Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1915-09-02
What was he telling your" repeat

What was he telling your" repeat
ed Eric.
Passon opened his lips to speak, then
Dug better of the impulse. He con-
tented himself with a long, hard, even
face.
Some other time, if you please" he
said tartly. 1T is our duty to get poor
Mary home as quickly as. possible.
Come, dear
But she chung to Eric, ignoring the
outstretched hand. Payson fell away
as II he had been slapped in the face.
He kept pace with them all the way to
the Werner cottage, but not a word fell
from his lips in all that distance.
1T was quite dark when they came to
the gate; the sharp, chill mist was still
blowing. Mary'S teeth were chattering.
Good night" said Jack Payson.
Eric hesitated. He had been think
ing hard all the way up from the coast,
put MS thoughts were not hard. Some
how. the manliness, the self restraint,
the Very thoughtfulness of John Pay
son wrought a subtle change in his es-
innate of the a He was wonder
ing if he was not really grateful to
hin If he was not, after all, more than
grateful. Years ago he had been sor-
ry for him. Was he not sorry for him
now?
WIN l YOU COME III, JdCh ne dSheu
abruptly, holding the gate open.
Payson stared, first at one. then the
other. He began to stammer an apol-
osy for hurrying on.
Come to the fire" said Mary. look
ing at him over Eric's shoulder.
The look in those dark. piteous eyes
decided him.
II want to be friendly with you,
Eric" he said, and I want to speak
with YOU about something that has just
transpired. I will come in for a few
minutes. First of all, Mary must get
out of her wet clothes. And you, too.
Something hot to drink"
And bed for her." added Eric mean
inglv.
They entered the cottage. The room
was quite dark, except for the space
directly in front of the dying embers
shadows, filled the corner of the room
nearest the door. where they had
paused at a word from Eric.
He glanced keenly about the room.
then gave vent to a short, apologetic
laugh.
Il half expected Adam Carr sitting
He took the $50 for New York"
said Payson.
Eric started. Are you sure?" un-
easily.
Certainly; At least, that was his
I15 lldu llIIle 10 make IL. we
drove to Stone Wall, you see."
Then you got there after We did,"
Payson smiled family. almost ironi-
cally. Spies don't precede their VIC
inns as a general thing. he said. I'll
replenish the fire while you are chang
ing
Mary left the room without turning
her bent head to loo at her wouldbe
protector. Eric followed her. He was
pack In a moment, however. Payson
looked up from the pile of wood and
kindling over which he stopped.
rake off your wet shoes and stock
1nes.' he ordered sharply.
Time enough for that" said Mid
thorne, coming up to stand over him.
What We're you doing out there?
Quick, before Mary comes back.
I'll fix the fire first" said Payson
deliberately.
Neither spoke for three or -four min
utes. while he laid the paper and kim
ding. When the fresh. blue flames be-
gan to dodge in and out among the logs
he arose and faced Mary's brother,
cody brushing the Woo dust from his
hands.
1--WE were out there to look at the
place where my father was lost. My ia
Their. mind you," he said with curious
emphasis.
Eric's satirical smile was not lost on
him.
Would you mind taking off your
sou'wester Payson?" he said irrelevant
ly It's dripping all over the rug"
TIL stand on the hearth stone" said
the other. They were sparring for time
in a most deliberate manner
wet"
They stood side by side, with their
backs to the blaze-two tall, tense fig
ures that waited. outside the wind
shrieked and crooned by turns: the
windows ratified in their frames: a soft,
insistent beating on the panes, as of
tiny insects hurting. told of the rain
that blew.
Il waited at old Jabe's cottage for
Adam" said Payson abruptly, looking
ing over something you put into my
head, Midthorne. ] couldn't go to my
mother about it. Adam was the only
one who could explain. He did not
hesitate. I had a buggy there. We
drove out to Stone Wall. He showed
me where my fathers schooner was
last seen afloat, and where the wreck
age came in, and the dead bodies of the
crew. At the mouth of the ravine. My
father went down and eve came
ashore. The schooner is out there now,
on the bottom, half way to Eddy's ISL
ands, 100 fathoms down. And there,
Eric, is where my father was buried 80
years ago"
rs that all he said?"
"No. he said my mother was true to
my father, as true as steel"
He was still staring at the opposite
wall. his face set and white.
Nothing about C~hetwynd?" demand
ed Eric blnntly.
Continued next week.)
Execution of a PoIice CrooL