Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1910-11-11
CHAPTER xxrv--tcontinued.)

@NSAAVtbCSA OhlS that i lOVc you.
She answered with a pressure of
her arms about my neck. and I went
on with new strength, my hear
singing. At last, with a deep breath
OF thankfulness, I discerned the roof
OF a howell rising above the hedge
to the right. Was II occupied7 There
was no light at the window, nor smoke
rising from the chimney, but I hast
ened forward to it's door and knocked.
There was no response. I triad the
door IA found it barred, so I knocked
again. or rather hammered savagely
with my fist. This time q step az
preached,
BE off," cried a harsh voice. mo
entrance here"
Citizen" I said, as mildly as I
could, II ask your aid-you VIII lose
nothing by opening the door"
BE off," he cried again. II will not
open"
"Weu, then. I will kick it in" I
said, letting my wrath burst forth,
"and shoot you down like the dog
you are. Choose-a gold louis II you
aid me; death IL you refused" and I
gave the door a premonitory kick which
made the fiimsy building tremble.
Come, is It war or peace?"
What Is 1t you require, citizen7"
aShSu LHS FOlCS, dllSI a moiLlSLLy III d
mllder tone.
Some water boiling hot and cloth
for q ~bandage."
And for these you will give a gold
louis?"
II promise It."
very we'll. I will open the door"
You will make a light first" / said,
n placing my burden carefully on
the ground In the shadow of the hedge,
I drew my pistol and assured myself
that il was ready. Come, make haste"
I added.
In q moment @ light sprang UP
within and the door slowly opened.
/ crossed the threshold with q bound,
TO find myself face to face with as
villianous a wretch as / had ever en-
countered. A. great shock OF yellow
hair hung over a face so grimed and
crusted with filth that the features
were almost indecipherable. The
head hung forward and the great
hands dangling below the knees
showed that the man was deformed.
Quick, stir up the fire." I com
manded, 'and heat the water"
And the gold iouis?" he asked,
cycling my dress"
I drew IT forth and placed It on a
rude table which stood IN one cor
ner.
There it is" / said, but It is not
yours yet"
HIS eyes cleaned as he looked at
II and he licked his lips as q dog
might have done at sight Of a savory
bone; then he turned to the hearth,
stirred the smouldering embers, threw
some pieces OF wood upon them, filled
an e~arthenware pot from another
vessel which stood on the hearth,
and placed 1t in he midst Of the
flames,
Your water will be ready In three
winks, citizen he said.
t.Gnad :, ana -.cgs Ssa. th7
fire q bench which served as a chair.
Now / will bring In my companion"
"Your companion" he repeated.
.ooains ABOUT with a smart.
'Yes-and IL you touch the goldpiece,
! will kill you. Sit down in yonder
corner"
He backed into the corner indicated
and sat down. staring v~acantly. In an
instant / was outside and lifting my
comrade tenderly In my arms, bore her
back to the cottage n closed and
barred the doom
placed her on the bench. Now, let us
see the ankle"
! knelt before her and with fingers
which trembied so that l could scarcely
guide them, removed the shoe and cut
away the stocking. The ankle-which
should have been SO slim, so graceful
was cruelty swollen.
"It will be better In a moment" I
said. and dipping the remnant OF the
stocking into the steaming water, held
1t close against the hurt.
"Oh, that Is heavenly" she murmur-
cd and breathed q deep sigh OF relief.
I bathed the ankle thoroughly. i'm
| mersing IL In water almest %scalding,
and every instant / Joyed to see the
lines OF pain In her face soften and dis
appear ].
bandage It tightly and 1t will not pain
you-only, Of course. o cannot use
Ii for some days"
For some days." h echoed In dis
may. But we cannot stay here SO
long a time"
mo" / agreed, certainly not--but
let us bandage the ankle"
But my face fell as / glanced about
| the room.
What do you require for a BAN
dagger" she asked following my eyes.
"A strip OF clean cloth-the longer
the better. But clean cloth, in a howell
like this!"
She coiored slightly as she looked
down at me.
IF you will look away for a mo-
the bandage."
I walked over to the corner where
our Involuntary host still squatted,
cursing softly to himself, and stood
before him. There was a sharp rip.
How Ii this. doctar2n asked Q voice.
and l turned to see her holding out to
me q strip of linen.
Excellent" / cried. and kneeling be-
fore her, / drew 1t tightly around the
ankle. I rejoiced to see that the swell
ing had already decreased considerably
and / bent and kissed the little foot.
rs that a portion OF the treatment? r.
she asked, laughing.
"A very necessary portlon-don't
you feel the improvement? z"
Yes" she said. her eyes dancing. Il
believe ] do,
And now. added. standing up
again, I'VE must get out of this. We
are still too near that amp down
yonder."
But l am such a burden!" she pro-
tested.
"A dear. delightful burden!" and
stopped TO raise her, but at that instant
q violent blow sounded on the door.
"Cpeni" cried q voice. "Openi"
There was no time TO temporize: be-
sides, / knew that to hesitate would be
to double any suspicion we might