The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1919-11-13

anu Tead tnem over WIN NilO valdez
Your trial did not seem to me to have
been conducted without prejudice
neither did it to Milo. Also, l kne.
Rio Nabuco and what it would mean t.
a white man 1 should have investi
gated the case, had you been a stranger
in every way. Suspecting you to be
of a family l respect, | thought inyesti
CATION an urgent duty. So the next
time l was in that neighborhood, l rods
over to see you. Now, is the air clear
between u.s."
Bruce gripped the hand offered him
struggling with his usua! i~narticuiate.
ness.
81 am glad that you spoke frankly
Noel filled the empty moment. I'VE
will say that Rio Nabuco is forgotten.
If you are content in my house. ]
am content also. Put it on me
ground that we are both American,
if you like, Have you seen Valdez
recently? In his room? Thank you.
| will see him there"
Bruce did not at once enc his let
ter writing after Noel had gone. lie
sat down again and drew out the let
ter, then remained for a long time
leaning upon the desk, head in hand.
The attitude implied nothing Of lies
Eeration or grief. On the contrary he
thought Of all the loathsomeness of
Nabuco was drawing away from him
as he sat there, like an unseen pres
ence driven afar. Now he could feel
gratitude to Noel without loss Of self
respect. He could give rein to his cor
dial liking for Milo Valdez. Had not
! Noel said that he and Valdez had IN
yesiigatcd the trial, and had rot .heli
verdict been expressed when the pris-
: oner vas brought to their home, and
accepted into pleasant intimacy? Yes,
they were friends.
Fourteen years of his sentence re-
manned to be served. His plans for
his life and career WERE, of course,
hopelessiy shattered. He recognized
that, but he was still incapable Of real
izing it; the present relief was too pro-
found. He had recovered much during
the last four weeks, but he was still a
man exhausted mentally and physic-
ally. 1t was almost, he thought, as if
he had died instead Of the Indian
whom he had shot, and had awakened
in another world. The ambitions of
his former life seemed faint, futile
things; pathetic, perhaps, but too far
behind him to claim much considera-
ton. Other purposes must fill the
coming years. just now, to remain in
the Villa Noel was enough. That, and
to be able to write to Rose.
After a long time, he Strengthened
himself in his chair and rubbed his
hot face with his handkerchief. The
heat was unusual, even in the shaded
room. He thought of the probable at
mosphere in the underground cell at
Rio Nabuco, and recoiled with sick
disgust from the reply of his two ex-
cellent memory. Suppose Noel had
not noticed his name on thai prison
register? He shuddered in a horror
Of the place, greater even than he had
felt when he dwelt there.
When his hand was steadier, he
drew towards him the letter; the I'm
finished letter to a woman called Rose.
He gazed at it soberly, then took up
his pen. At first he wrote slowly, then
more and more rapidly, his heart driv-
ing his hand. When he finally lie
ceased, he was surprised and some
what dismayed at the number of
sheets of paper he had covered, throw
ing them about the desk in his excite
ment. He began to assemble and num-
Der the pages, folding them together
With m~stthhoddi;ca ac:::css
They made quite a formidable bulk,
altogether. Bruce snapped a rubber
band about the packet, then ruefully
contemplated the result. DECIDEDLY,
the letter resembled a legal document
rather than a dainty epistle to a lady.
He had a vision of small fingers tug
ging at the heavy band.
"It looks like most things I maui.
/ do beat the Dutch at everything!"l
he muttered aloud, p~etulantly choos-
ing a large Tlaniia envelope as the only
possible container.
He hardly knew that he had spoken
his complaint aloud, until someone's
shadow fell across the space before
him, putting out the little glittering
lights struck by the sunshine from
the crystal and copper fittings of the
desk. Expecting to see Valdez or
Noel behind him, and somewhat en-
barrassed at his display Of i'll temper,
he turned, and collided with a man
who had stolen up to look W. the
writer, shoulder.
The two came together with on
siderably violence. Bruce's spectacles
were knocked away by the intruder's
chin, so unanticipated by either man
had had been the collision.
The blinking American raised his
hand to replace the spectacles before.
he thought of speaking, but a
brusque gesture Of the other mans
struck his arm and sent the glasses
|tinkling to the floor. Bruce uttered a
cry Of. veritabIe anguish, stammering
in his angry distress.
"What-what2 My glassesi"
The man made no answer; he was