Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1912-07-04

tightening: II am far too nervous.
prefer being here with you.
Another Mystery.
"NHERE was that III notn tone
and action to urge me for
ward.
.'lt Is odd you should trust
me so wholly" ventured. "a Yankee
and stranger and one under such
grave suspicion of crime. Why should
you trust me. Miss Denslow!"
Indeed do not know" as 1t the
thought had but just occurred to her.
.only the act is natural to me. ell
Their trust fully or not at all. have
been like that from child-the serv.
ant OF first impressions.
yet you have not forgotten my uni
FORM"
mo, although there are times when
l seem to forget" her voice hesitated.
II was brought up to hate my enc
mics. to fight them bitterly and 70 the
death. That was the feud spirit. and
we took this feeling with us into the
war. We Of the south chung together.
l sincerely wish could take broad.
er view"
.And you do already. You are here
now with Yankee whom you trust.
Peculiar conditions have brought us
into sudden intimacy. We are really
friends, are we not?"
I'll am hardly ready to promise
that. feel kindly toward you. but !
do not know you, Lieutenant King,
and-and all my friends are on the
other side"
"Oh. no they are not, Miss DenslOw.
/ am your friend in spite OF every
difference between US. So long as s
live there will be one henrt under
blue uniform you may feel confidence
In. do not even believe you are US
hard hearted as your words would In
dictate. Shall be entirely forgotten
US soon as this episode is over? Will
you not retain some kindly memory
OF mel"
II could not be Indifferent to the
claim of gratitude.
Nor can you refuse friendship
while show myself worthy. can
you?"
She remained silent. a silence did
not understand. yet ! was unwilling
to accept It as negative.
You gave me your hand few mo-
ments ago because you were frtghten-
ed and nervous. 1t was a comfort
then for you to feel tue nearness OF
one upon whom you relied for protec.
ton. Will you not give me the same
hand now in token Of friendship?
1t seemed to me waited y long
while. my own heart beating like q trip
hammer, as she sat there motionless
in the dark Then there was slight
rustic Of her loose sleeve. us her hand
slipped hesitatingly along the arm OF
my chair. held 1t for a moment IN
silence, not daring to inter the mad
words that came thronging to my lips.
II thank you.' l said ut last: your
friendship will mean much TO me.
II do not know why am so foolish.
she confessed. as though the words cs-
capped her control. Somehow Won
make me do things. even against my
will. III haven't liked Yankees. you.
know. and it is pretty hard to tearn to.
like even one Yankee"
but you are going to try?
could hear the breath between her
half opened lips.
II don't think I shall have to try
very hard. Somehow you do not
seem like Yankee ut all."
Good: I am not going to seem like
one-at least not in the sense, you
mean"
Ii could have read the expression
in her eyes might have dared more.
but In that darkness. her words barely
audible from the cautious whisper In
which we conversed. my courage fail
ed. Already 1 nad gained much. more
even than could justly have expected.
were to take unfair advantage OF the
situation it might cost me all 1 had
already gained OF her good viii.
tiptoed forward and peered into the
library. A. Judge l1lnn sar just as be-
fore. his posture unchanged. his head
bent forward upon the table. Sud.
denly my ears caught the creak OF
DOdJu SOu00tASs tIOuu LIE lOP vi LIE
stairs. | was not even certain actual
" heard it. yet ] stepped aside into
the deeper shadow OF the coat rack,
every nerve atinge. my hand reach
ing for the revolver at my belt. 4
could see nothing. the circular
staircase u mere dark blur barely dis
tinguishabie. get. faint as the sounds
were. was convinced some one was
stpalthily descending s;ep by; step. feet
Ing a way cautiously through The
gloom. Who could 1t be? What piIrs
pose could account for such a pres.
ence? | felt no doubt that this was
the murderer. seeking to complete his
work OF blood but how could | meet
himy With shot. ending his career
with one pressure Of my finger against
the trigger. or should ] attempt tnis.
ing him alive. thus the more thorough
| " vindicating myself OF ALI suspicion::
Had been older undoubtedly