The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1910-06-23
CHAPTER II.

ny SdplOI nOuu6C.
CHAPTER II.
In an Enemy Find a Friend,
For an instant. I was too astonish-
ed to resist; then the .ndignity of it
the i~ndignity Of the strong and
cruel hands which seized and neid
me-swept over me like fame, and |
shook off my assailants and faced
Dubosq with a fury which surprised
even myself.
Loose mel" 1 cried, struggling with
my bonds. Loose me! 1 demand that
you loose mel"
Dubosq laughed sardonically.
your servtce!" he sneered. Any
other orders?"
realized how impotent I was, and
the knowledge struck chill to my
heart. Dubosq could stand me up at
the side of the road and order me
shot down, and no m would ques-
ton or protest. He had only to give
tho word! / felt as the wild beast
strength was of no avail; were 1 to
escane, it must be by cunning.
must keep my head and wait my cap
tors pleasure.
But this is an outraged" 1 pro-
tested thiekly, striving to still the
trembling of my lips, for I was young
remember always that l was young
and new to the world. An out
rage"
Dubosa stood regarding me, gnaw-
Ing his mustache savagely. 1 dare
say the trembling lip did not escape
him.
Outrage or not" he growled. you
are under arrest, Citizen
And for what?' l demanded.
las an accomplice of the ci-deyant
Favras."
My establishment was SO over
whelming that even he discerned 1t.
Q course you are Innocent" he
sneered. Suspects always arei"
Citizen Dubsoq." l said slowly. Il
give o my word of honor that 1
have never before even heard OF the
person you mention. As for being
his accomplish. that Is too absurd to
discuss
1T is strange, then" commented
Dubosq, grinly. that you should
have been so complaisant as to permit
him to ride away upon your horse.
But. no doubt, you have an expIana-
ton. There is always an explana-
toni"
obi l cried. Understandings sud-
denly and looking down the empty
road. so that was the ci-devant
Favras! 1 am glad to know his
tie with him.. So far from permitting
him to take h horse, I had an Inn
pulse to murder him"
And whv did you not?" Dubosq
demanded. THAT would at least
have saved you W neck"
Il had given him my word" / ex-
planned, and related the dilemma In
then" l concluded, Il would have
killed him had he not turned his
back
Dubosq listened looking at me keen
ly: then he glanced modify away
across the field.
followed his eyes and saw APP
preaching US from the grove two men,
bearing h body of q third.
is tnat his work. / asked.
yes SAID Dubosq, and fell silent
until the bearers reached the road and
placed the body or the grass beneath
the tree. I saw, WITH a snudder, InaI
the man had been stabbed in the back.
Yes" repeated Dubosa, fercely, that
Is his work. He crept upon him from
behind and struck him down. He did
not hesitate because the mans back
was turned. Oh, these traitors, these
a~ristocrats. with their talk OF honor,p
and he shook his clenched fists above
his head.
But how did he escape" l queried,
for, even yet, / did not understand.
How did he escape?s yelled Dubosq,
his face purple. He escaped because
his wits We're better than ours. There
is that to be said for the aristocrats-
their wits are better than ours, clods
that we are! He murdered this man"
Not murder, citizen l interrupted.
Not Sthat-yself defense
"Self-defensei" reared Duboso. I'm
tho back? Murder. sayl Then.
shielding himself in that ditch yonder.
he worked his way back to the road,
mounted your horse hi was off. while
we We're laundering around in that lit
tie grove yonder. I should have
Thought OF the ditch,'t and he stood
glcwering at 1t. II did-too late!
disgust myself"
And I suffer In consequence"
added. Come my friend. confess that
you believe my story. Look at me.
know It. II I had been the friend Of
that fellow. I would have ridden away
Behind hsM-eertaiply ] would not have
remained here. waiting for your return.
Don't revenge yourself on me because
your trap has failed-that is unworthy
lalready-and for no fault
He looked at me for a moment and
his face softealed. ! saw that the storm
was over.
II believe you citizen" he said;
you are free" and he whipped out his
knife and cut my bonds.
For thanks / held out my hand ant
he gripped It warmly.
Come he urged. 'join my troop
pin on N ~tri-color, and / will make {
man OF you"
But I shook my head.
N my friend" I said, ian errans
Of honor calls me to- Poitiers.
He looked at ME with renewed sus
piiions
which reminds me-, he added, etha
you ave Q told me the nature OF tina
erratlds
Twill tell YOU. I said. las q friend.
and whispered q swift sentence Il
his ear.
He burst U laughing, his goo
hnmor restored IN an instant.
We'll. go your WAY he said. slap
lping me on the shoulder, end goo
sllucksNsgo with you. At the fetesScitixel
drink q health to old niibosq. fo
me. 4 have b pleasure of buryfng m
ideadI and reporting In my superior
: that amsa fool p that the trap