The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1910-01-20
Copyright. 1909. by Stanley J. weyman.)
CHAPTER xX.-(Continued.)

whose subtle brain had been at work
mot that it matters, bedad, for an Irisl
. gentleman will do his best. And to-
morrow Colonel Sullivan. that's more
knowledge Of the mode n foreign
ways, will be back. and he'll be help
ing his cousin. More by tokeD," he add
ed in a different tone, you know hin
of old?"
Payton, who had frowned at tn,
name, Redeemed at the question. Il:
that" he asked. the Colonel Sullivan
who"
who tried the foils with Lemoine al
Tralee?" Asgill cried heartily. THE
same n no other. He is away today
but he'll be returning tomorrow, ano
he'll be delighted to see you. And BY
good luck there are foils in the house
n Lell pass the time pleasantly with
you. It's he's the hospitable creature
Payton was anything but anxious to
see the man whose skill had turned the
joke against him, and his face betok-
ened his feelings. Had he foreseen the
meeting he would have left the job &c
a subaltern. Hang it," he exclaimed
veXed by the recollection. "A fine mess
you led me into there, Asgill."
Il did not know him then" Asgill
replied lightly. And, pho! Take my
word for it. he's no man to pear
malice"
Malice, begad!" Payton answered,
illhumoredly. II think it's T.
"Ah, yol are right again, TO be sure.'
Asgill agreed, laughing silently, for
already he had formed a hope that the
guest might be manoeuyered out of the
house on the morrow. He knew Payton.
He knew the mans arrogance, the con
tempt in which he held the Irish, his
view of them as an inferior race. He
was sure that IL he saw Flavia and
fancied her he was capable of any out
rage, or If he learned her position in
regard to the estate he might prove a
formidable, if an honorable, competitor.
In either case TO hasten the mans de-
parture and to induce Flavia to remain
In the background in the meantime
became Asgill's chief aim.
James McMurrough, on the other
hand, saw in the unwelcome intruder
an English officer, and, troubled by his
guilty conscience, he dreaded above all
things what he might discover. True,
the past was past, the plot spent, the
Spanish ship gone. But the Colonel
remained and in durance, n e by any
chance the Englishman stumbled on
him, heard his story and lived to carry
1t back to Tralee. the consequences
might be such that a cold sweat broke
out on the young mans brow at the
thought of them. To add to his alarm,
Payton, whose mind was secretly occu-
pied with the Colonel. sought to evince
his Indifference by changing the SUBJ
ject. and in doing so hit on ~ singu-
larly unfortunate.
"A pretty fair piece of water" he
tower at the head of tits grown o
dark to see it's 1t inhabited ?"
The McMurough started guilty.
"The tower?" he stammered. Could 1t
be that the man knew all and was here
to expose him? His heart stood still.
then raced.
1.-The Major'll be meaning the tower
on the rock" Asgill said smoothly. but
with a warning look. "Ah. sure. it'll
be used at times. Major. for a prison.
you understand"
"Oh!"
But we'll be better to be moving in
side, I'm thinking" he continued.
Payton assented. He was still brood
ing on his enemy, the Colonel. Curse
the man, he was thinking. Why couldn't
he keep out Of his way?
Take the Major in. M~cMurrough,"
Asgill said, who feared Flavia and
Morty O'Beirne might arrive from the
Tower. You'll like to get rid of your
boots before supper, Major" he went
to him, McMurrough; or, better, I'll be
going to the stables myself and I'll be
telling him."
AS the others went in Asgill strolied
toward the stables. But when they
had passed out of sight he turned and
walked along the lake to meet the girl
and her companion. AS he walked he
deal with Flavia and how much he
should tell her. When he met them.
theremore-by this time the night was
falling-his first question related to
that which an hour before had been the
n p~reoccupation Of all their minds.
WELL" he said, he'll not have yield
ed yet, / am thinking?
Dark as it was, the girl averted her
face to hide the trouble in her eyes.
She shook her head. NO." she said,
she has not"
Il did rot count on it," Asgill replied
c%heerfully. But time-time and hum
ger and patience-not a doubt he'll give
In presently"
She did not answer, but he fancied--
she kept her face a~verted-thot she
shivered.
while you have been away some-
thing has happened" he continued. Aft
err all. 1t was perhaps as welle he re-
fiected. that Payton had come. His
coming. even IL F1avia did not encoun
ter him. would prevent her dwelling
too long on that room In the tower
and on the man who famished there.
She hated the colonel, Asgill believed.
She had hated him, he was sure. But
how long would h continue to hate
him in these circumstances? How
long, If she learned what were the
c~olonels feelings toward her? can UNI
welcome guest has come" he continued
glibly. and ono thatll be giving trou-
BILE. I'm fearing"
"A guest" Flavia repeated in aston
ishment. She halted. What time for
guests was this? And unwelcome? %
she added. "Who is it?"
IAN English officer" Asgill ex-
planned, from Tralee. He Is saying
that the castle has heard something
and has sent him here to look about
him."
Naturally the danger seemed greater
to the two than to Asgill. who knew
his man. Words of dismay broke from
Flavia and O'Beirne. From Tralee %
she cried. "And an English officer?
Good heavens! Do you know him."
II do" Asgill answered confidently.
"And / can manage him. I hold him,
like that. not the least doubt Of It;
but the less We'll be doing for him
the sooner he'll be going n the safer
we'll be. I would not be so bold as
to advise" he continued, diffidently,
"but I'm thinking it would be nc worse
IL you left him to be entertained by
the men,"
Il will" she cried. why should !
be wanting to see him."
The. I think he'll be ordering his