Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1908-09-25

PNiA~NafV'Js ALI SOilib EEOSSeu l1GHl
selves. He is in one of his mad fits.
Baldwin muttered. Still the stewar
showed no fear. "A swallow, NAM" h
cried aloud Come, ak sense. Their,
are no swallows flying at this tim,
OF year, and IL there were they d,
not fly by night nor give men wound
ike that. What was it? Out with IL
now! DO you not see. man" he added
giving Martin an impatient shake. tina
Sir Anthony is waiting"
The fool nodded stupidity. "A swal
low, he murmured. Aye, twas {
swallow. a great big swallow. T.
nearly put my foot on him"
And he flew up and hit you In III,
face" Baldwin said, with huge con.
tempt In his tone.
Martin accepted the suggestion pIac.
Idly. AYE, twas so. A great big swaI.
low, and he flew in my face" he re-
peated.
Sir Anthony looked at him com
passonateiy. Poor fellow" he said
Baldwin. see to him. He has had on
OF MS hts and hurt himself"
i never knew him to hurt himself
Baldwin muttered darkly.
Let somebody see TO him" IN.
knight said. d~isregarding the Interrupt
tion' And now come, Petronilla. Why
wnere has the girl gomez"
NOT Tar. Only round to the other
side or him, that she might be a little
nearer TO Martin. The curiosity In the
otner women's faces was a small thing
IN comparison with the startled, ear
nest TOOK 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 i'm
gasps. Her cheek was red and white
py turns, n for her heart-Well II
mao seemed TO stand still a ONE
and now was beating like the
neart or some poor captured bird
heid In the hand. She did not
seem TO hear her father sneak
to her. and he had TO touch her sleeve
Ihen she started as though she were
awakening from a dream and followed
him sadly into the house.
sadly, n yet there was a light in
her eyes which had not been there five
minutes before. A swallow? A great
Dig swallow? And this was December,
wheh the swallows were at the bottom
= we morse ponds. She only knew Of
one swallow whose return was possible
~ winter. But then that one swallow
aye. though the snow should lie inches
deep In the chase and the water should
freeze In her room-would make a sum-
lner for her. Could IL be that one?
could II be? Petronilla's heart was
beating so loudly as she went up stairs
ai.er ner rather that she wondered he
did not hear II.
The group left round Martin gradu-
any melted away. Baldwin was the
only man who could deal with him I'm
MS mad fits, and 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
rerulnand Cludde remained, and he
stood a little apart and seemed more
.QHGDlX pnQaRRn I'm liafanyor Co. -.
Gun which might betoken the sher-
ms approach than In h~earkening 10
their conversation. Listen as he might
ne would have gained little from the
latter. for IL was made up entirely of
scolding on n side AND stupid reit-
Grafton on the other. Yet Ferdinand,
ever suspicious and on his guard. must
have felt some interest in II. for he
presently called the steward to him. rs
be more fool or knave?" he muttered.
pointing under hand at Martin, who
stood In the gloom a few PAGES away.
Baldwin shrugged his shoulders, but
remained silent. What happened
What is the meaning OF Ii all ~ Ferdi-
nand persisted, his keen eyes on the
stewards face. Did ne do it him
self, or who did it?"
Baldwin turned slowly and nodded
toward the a Il expect you will
find him who did IL there he said
grlmiy. Il never knew a mar save Sir
Anthony or Master Francis hit Martin
yet bus he paid for 1t, and when his
temper is UP he is mad, or as good as
mad, and better than two sane men!"
He is a dangerous fellow" Ferdi-
nand said th%oughtfully, shivering a lit
tie. II was unlike him TO shiver and
shake, but the bravest have their
moods.
Dangerous" the steward answered
AYE, he is to some and sometimes
Ferdinand Cludde looked sharply at
the speaker, as IL he suspected him of a
covert sheer. But Baldwin's gloomy
face betrayed no CLINT OF intelligence or
amusement n the knights brother.
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 was nowhere TO be seen. The lights
In the hall windows twinkled cheerily.
and the great fire cast its glow way
across the courtyard. as lights and fire
had twinkled and glowOi at Cotton End
on many a night before. But neither
in hall nor chamber was there any
ahswtflng merriment. Baldwin, COM
ing in, cursed the servants who were in
Tie WtSt dha tAS EiLi! DIQteu meeKly
and without retort. taking his oaths for
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 I'm
the skirmish, had visions OF a tree and
a rope and looked sickly. The rest
scowled and blinked at the fire or
kicked up a dog II 1t barked in its
sleep.
Hasn't Martin come in?" Baldwin
growled presently, setting his heavy
wet boot on a glowing log. which Kissed
and sputtered under 1t. Where Is he %
Don't knowl" one OF the men took
on himself to answer. He did not
come In here"
II wonder what he is up to now ."
Baldwin exclaimed, with gloomy irri-
tation, for which. under the circum-
stances, he hGd 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 IL. The suspicion, there
fore. that his 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.
A gray haired man In the warmest
nook by the fire seemed 20 read his
thoughts. There Is one in the house"
he said slowly and oracularly. his eyes
- I'D IL -. 1s.fA AAA& $500 49, 49, LL4L