The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1909-12-24
RQSAkIND AT RED GATBQ

Sss kE
scsutinized me with mingled inatgaA,
ton and interest.
l seemed to pussle him. and hts xass
swept ME from head to foot several
times before he spoke, Then his eyes
flashed angrsN and he took step to-
ward me.
Who In the devu are you and what
do you WANT"
My name is Donovan. and don't
want anything except to set home"
Where do you come from at this
hour OF the nights"
y am spending the summer at Mr.
Glenarm's place. near Annandale."
That's rather unlikely: Mr.. Glen
arm is abroad. What were you doing
down there on the creek?"
Il wasn't doing anything until two
men came along to kill you and I
mixed up with them and got badly
mussed for my trouble"
tae eyed me with new interest.
They came to kill me, did they?
You tell s. good story. Mr.. Donovan"
Quite so. | was standing on the
deck of the houseboat, or whatever 1t
is
Where you had no business to
be"
Granted. had no business to be
there. but / was there and came near
getting Killed for my impertinence, as
have told you. Those fellows rowed
up from the direction of the lake. One
OF them told the other to call you to
your door on the pretense OF summon
ing aid for broken motor car Off
there in the road. Then he was to
stab you. The assassin was an Ital.
ian. His employer spoke to him in
that tongue. l happen to be &C
qnainted with 1t"
You are very accomplished per.
son." he observed, dryiy.
He walked up to me and felt my
pockets.
Who fired that pistol?"
The man in charge Of the expedi
ton. The Italian was trying to knife
me on the deck, and l broke away
from him and ran. His employer had
gone back to the boat for safety and
he took crack at me as ran across
the platform. It's not the fault O.
either that I'm not quite out of bust
ness
An inner door back of me creaked
slightly. My captor swung round at
the sound.
20 Rosalind! It's all right. A gen
tleman here lost his way and I'm Civ.
ing him his bearings
The door closed gently, and heard
the sound Of steps retreating through
the cottage. noted the anxious look
in Holbrook's face as he waited for
the sounds to cease; then he ad.
dressed me again.
MIR. Donovan, this is quiet neigh
borhood, and l am peaceable man
whose worldly goods could tempt nc
one. There were undoubtedly others
besides yourself down there at the
creek, for one man couldn't have
made all that row; but as you are the
one I cal - must deal with you
But you have protested too much; the
idea of Italian bandits on Tippecanoe
creek is creditable to your imagina
ton. but it doesn't appeal to my com
mon sense. don't know, about your
being a guest at Glenarm house
even that Is fimsy. A guest in the
absence OF the host is just a little toe
fanciful I'm strongly disposed tc
fol - Ia ~
canoe village"
Having been in jail several. times in
different parts of the world was not
anxious to add to my experiences in
that direction. Moreover, hal come
to this lonely house on the Tippeca
noe to gain information touching the
movements of Henry Holbrook, and
did not relish the idea Of being thrown
into country iail by him. resolved
to meet the situation boldly.
You seem to accept my word re
luctantly. even after have saved you
from being struck down at your own
door. Now will be frank with you
! had purpose in coming here"
He stepped back and folded his arms
yes. thought So" He looked
about uneasily, before his eyes met
mine. His hands beat nervously or
his sleeves as he waited, and / re
solved to bring matters to an issue by
speaking his name.
7 know who you are, Mr.. Hol
brook"
His hands went into his pockets
again, and he stepped back and
laughed.
You are remarkably bad guesser
Mr.. Donovan. II you had visited me
BY daylight instead Of coming like {
thief at midnight, you would have
saved yourself much trouble. NJ,
name is displayed over the outer gate
7 am Robert Hartridge. the canoe
maker" @ E. sS.; q s
l tTo BE coNT1NuED.)
IN