Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1910-06-24
CHAPTER II.
In an Enemy Find a Friend,

In an Enemy | Find a Friend.
For an instant, / was toe astonish-
ed to resist; then the indignity of il
the indignity of the strong and
me-swept over me like flame, and |
shook off my assailants and faced
Dubosq with a fury which surprised
even myself.
Loose mel" / cried, struggling with
my bonds. Loose me! l demand that
you loose met"
Dubosq laughed s%ardonically.
AT your seryice!" he sneercd. ANY
other orders?"
l 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, n no n would ques-
ton or protest. He had only to give
the word! / felt as the wild beast
feels, caught in a sudden trap; my
strength was of no avail; were / to
escape, 1t must be by cunning. |
must keep my head and wait my cap
tors pleasure.
But this is an outraged" / pro-
tested thickly, striving to still the
trembling of my lips, for l was young
remember always hat / was young
and new to the world. IAN out
rage"
DuboSq stood regarding me, gnaw-
ing his mustache s~avagely. l dare
say the trembling lip did not escape
him.
outrage or not" he growled. you
are under arrest, citizen"
And for what?" / demanded.
las an accomplice of the ci-devant
F~avras."
Ny establishment was so over
whelming that even he discerned it.
"Of course you are innocent!' he
sneered. Suspects always are!"
Citizen Dubsoq," l said slowly, Il
have " 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, grimly. that you should
have been so complaisant as to permit
him to ride away upon your horse.
But, no doubt, o have an explana-
ton. There is always an explana-
toni"
"Oh!" / cried, Understandings sud
denly and looking down the empty
road. $50 that was the ci-devant
Favras! / am glad to know his
name. for j have an account to set
tie with him. So far from permitting
pulse to murder him."
And WIN did you not?" Dubosq
demanded. THAT would at least
have saved you own neck"
II had given him my word" I ex-
planned, and related the dilemma in
which / had found myself. But ever
then" / concluded, Il would have
back"
Dubosq listened looking at me keen
ly: then he glanced modify away
across the ac!d.
/ followed his eyes and saw APP
preaching us from the grove two men,
bearing the body Of a third.
rs that his work?" l asked.
Yes" said Dubosq, and fell silent
until the bearers reached the road and
placed the body on tho grass beneath
the tree. l saw. with a shudder, that
the man had been stabbed in the back.
Yes" repeated Dubosq, fercely, that
is his work. He crept upon him from
behind and struck him down. He did
not hesitate because the man back
was turned. oh, these traitors, these
aristocrats, with their ak of honor!"
and he shook his clenched fists above
his ead
"But how did he escape" | queried,
for, wen yet, l did not understand.
How did ne escape" yelled Dubosq.
his face purple. He escaped because
his wits were 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 nan"
Not murder, citizen" | interrupted.
"Not that-self defense"
"Self-defensel" roared Dubosq. In
the back? Murder, I say! Then,
! shielding himself in that ditch yonder,
! he worked his way back to the road,
mounted your horse and was off, while
we were laundering around in that lit
tie grove yonder. 1 should have
thought OF the ditch" and he stood
glowering at it. Il did-too late!
disgust myself"
And / suffer in consequence" I
added. Come my friend, confess that
you believe my story. Look at me. /
am no conspirator-in your heart you
know IL. III l had been the friend of
that fellow. / would have ridden away
behind him-certainly I would not have
remained here. waiting for your return.
Don't revenge yourself on me because
your trap has failed-that Is unworthy
Of you. Besides, l have suffered enough
aiready-and for no fault"
He looked at me for q moment and
his face softened. ! saw that the storm
was over.
Il believe you citizen" he said:
knife and cut my bonds.
For thanks / held out my hand and
he gripped IL warmly.
Come" he urged. Join my troop,
pin on the ~tri-color, and I will make q
man OF you"
But / shook my head.
n my friend" / said, IAN errand
of honor calls me TO Poitiers."
He looked at me with renewed sus-
picion.
(which reminds me-" no added, sthai
you have not told me the nature OF thai
errand."
Il will tell YOU" I said. 'as a friend.
and / whispered a swift sentence II
his ear.
He burst out laughing. his goot
humor restored In an instant.
We'll. so your way" he said. slap
\ ping me on the shoulder, and goot
i:asS SO with you. ri tisv fetes citIaeh
4 drink a health to old Duboaq. As 70
me. ] baye the pleasure OF buryins N,
dead, and reporting In my superior
IA thof 4 nraNn fo0IkanHf that the tran 81