The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1917-03-10
CHAPTER xvII.-continued.


"creat God, how did that Injun get
n here, Mr.. LarrenceY' CALCULATED
Conrod. as the candles showed him the
buddled form of the dying savage.
Don't ask me, Captain Conrod," re-
turned the other cheerfully. 'Your
door was open when I got here and he
iumped on me when / came in; and
ned have got me If it had not been for
this man."
And be laid his hand gently on the
shoulder Of the hysterical figure
crouched on the floor.
"Holy rattlesnakes !" burst from the
astonished Conrod. tits Doc Elliott !"
David Laurence lifted his rescuer to
his feet. Here, let's see your face,
my friend"
The man looked up slowly.
"Ned Scull !" said Laurence In q
ghastly whisper, and staggered back
ward.
The man bowed his head again.
Laurence spoke like a man in a
dream:
"Scull! have found you at last I"
IT am innocent swear it," cried
Soul. " never betrayed you!"
The others looked from one to the
other Of the two men i'm amazement.
Where had they known each other be-
fore7 By what name did Laurence call
Elliott? What was their secret? The
moment was tense with waiting.
David turned to the little group.
Gentlemen" he said, ''may Ltalk to
this man alone for a moment"'
aSure as shootin'," said Conrod after
q pause, ''but let's get this Injun out Of
here first"
He bent above the filthy body and
turned the limp shoulders over.
"Why, it's that wuthless Piankeshaw
come in last week to sell his skins ;
been drunk ever since. Bell be sober
a while, now"
With scant ceremony they dragged
the heavy body with the dark red stain
between the shoulder blades into the
rain. One Indian less on the wilder
ness border was better luck than bad.
The half-shut eyes stared blankly up
ward in the beating rain.
"Bury him In the mornin'," directed
Conrod; and Scull-whom the village
had known only as ''Elliott" Da-
yid Laurence were left alone together,
"Now," said Laurence with deadly
calm. "tell me how you got here!'
The man Scull clasped his hands In
sntreaty.
II left Nottingham because / heard
you had sworn to kill me. swear to
YOU before God I was not responsible
for your fathers"
Laurence checked the word on Scull's
lips.
"How came you here?" he repeated
81 heard you had gone to America
and i came across the Atlantic to find
you; I thought might show you
was innocent. swear am innocent
aYou lie," returned David calmly
ssyou lie in every word. You Informed
falsely on my father, and he died OF
the gallows because Of you. You be
came a British spy. You fled from
England to escape me; you nevel
thought to find me here. Nor did
think to find you here, under an as
sumed name, pretending to be ply
stefan"
Scull looked at him In terror.
"God!" he whispered, his lips DIR!
with fear.
A door that led to an inner room sud
denly swung open and a woman
stepped quickly out.
A cry of fear escaped her as she saw
David towering menacingly abov'
aScull's bowed head. She was face T.
face with David and he looked at he
I'm establishment.
Lydia Cranmer!"
The girl flung herself between tn
two men and clasping Scull In ne
arms she turned dehantly towar'
David.
mo, not Lydia Cranmer," she cried
shut Mistress Sculll"
''Hush, Lydia" commanded Soul
duly. 'Go back, let us end our busi
ness.' He swallowed convulsively AM
stroked her hair as though soothing
child. go back, dear"
'Not j, Ned II she answered. "Wha
does this man want5 Oh. Ned, ther
Is no danger. Is there? Tell me, wha
Il wrong?"
As David looked at the two ne fel
the wild anger dying down in hi
breast, and instead there arose q fee
ing of self-pity. All, il only woma
had thrown her arms about his nee
and faced the world for him, believin
In him! An unbearable pang she
through him. His eyes were hot wit
the bitter envy OF one who looks int
the windows OF a house where Low
and light and warmth stand fri
against the desolate world without, an
who knows himself a homeless war
derer on the earth. When he spoke,
Il was In a changed voice:
"Are you this woman's husband?"
''We were married q month ago
said Scull. He seemed almost to hay
forgotten David's presence and b
hand caressed the girls cheek with
strange geRtleness.
David looked at them for q momel