Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1908-07-11
CHAPTER XV-Continued.

the StOlclSm did not ~ quits a. q.
the bottom, my lad. But, there, IL is
true enough. / have come to help you
have come to save your life II you
will let me-"
l strove in vain to keep entire mas
terry over myself. The feelings 10
which he appealed were too strong i%or %
me- MY voice sounded strange, even IN
my own ears, as l said hoarsely: II
Is impossible? What can you 90
What can / dO?" he answered with
stern smile. "Much! l have, boy, a
dozen strings in my hands and necK'
a life at the end Of each!
He raised his hand, and eXtended the
fingers moved them to and FRO.
See! see! A life, DEATH" ne exI
claimed. And for you / can and VIII
save your life-one one conlitlon'
"One one condition." / murmured.
AYE, one one condition, but II Is
very easy one. I will save your life on
my part, and you on yours must give
me a little assitance. Do you see?
Then we shall b quits"
II do not understand" ! said DULY.
did not His words had set my heart
fluttering so that I could for the mo-
ment take in only one ldea-tha' mere
was a new hope for fife.
1T is very simple" he resumed:
speaking slowly. Certain plans Of
mine require that I should get your
| friend the duchess conveyed back TO
England. But for you l should have
succeeded before this. In what you
| have hindered me you can now help
me You have their confidence and
great influence with them. All ! ask
| Is that you will use that influence so
that they may be at certain place at
a certain hour. / will contrive the rest.
1t shall never be known l promise you,
that you
! Betrayed them!"
We'll, gave me some information"
he said lightly. putting away my
phrase.
NO; betrayed Them" persisted.
Put it so, If you please" he replied,
Struggling his shoulders and raising his
eyebrows. What is in word?" =.
think" l cried in bitter rage--for 1t
was bitter-bitter indeed TO feel that
new born hope die out" But you come
to me in vain. l defy you"
Softly, softly" he answered, with
| calmness.
Yet l saw little pulse beating in
| his check that seemed to tell of some
| emotion kept in subJectiOn.
1T frightens you at first" he said
| Put listen. You will do them no harm
and yourself good. l shall get them
anyway, both the duchess and her hus-
band, though, without your aid, 1t will
be more difficult. Why help of that
kind is given every day They need
never know it, Even now there is one
of whom you little dream who has
"silenca!" I cried fiercely. Il care
not. | defy YOU"
I could think of only one thing. /
was wild with cage and disappoint-
ment. His words had aggravated the
pain OF every regret, every clinging to
life fell.
Go" cried. GO and leave me,
you villair."
IF do leave you" he said, fixing
his eyes on ne, 1T will be, my friend,
to death"
Then SO ne IT." answered wild
ly. 80 be it. I will keep my honor"
Your honor" The mosS dropped
from his face, and he sneered as he
rose from his scat. A darker scowl
changed and cisngured his brow as
he lost hope oc gaining nc. Your
honor? Where win 1t be tonight" he
h:ssed. his eyes Glowcring down at
me. "Wherc a week hence, when you
will be cast into pit ana forgotten?
Your honor. fool? WHAT Is the honor
OF dead man? Pah! But die. then,
if you viii hav" 1t sn! Die, like the
hainless brute you ere, and rot and
be forgottcn!" he concluded passion
atCly.
They were terrible words. more ter
rlbe l know now tnan eithe" nc or l
understood then. They SO shook me
that when he was gone 1 rTouched,
trembling, on my pallet, hiding my
face in fit of horror. taking no heed
of my Ja:-ers or OF appearances. Die
and be forgotten! DIE and be forgot
ten!" The doom rang in my ears.
Something which seemed 10 me an
gelc reused mo from this misery 1t
was tho sound Of kindly. familiar
voice speaking English. I looked up
and found the Dut"hman bending over
me with Il face OF Infinite distress. With
him, but rather behind him. stood Van
Tree, pale ana vicious eyed, tugging
his scanty beard and gazing about him
like a Cog seeking come one to fasten
upon. Poor lad. Poor lad" the old
man said, his voice shaking as he
looked at me. l Sprang to my feet,
the irons rafting as I dashed my hand
across my eyes. 1T is nli right" I
said hurr.edly. u had n--but never
mind th0t. 1t was ike O. dream. Only
tell the duchess 70 look 20 herself"
continued, still rather vchcmently.
"Clarrnce is here. He is il SantOn. I
have seen him"
You have seen him." both the
Dutchmcn cried at once.
Aye" I said, with a laugh that was
three parts hystercal-indeed l was
still tingling all over with excitement.
HE has been here to offer me my life
If would help him in his schemes.
told him he was the tcrnpter and de-
fed him. and he--.hc said | should die
and be forgotten" l added trembling,
yet laughing wildly at the same time.
II think he is tho tempter," said
Master LindStrom solemnly his face
very grim, "and therefore a liar and
the father of lies. You may die, lad,
toGay-perhaps you laust-but forgot
ten you shall not be while we live. or
- lt,.Au 90 III
wro shat! come after us He is a liar"
! got my hands, with a struggle,
from the old man, and turning my
back upon him went and looked out
of the window. The sun was rising.
The tower of the great minister, seen
now for the first time, rose in stately
brightness above the red roofs and
quaint gables and the rows of dormer
windows. Down in the streets the
grayness and chill yet fingered, but
above was very glory OF light and
warmth and Color-the rising of the
May sun. When I turned round, l was
myself again. The calm beauty of that
sight had stolen into my soul. rs il
timer" l said cheerfully. For the crowd
was gathering below. and there were
voices and feet on the stairs.
II think II is" Master Lindstrom an
swcred. we have obtained leave to
go with you. You need fear no violence
in the streets, for the man who was
hurt is still alive and may recover. l
have been with the magistrates this
morning" he continued, "and found
them better disposed to you, but the
cuhdean has joint jurisdiction with
them, as the deputy of the bishop of
Arras, who Is dean of the minister, and
no is, for some reason, very bitter
against YOU"
"fhe bishop of Arras? Granville, do
you mean?" l asked. l knew the name
of the emperor's shrewd and powerful
minister, by whose advice the Meth
crlands were at this time ruled.
"r'he same. He, of course, is not
hc:e. but his deputy is. Were it not
for hiu---but there, 1t is no good talk
ing of that" the Dutchman said, break