The Mobridge news. [volume] (Mobridge, Walworth Co., S.D.) 190?-1917, 1916-03-09

and too much exertion We shouldn't
have let you drive, Mr.. Powell: y,Iu are
not strong enough yet for these thugs
Blair said nothing. He could Lave
almost pitied Arthur that i'll SO sh, 'rt
a time as had elapsed since his injuri, -
his character had been SO weakenetN '
from his hurts and the drugs admins
tered that Arthur could be convinced
that the evidence Of his own eyes was
but the phantom Of disordered imag-
ination.
Neither the coachman nor the groom
masters collapse at the sight Of two
gypsy musicians with piano, pony cart
and monkey by the roadside. The
coachman and groom, like the other
servants at the Powell mansion. only
knew their master had never been men
tally the same since his injuries at the
mines and his first homecoming To his
new. grand mansion, battered. shat
tered, insensible form on q stretcher.
In few moments the effect OF the
stimulating drug had calmed Arthur,
and he was sitting with closed eyes on
the second seat, with Blair and Vivian
and Durand. The conspirators decided
to return home.
y passing auto coming in the same
direction slowed beside the coach, and
the occupants called to the driver and
the tallyhO party that there was Il man
on behind.
He looks like tough customer. toO!"
added the driver Of the car.
The groom Oh the rear seat looked
down and ordered the tough looking
customer to get of. The tough looking
customer was Luke Lowell. who had
come back to Los Angeles sullenly de-
termined to make an asset Of his secret
and blackmail either Arthur Stanley
or Blair, preferably both.
Luke Lowell growled curse back a t
the groom and held on. The coachma n
with practiced dexterity lashed the
whip back of the coach at signal
from the groom. The thong cut Like
across the face twice before he could
shield himself. But again and again
the lash cut and stung him cruelty on
neck and shoulders. and despite his
hardihOOd and determination to tand
the onslaught Luke was compeN ID to
let go and drop off. He limped O the
sidewalk Of the quiet suburbay resi-
dence street and sat in the shad q of a
tree by the curb.
Near him leaking fire hydraJ It trick.
led. Luke mopped his brow ! and the
burning cuts across his face With the
cooling water. The pain slowt subsid
ed, and Luke looked about hU a.
There. far of down the 81 rect, but
yet distinct to the keen eN .s Of the
gypsy. were two figures ph ydding by
pony piano cart. two figuIS he knew
as well as he knew his y yn-Esthel
and Quabba.
Old emotions, old fe&itia stirred IL
Luke Lowell at the Sigh t. Esther
daughter Of Hagar. the qr cen of the
gypsies: Esther, whom he ! lad alway:
gaZed upon with pride and q dull long
ing-she was not for him. Luke knew
that. But yet there stirred In him tn,
old sense Of affection and mi ngled Will
1t sense Of shame. Bad Al the brute
gypsy was there had always been some
thing fine and tender in his regard fO
Esther. To injure her hat | been NJ
part OF all his Wild plans to make mer
chandise Of what he timly surmiset
was the Stanley secret-and Hagar's.
Luke's mental processes Z ere slow
but he was quick to realize n had bes
have time to think Of how he shOul(
meet with Esther again did he wisl
to regain her confidence, fS he nov
desired to do.
Luke Lowell rose from til .e curb ever
while cogitating upon thes % Il lings an(
concealed himself behind he I rec. Blu
he could have stood plain upon the side
walk for all he would ha We been seen
for Esther and Quabba theil heads