The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1908-07-10

piled lightly.
AT that I started. I could not hell
"Ha. Ha! he laughed. IT though
the stoicism did not go quite down t.
the bottom. my lad. But, there, it i:
true enough, 1 nave come to help you
I have ONE to save your life II you
will let me-"
I strove In ain to keep entire mas ;,
terry over myself. The feeialgs =.
me. My voice sounded strange, even II
nv w ears, as I said hoarsely: ii
is impossible? What can o do?"
What can I do" he answered, witt
a stern smile. Much! have, boy, 8
dozen strings in my hansis and a neck
a life at the end of each!"
He raised his hand, and extended the
fingers moved them to and fro.
Sec! see! A life, a death!" he ex-
claimed. And for you 1 can n viii
save your life-one one condition."
"One one condition." I murrnured.
very easy one. 1 will save your life on
my part, ard you on yours must give
me a little assistance. Do you see:
Then we shall be quits"
II do not understand" 1 said duly,
/ did not. His words had set my heart
f1uttering so that l could for the mo-
ment take in only n idea-that here
was a new hope for life.
ut 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 1 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 1 ask
is that you will use that influence so
that they may be at a certain place at
a certain hour. | will contrive the rest.
: 1t shall never be known, 1 promise you,
that you"-
Betrayed them!"
We'll, gave me some information
ne aid lightly. putting away my
phrase.
No; betrayed them,' I persisted.
"Pu it so. if You please" he replied,
Struggling his shoulders and raising his
eyebrows. What is in a word?"
You are the tempter himself,
think" 1 cried in bitter rage-for it
was bitter-bitter indeed to feel that
new born hope die out" But you come
to me in ain. l defy you"
SOFTLY. SOFTLY" he answered, with
calmness.
YET ! saw a little pulse beating in
emotion kept in subsection.
ut frightens you at first" he said.
"But listen. You will do them no harm
/ aLlu SOQISell SOOu. L Stall RcL lneITl
anyway, both the duchess N her hus-
band, though, without you aid, it 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
"Silence!" I cried iercely. II care
not. I defy you"
1 could think of only one thing. 1
was wild with rage and disappoint-
ment. His wore had aggravated the
pain of every regret, every clinging to
life 1 felt.
Co. I cried. 60 and leave me,
you villain
IF I do leave YOU" he said. fixing
his eyes on me, cit will be, my friend,
to DEATH"
Then so be It'll" l answered wild
ly. so be it. I will keep my honor
Your honor The mask dropped
rose from his seat. A darker scowl
changed and disfigured his brow as
he lost hope of gaining me. Your
honor? Where will it be tonight?" he
Kissed, his eye glowering down at
me. Where a week hence, when you
Your honor. fool? What is the honor
Of a dead man? Pah! But die. then,
II o will have it so! Die, like the
brainless brute you are. and rot and
be forgotten!" he concluded passion
| ately. !
They were terrible words, more ter
rible l know now thar either he or i
understood then. They so shook me
that when he was gone I crouched,
trembling, on my pallet. hiding my
! face in a fit of horror. taking no heed
OF my jaflers or OF appearances. Die
and be forgotten! Die and be forgot
tent" The doom rang in my ears.
Something which seemed to me an
gelic reused me from this misery. 1t
was the sound of a kindly, familiar
voice speaking English. l looked up
and found the Dutchman bending over
me with a face of infinite distress. With
him. but rather behind him, stood Van
Tree, pale and vicious eyed, Juggling
his scanty beard and gazing about him
like a dog seeking some one to fastsn
upon. Poor lad. Poor lad" the old
man said. his voice shaking as he
looked at me. I sprang to my feet,
the irons rafting as 1 dashed my hand
said hurriedly. Il had a-but never
mind that. 1t was like a dream. Only
tell the duchess to look to herself"
continued. still rather vehemently.
clarence is here. He is in Santon.
have seen him."
You have seen him?" both the
Dutchmen cried at once.
Aye" l said, with a laugh that was
three parts hysterical-indeed 1 was
still tingling all over with excitement.
He has been here to offer me my life
II I would help him in his schemes. I
told him he was the tempter and de-
fed him. n he-he said I should die
and be forgotten" 1 added trembling,
yet laughing wildly at the same time.
II think he is the tempter," said
Master Lindstrom solemnly, his face
| very grim, and therefore a liar and
the father Of lies. You may die, lad,
today-perhaps you must-but forgot
ten you shall not be while we live, or
n of us lives, or one of the children
who shall come after us. He is a liar
1 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 a very glory Of light and
warmth n color-the rising of the
May sun. When I turned round, 1 was
myself again. The calm beauty of that
sight had stolen into my soul. rs II
time" I said cheerfully. For the crowd
was gathering below. and there were
voices n feet On the stairs.
Il think it is" Master Lindstrom an
swered. w have obtained cave to
go with you. o need fear no violence