The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1910-06-30
CHAPTER u.-(continued.,

- =
I watched until his pursuers reached
the grove and plunged into it, then
] tied my horse to the tree n re-
sumed my seat beneath Its branches,
for I was curious to see the end or TINS
encounter. My ~syinpathies were wholly
with the fugitive. Whatever the mer-
its OF the case, so gallant u dash for
liberty deserved to be successful. And
yet he could scarcely hope to escape, !
with 20 men at his heels.
Once q chorus of frantic yells came
TO me from the grove. and l thought
for a time hat the chase was ended.
But the moments passed and l saw
no sign of either the fugitive or his
pursuers. Perhaps he had eluded them,
after all: or perhaps they were push
ing across the country after him, In
either event. 1t was useless for me to
tarry longer; 1t was time for me TO
be getting forward If l wanted to reach
Chatellerauit, as l had planned, by
nightfall. Only l should have liked to
say goodby to Sergeant Dubosq. There
was about the man a fascination. an
air of deviltry that pleased me. Per-
haps. at another time, l might even
have found myself listening to his
words; but now-
.Sit still. monsieur" said a low
voice just behind me and I started
round to find myself looking down
the long barrel of q pistol just above
which cleaned two eyes blue and
rold as steel. Il was moved to shoot
you" he went on evenly, as the
shortest way out, but after all, ! am
not a murderer. I will give you n
chance. 1 must nave our horse.
Give me your word of honor to sit
there quietly n you are safe; re-
fuse" and he made a menacing lit
tie motion with his pistol.
There could be no doubling his
. arnpsfnaSc r. Gpe Glance at the raSn-
lutte and implacable c~ountenance con-
WINGED me that it's owner would not hes
ttate to shoot me down. But to lose
my horse
Come he said. decide quickly.
Faith, the choice ought not to be diff
ficult!" and he laughed grimly.
Take the horse, monsieur" | said in
a voice trembling with rags and cha
grin; but my hour will come"
He laughed again. put up his pistol
and came out upon the road.
AS I watched him unite my horse,
I realized suddenly all hat this loss
would mean to me. and a blind i'm
pulse seized iae to rush upon him and
run him through. l think | must have
yielded to 1t, In spite of my passed
implicitly. For he even turned his
back to me as he bent to adjust the
stirrups.
He seemed in no hurry-indeed, 1 was
apparently far more excited h a he
and ! had time to admire the erect fig
ure, the easy carriage, the grace OF
movement. Dubosq had spoken truly
when he remarked that no one could
mistake me for this finished cavalier
He sprang to the saddle with superb
and paused for q look aboul
him. He was even humming a song.
"Ah, there they come" he said, anC
following his eye, ! saw Dubosq and hi.
men burst from the grove and com,
charging across the field. "A last the,
have discovered how / eluded them
Awkward lonts. Adien, monsieur"
we meet againi" ] corrected.
He laughed blithely.
AS you will he said, and gathered
UP the reins. Whittier are you bound?
he added. turning back to me.
ITO Poitiers,'' I answered.
Then we may indeed meet again,
and waving his hand to his enemies
who by this time were very near. he Sc
squirt to flank N gailoped away dow
the road.
A shower of bullets followed hin
but he kept on apparently unhurt, an
In a moment more was out of gun
shot.
Dubosq came painting up, his men a
his heels. He was fairly liyid. H
stopped for an instant to shake hi
fist at the cloud of dust far down TIL
road, Then he turned TO me.
RT 1Ga IlNal SSiy. Arts
tocrat." And ! saw how the gres
veins stood out across his forehead. IS
YOU had the ~effrontery to wait fc
mel"
'.Assurediy,' l replied, as calmly as
could, since you requested it"
He glared at me for a moment wit
aloodshot eyes. Then he turned to h
Secure him.. he said. I'VE will i
him espouse Madame Guiiiotine."
And before i could open my lips
protest, my hands We're dashed behir
me.
For the horse was not all that ] hs
lost, In the holsters of the saddle WI
a pair of handsome pistols which hi
belonged to my father. and in the por
manteau strapped behind it an array
gallant clothing such as ] had e
possessed before and would in all Xix
lihood never again possess. AS to T
plenishing my purse, ] remember
only too acutely how my mother HI
pinched herself for months to provi
me with this outfit. No, decidedly.
repai is fsi;ssgest, e ! had only i
own proves to depend upon. and
am free to say that it was not Of
quality greatly tt enhearten me. CT
tainly, my first adventure in the wol
had ended most disastrously.
So I trudged on, looking neither
the right nor to- the left, turning
nhisfortaneloyer in my mind, and
calling the good points of my hor
the comfor9 Of my saddle, and bee
ties OF my wardrobe, as a starving n
win picture to himself the savory
tails of some banquet he has enjoyed
happier days. And I almost found 1t
my heart to regret that I had not str,
the robber down in that WI
he had dared to turn his back VI
me.
Tnere WertlEd rcW Pv0PIo vslItIfv7f =
blu such as / met stared at me curio
~, evidently unable to understand |
it was that q young fellow so
Iantly arrayed should be footing
through the dust with Jul cou
nance. This. of course. served only
Increase my spleen, and ended In
pulling my hat ove my eyes m tru
ing on without glancing up, eve