the wisdom of the course and felt
that yesterday it would have received
my assent.
The risk is about the same either
way" Master BERTHE said.
Not at ALL" Kingston objected, n
oPoi hlc vi llidlICe III his eyes. Last
night we had tlwarted him. Tonight it
was his turn, and the dark. lowering
looks of those round him showed that
numbers We're with him. This fellow
can hang US all. His accomplice who
escapes can know nothing save through
him and could give only vague and un-
certain evidence. No. no. Let US cast
lots who shall do it, get it done quickly
and be gone"
We must wait at least" BERTHE
urged, until Sir Thornas comes"
No" retorted Kingston. with heat
we are all equal here. Besides the
man was condemned yesterday with
the full assent Of all. 1t only remains
to carry out the sentence. Surely lis
gentleman" he continued. turning sud
denly upon me, who was so ready to
accuse him yesterday, does not wish
him spared today"
II do wish It," I said in q low tone
"Ho! ho!" he cried, folding his arms
and throwing back his head. aston
ished at the success of his Owl ques.
ton. Then may we ask for your rea-
cons, sir? Last night o could not lay
your tongue to words too bad for him.
Tonight you wish to spare him and let
him 60"
II do" I said. I felt thai every eye
VA upon me and that. Master BERTHE
pathy with ME in my humiliation. They
were driven to the wall. They had nc
time for fine feeling, for sympathy. for
appreciation Of the tragic, unless II
touched themselves. What chance had
! with them, though 1 was a son plead.
Ing for a father? Nay, what argument
had ! save that I was his son, and thai
I had brought him to this? No argu.
ment. Only the appeal to them tina,
they would not make me a parricide!
And I felt that at this they would
mock.
And SO. in view of those stern. curl.
GUS faces. q new temptation seized me
the temptation to be silent. WI,
should I not "a by and let things
take their course? Why should I not
spare myself the shame which 1 already
saw would be fruitless? When Mastel
Kingston, with a cynical bow. said
Your reasons, sir" 1 stood mute ant
trembling. If I kept silence, if re
fused to give my reasons. if I did no
acknowledge the prisoner, but merel,
begged his life, he would die, and Tho
connection between US would be known
only to one or two. 1 should be freed
from him and might go on my way
The sins Of Ferdinand Cludde were wei