Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1908-07-04

the jaiIers, had forbidden my friends to-
stay with me. An hour or more after
midnight two of the men lay down, and
the other sat humming a drinking song
or at intervals rose to yawn and stretch
himself and look out of the window
From time to time the cry of the
watch going his rounds came drearily
to my ears, recalling to me the night
had spent behind the boarding in
Moorgate street, when the adventure
which was to end tomorrow-nay, to-
day, In a few hours-had lured me
away. Today? Was / to die today?
To perish, with all my plans, hopes,
love? 1t seemed impossible. AS I gazed
at the window. whose shape began to
be printed on my brain, 1t seemed i'm
possible. My soul SO rose In rebellion
against 1t that the perspiration stood
on my brow, and I had to clasp my
hands about my knees and strain ey-.
cry muscle to keep in the cry / would
have uttered-a cry, not of fear, but OF
rage and remonstrance and revolt.
! was glad to see the first streaks OF
dawn, TO hear the first cock scrowings.
and, few minutes later. the voices OF
men In the street and OH the stairs
The sounds of day and life acted magi-
cally upon me. The horror of the night
passed off as does the horror Of
dream. When a man, heavily cloaked
and with his head covered, came in, the
door being shut behind him by another
hand. looked up at him bravely. The
worst was past.
He replied by looking down at me for
few moments without disclosing him
self. the collar Of his cloak being raised
80 high that / could see nothing of his
features. My first notion that he must
be Master Lindstrom passed away, and.
displeased by his silent scrutiny and
thinking him stranger, l said sharply,
Il hope you are satisfied. sir"
Satisfied" he replied in voice
which made me start so that the irons
clanked on my feet. well. think
should be--seeing you SO, my friendl"
II was Clarencei OF all men, Clar-
ence! I knew his voice, and he, see
ing himself recognized, lowered his
cloak. I stared at him in stupefied sill
ence, and he at me in grim curiosity
l was not prepared for the blunt
abruptness with which he continued,
using almost the very words he had
used when face TO face with me in the
flood, Now tell me who you are, and
what brought you into this company?
gave him no answer. still stared
at him in silence.
Come" he continued, his hawks
eyes bent on my face, make a clean
breast OF 1t, and perhaps-who knows?
I may help you yet, lad. You have
puzzled and fo!led me, and want to
understand you. Where did my lady
plCh yOu up JuSG NllCH SIlS NdlllGu yOu1
/ had arranged for every checker on
the board except you. Who are you?"
This time l did answer him--by a
question. How many times have we
met ?" l asked.
Three" he said readily, "and the
last time you nearly rid the world OF
me- Now the luck is against you. 1t
generally is in the end against those
who thwart me, my friend" He
chuckled at the conceit, and read in
his face at once his love of intrigue
and his vanity. Il come uppermost. as
always"
l only nodded.
What do you want?" asked. felt
certain expectation. He wanted
something.
First to know who you are"
Il shall not tell you!" answered.
He smiled dryly, sitting opposite to
me. He had drawn up stool and made
himself comfortable He was not an
uncomely man as he sat there playing
with his dagger, a dubious smile on his
lean. dark face. Unwarned, l might
have been attracted by the masterful
audacity, the intellect as well as the
force which saw stamped on his feat
ures. Being warned, l read cunning in
his bold eyes and cruelty in the curl
OF his lip. What do you want next ?"
l asked.