The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1909-10-07
Copyright. 1909. by Stanley ]. weyman.)
CHAPTER vII-continued.

Asgill knew that that was true, and
he changed his tone. Enough said"
! he replied paciically. "Where'l we be
IL we quarrel? You want the old place
that Is yours by right. And / want
your sister" He swallowed something
as he named her: even his tone was
different. "'Tis one and one. That's
ALL"
! And you're the one who wants the
most" James replied cunnlngly. AS
gill, my man, you'd give your soul for
her. I'm thinking"
! IT would"
You would, 1 believe" he continued,
with a leer, you're that fond Of her!
TIL have to look to her! Hang me, my
friend. IL / let her be alone with you
after this. Safe bind safe bind. Wom-
en- and fruit are easily bruised" /.
Asgill rose slowly to his feet. You
s~coundrel!" he said in a low voice. And
1t was only when The McMurrough, sur
prised by his movement, turned to him,
that the young man saw that his face
was black with passion. so menacing,
scoundreI" Asgill repeated, choking on
the words. IF you say a thing like
that again I'll do you a mischief. Do
you hear?"
What in. the saints names is the
matter with your" The McMUrrough
faltered.
You're not At to breathe the air she
b~reathes!" Asgill continued. with the
same ferocity. Nor am I! But l know
II. And you don't. Why, man." he con-
tinued, still fighting with the passion
that possessed him, II wouldn't dare
to touch the hem of her gown without
her leave. / wouldn't dare to look In
her face If she babe me not! She's as
safe with me as If h were an angel
In heaven! And you say-you; but you
don't understand"
answered, his tone much lowered.
That's true for you!"
mo" Asgil repeated. But don't you
talk like that again, or harm will come
of II. 1 may be what you say, but l
wouldn't lay a finger on your sister
against her will-no, not to be in para
dise!"
Il thought you didn't believe in para
disc" the younger man muttered.
There's a paradise / do believe in,"
! Asgill answered. But never mind
that" He sat down again.
Strange to relate, he meant what he
said. Asgill was as INSCRIPTIONS a
man as the time in which he lived and
the class from which he sprang could
show: He had risen to his present
station by crushing the weak and
cajoling the strong, and he was pre-
pared to maintain his ground by means
as vile n a hand as hard. But he
loved; and somewhere In the depths
Of his earthly nature a spark OF good
survived n fired him with SO pure an
ardor that at the least hint of dis
respect to his mistress h whole man
rose in arms. y ."H
- Enough Of that." Asgill repeated
after a moments pause. While he did
not fear, 1t did not suit him to break
with his companion. "And, indeed, IL
was not OF your sister I was thinking
when / said where'd we be II we quar-
relied. For It's not I'll be the cuckoo
to push you out. McMurrough, lad
But a man there Is will play the old
gray bird yet, IL you let him be. And
him with the power and all" s.
ID you mean John Sullivan? 2" n.
II mean hat same, my jewel"
| The young man laughed derisively.
'Pho!" he said, you'll be jestinS For
the power. it's but a lame. II he were
TO use. were 1t but the thin end Of II,
IL would run into his hand! The boys
would rise upon him, and Flavvy'd be
the worst of them. It's In h deep
cog he'd be, before he knew where he
was, and never'd he come out, Luke
Asgilll Sure, I'm not afraid of hint"
I You've need to bel" Asgill said,
soberly.
' rho! IL TAXES mOEe lldn HlH "
Brighten me! Why, man, he's q soft
thing, IL ever there was one! He'll
not say bob! to a goose with a pistol
In it's hand!"
And that might be, II you weren't
such a fool as We are, McMurrough!"
Asgill y eNed. I say he might not
harm you, il you had not the folly we
tell you freely I'll be no bonnet to 1t
while he stands by. 'Tis too danger
oIs. Not that l believe you are much
in earnest. my lad What's your right
cul king to you, or you to him, thai you
should risk aught? But whether you
go into 1t out Of pure devilment, or
Just to keep right with your sister,
(which is why you stand bonnet for
It," McMurrough struck In. with a
grin.
That's possible. But l do that, my
lad, because l hope naught may come
of it. but just a drinking of healths
and the like. So. why should i play
the informer and get myself misliked?
But you-you may find yourself deeper
In it than you think I'M quicker tnan
you think. while all the time, II the
truth were told"-with a shrewd look
at the other-"I believe you've little
more heart for it thar myself"
The young man swore a great oath
that he was in 1T body and soul. But
he laughed before the words were out
Of his mouth.
II don't believe YOU" Asgill said,
.oolly. you know, and I know. what
YOU were ready to do when h old man
was alive, and IL it had paid you prop
erly. You'd do the same thing now, If
II paid you. So what r the wrongs
If the old faith to o that you should
risk all of them? Or to the rights Of
the old Irish, for the matter OF that?
This being so. I tell you 1t is too dan
Ferous a game to play for greats.
While John Sullivan's here that makes
It more dangerous. I'll not play bon
nett"
"whetT he know Of 1t, al all at ALL"
James McMurrough asked contemptu-
ously.
with a Spanish ship off the coast"
Aseill answered. and you know who
likely to land, and a preaching, NAV be
next Sunday. and pike drill at the Car
raghalin to follow-man. in three, days
YOU may have smoking roof trees, and
t will tn 90 late to cry Hold Stop,
I sav. whIe you car and before you've
all Ke, ~ in 2 flannel"
James McMurrough turned with a
start. "How did you know there was
pike drill?" he cried, sharply. II didn't
tell You"
"Hundreds know It,"