The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1910-11-03
CHAPTER xxrv-(continued.)

AAS 1bOuS 49, ASN"T
on with new strength. my heart
singing. At last, with a deep breath
Of thankfulness, I dtscerned the roof
Of q howell rising above the hedge
to the right. Was 1t occupied7 There
was no light at the window, nor smoke
rising from the chimney. but I hast
ened forward to Its door and knocked.
There was no response. 1 tried the
door and found 1t barred. SO I knocked
again, or rather hammered Savagely
with my fist. This time a step ap-
preached,
BE on" cried a harsh voice. mo
entrance here"
"citizen," I said. as mildly as I
could, II ask your aid-you will lose
nothing by opening the door," =.
BE off," he cried again. IT will not
open"
"well, then. I will kick It in." I
said. letting my wrath burst forth.
land shoot you down like the dog
you are. Choose gold louis II you
aid me; death IL you refused" and l
made the flimsy building trembie.
"Come. Is 1t war or peace?"
What Is It o require, citizen3"
asked the voice, after a moment, In a
milder one.
Some water boiling hot and cloth
for q bandage."
"And for these you will give a gold
louis2''
81 promise f."
VERY we'll. I will open the door,
you will make q light first / said,
and placing my burden carefully on
the ground In the shadow of the hedge,
I drew my pistol and assured myself
that 1t vas ready. Come, make haste"
I added.
In a moment a light sprang up
within and the door slowly opened.
I crossed the threshold with a bound,
to find myself face to face with as
villianous q wretch as I 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 G:as t..e sEs=a ~a= asso.:sea-
Quick. stir up the fire." I COM
manded. "and neat the water"
And the gold louis?" he asked,
cycling my dress"
/ drew it forth and placed 1t on q
rude table which stood in one cor
ner.
There IT Is" said. but it is not
yours yet"
His eyes cleaned as ne looked at
1t and he licked his lips as a 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 earthenware pot from another
vessel which stood on the hearth.
placed 1t in the midst OF the
flames.
your water will be ready in three
winks, citizen he said.
Good" and I moved before the
fire a bench which served as a chair.
"Now I will bring in my companion"
Your companion" he repeated,
looking about with a snarl.
"Yes-and Ii you touch the goldptece,
! will kill you. Sit down in yonder
corner
He backed into the corner indicated
and sat down. staring vacantly. In an
instant l was outside and lifting my
cornrade tenderly in my arms. bore her
back to the cottage and closed and
barred the door.
S u here. my love-" I said. and
placed her on the bench. Now, let us
zee the ankle"
1 knel before her and with fingers
which trembled so that I could scarcely
guide them, removed the shoe and cut
away the stocking. The ankle-which
should have been SO slim, s graceful
was cruelty swollen.
1T will be better in a moment" 1
said. and dipping the ma OF the
stocking into the steaming water. heid
1t close against the hurt.
"Oh, that Is heavenly!" she murmur-
ed n breathed a deep sigh of relief.
l bathed the ankle thoroughly, i'm
mersing 1t in water almost scalding,
n every instant I joyed to see the
lines OF pain In her face soften and dis
appear.
And now" i said at last, "we viii
bandage 1t tightly and It will not pain
you-only, OF course, you cannot use
Il for some days.
For some days." she echoed in dis
may. But we cannot stay here so
long a time.'
NO" / agreed, certainly not--but
let us bandage the ankle
But my face fell as I glanced about
/ the room.
What DO you require for a ban
dage. she asked following my eyes.
"a strip of clean cloth--the longer
the better: But clean cloth in a hoyel
She colored slightly as she looked
down at me.
you viii iovk away sor a ne
ment." she said, II thing I can supply
the bandage."
walked over to the corner where
cursing softly to himself. and stood
before him. There was a sharp rip
How is this, doctor?" asked a voice
and I turned to see her holding out tt
me a strip OF linen.
Excellent" I cried, and kneeling be.
fore her. I drew 1t tightly around thu
ankle. I rejoiced to see that the swell,
Ing had already decreased considerable,
and I e and kissed the little foot.
It's that a portion of the treatment? 2
she asked, laughing.
very necessary portion---don'
YOU feel the Improvement
YES" she said. her eyes dancing, 9
believe / do"
And now I added, standing III
again. W must get out of this. w
are still too near that camp dow
yonder."
but I am such a hurden,. she pro
tested.
"a dear. delightful burdeni. and
stopped to raise her. bnt at thai instan
violent blow sounded on the door.
4Openi' cried q voice. "Open!s
There was nj time to tefnporize: be
sides. I knew that to hesitate would b
70 double any suspicion We Nigh
awaken.
AT onces..I answered. BE BRAY,
my loye!"I whispered. and kissed he
lips. Az 4 turned away I saw a brut
In the corner spring upon the gll
piece mi hide 1t among his rags.