The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1908-05-15
Ix-continued.

anxiety-to discover the path from the
ca,lseway on to the dixie. When once
] had stumbled on to the latter. ]
,4focgd I had lost sight of both figures,
butt ran along at the top Of my speed
calculating that the two, who could no
be far apart. the IA being the nearer
to me. we're about a quarter of a mile
or rather more from the road. l had
gone one-half OF this distance perhaps
when q shrill scream In front caused
me to redouble my efforts. l expected
20 md tn" ruffian In the act OF rob-
bling the girl. and clutched my cudgel-
for. alas. l had left my sword at home
more tightly In my grasp s % that
It was an immense relief to me when,
on turning an angle IN the dixie, I saw
he running toward me. Her face. still
white with fear, however, md her hair
streaming loosely behind her. told how
narrow a been her escape, II escape
IL could be called. For about ten feet
behind. her, the hood he had plucked
on still In his grasp, came Master
6pantard, hotfoot and painting. but
gaining on her now with every stride.
He vas n tall fellow, gayly dressed.
ewarthy. m~ustachioed and fierce eyed.
His cOrslet and sword belt shone and jim
eled MS ne al and swore, but he had
dropped his feathered bonnet in the
slight struggle which had evidently
taken place when she got by him. and
~ ldy u UldCh bEOI III luc Iuluuie OL
the grassy avenue behind him. The
Gun--lt was about three hours after
nOon--was at my back and shining dt-
fectly into his eyes,. n l marked this
as l raised my cudgel and jumped
aside to let the girl pass. for she In
her blind fear would have run against
me.
1t was almost the same with him.
He did no see me until I was within
y rev PAGES OF him. INT ever then I
think he noticed my presence merely
a. that of an unwelcome spectator. He
fancied should step aside, INT he
cursed me. calling me a Dutch dog for
getting in his way.
n next mOmcnt--he had not drawn
his sword nor made pny attempt to
draw tive came together violently,
and l had my and on his throat. We
swayed as we whirled round one an
other In the first shoe. Of the collision.
a cry OF ASTONISHING escaped him
astonlshment at my chardihood. He
tried, his eyes glaring into min and
DIS not breath on my Cheek, to get al
MS dagger. but 1t was too late. l
brought down my staff with all the
strength of an arm nerveds at the mo-
ment by rage and despair, upon his
bare head.
He went down ill.,. a stone, and the
blood dubbed from his lips. I stood
over him watching him. He stretched
himself out and turned with a con-
yulstve movement on his face. His
hands clawed the grass. His leg moved
once. twice. y third time family. Then
he lay still.
There was a lark singing Just over
my head. and Its clear notes seemed
during the long. long minute while /
stood bending over him In an awful
fascination to be the only sounds in
nature. / looked SO long al him in
that dreaded stiffness and absorption
dared not at last look up lest 1
should sec I kne not what, yet when
Q touch fell on my arm I did not start.
You have killed him." the girl whis-
pered. s~huddertng.
yes, I have killed him" / answered.
mechanically,
I could Not take my eyes of him. It
vas not az II I had done this thing
a1tersa long conflict. or In a melee
With others fighting round me, or, on
e battlefield. I should have felt no
horror then such as I felt now, stand
Ing over him In the sunshine. with the
lAfkss Q In my ears. 1t had hap
pened so quickly, and the waste about
us was SO still, and I had never Killed
= man before nor seen a man die.
suddenly. Come away!"
turned then. and the sight or the
e1r!,s wan face n strained eyes re-
\ called me in some degree to myself.
I saw h ri ILL.,. and hastily I rave
ner my arm n partly carried, partly
supported her. back to the road. The
way seemed long. andNI looked behind
me often, but we reached the cause.
way. ut last. n there ins the open
! felt some relief. Yet even then. ston-
pin9. 70 cast a backward glance at the
marsh. ! %shuddered anew. espying a
bright white spark cleaning amid the
ereen q the PUSHES. 1t was the dead
IS mama CnravnfG 80 tla3k IfE /. Sn-a 49, =, -
4 could scarcely have shrunk from
II In greater dread,
II will be Imagined that we were
not long in crossing the island. Nat
lrally ! was full of what had hap
Rened ana Y gave a thought to
oI MS sho visit. I had indeed for
rotten his existence until we cached
the porch. There. entering ranidly
with Dyfnphna cltngtng to my arm.
va SO oblivious of other matters that
Mhens the young Dutchman rose sud-
3eniy from the seat on one side Of the
door and at the game m the
duchess rose from the bench on the
other I dtd not understand in the first
instant OF surprise what was the mat
yer. though I let Dymphna's hand fal,
from my arm. The dark scowling face
q inc ne. however. and the anger and
chagrinA written on the features OF the
Other. as they both glared at l1sl
brcYssht all back to me In a fash. Rnt
~ was 9 late. Before Iscould utter
= word the girls. lover pushed by mo
within fierce gesture and fercer cry
and disappeared round a corner OF the
house.
vas eve such folly!s cried the
duchess. stamping her foot and stand
! before us. her face crimson. ..Or
such fools! You idiot! YOU"
Hush. madam" said I sterniy. Had
xsreally grown Older in doing the deedo
SSomcthing has happeneds"
And Dymphna. with a low cry Of
sthc Spaniard! The Spaniard,'. tottered
up to her and tainted In her arms.
CHAPTER *.
.ssC.sis Is a serIous natter. said Mas
ter BERTHE t~houghtfully as we sat in the
conclaye an hour later round the table
In the parlor Mistress Anne was at
tending to yymphna up stairs. and Van
Tree had no returned again. SO that
We had been unable to tell him Of the
mornings adventure. But the rest OF
us were there. 1T considerably adds
t0agthe danger OF position" BERTHE
/ contiylHed.
Asy0s curse it does" his wife said
SSp6oD3ptly. s'Rut Master L.indstrom here
gsculi best judge OF that and OF wha.
#sc0NfDe II will he safest to take"
ssIst depends" u host answered
No = XnA 49, - IIA 49, AL4--