Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1912-08-15
By RANDALL PARRISH


has been driven to acts of violence by
the conditions OF birth He possesses
all the feelings natural to humanity
and is here now In peace. Will you
listen to me: Will you hear the story?'
Yes" slowly. almost reluctantly. II
will listen. but-but make him stand
where he is"
He shall not move until am done.
Miss Jean. and | can explain all IN
few words You had scarcely left me
alone when this door was pushed open
ana | saw reflected In the mirror there
the awful face of that woman VINO
seems to haunt this house. | Sprang
toward her. but tripped and tell. so
that when reached the hall she had
vanished searched every room on
the floor vainly. Although my own es
cape depended on my getting away at
once. | did not dare leave you COM
raratively alone here with that crea-
ture at large found O'Brien on
guard below and set forth myself to
explore the tunnel once more Half
way through | met Daniels. 1t doesn't
make any difference what happened
between us down there. nor how he
came to be- there. but told him about
this woman-that you. as we'll as l.
had seen her, and he wanted to ask
you something. Will you answer him! Z"
She looked at the man. wetting her
lips. her eyes opened wide in Devil.
derment
Yes" she said. II will answer"
Daniels spoke with difficulty.
Wal. miss" he said, forcing hiS
words out. II reckon yer don't think
none too much O. me. an 'spect
hev done some pretty blame mean
things. but they weren't a darn bit
meaner than what's been done ter me.
When | went off ter ther war 1 he'd
cabin up on Lost Criclz, whar
thought it was safe. an left wife
an three kids thar awaitin' my comm
back. Las night l got chance ter
ride thet way. an l found some hell
hounds he'd burnt Their ca bin. an either
murdered Their woman an Their kids.
or else drove EN-, inter Their hills.
couldn't git no trace O. them high err
low. an l naturally laid it up aCin your
people. Now. miss. maybe I'm tough.
but I'm man enough ter care a heap
fer my wife an Their kids jist Their
same. an started out ter find what
he'd become O. them. Thet's what
fetched me yere. an come fghtin
mad. reckon yer know what we
uns are in Their mountings. an how
hard we hate, Wal. never hated no
worse than do now"
MIR Daniels" she broke in. II have
been taught to fear you. but l am not
afraid now" and she looked quickly
from his face into mine. You seem
to think that we-that ,Jem Donald
has burnt Your cabin. driven your FAM
lily out; but it is not So know it Is
not so. IL am just as sorry as any
one to hear this-indeed l am. for
have met your wife. She-she was
kind to me once. years ago"
The man choEed. much Of the stern
ness gone from his haggard face.
Yes. she told me bout tibet, an 1t
was because you'd know her tibet
kim we're ter question yer. Their leften-
ant says you saw Their woman who
has been murderin in this house. II
yer did. want yer ter tell me ther
truth-was 1t Maria?"
Yes. IL saw the face!' she an
swered. shuddering. The very men,
DRY seemed painful "An awful face.
scarcely human. 1t was white and
haggard. with wild black eyes and
wisps Of gray hair dangling on either
side. 1t seemed to me like vision Of
hate. and cannot Danish the recollec-
| ton from my mind. But-but never
saw that face before-never: as God
hears me. it was not your wife,
A long moment the mountaineer
looked at her. apparently seeking the
truth In the girls eyes. then he col
| lapsed into the chair. shuddering as he
buried his face in his hands. Il
| could scarcely realize the truth
that this grim mountaineer. savage In
cruel instinct. utterly devoid Of hu-