The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1920-10-21
nTlTlnTInn

recovered control of himself. The
pistol fell from his hand. and the
princess, with a spring as graceful as
a safe distance.
Promise me that you will not hurt
him, Ivan! I tell you not to! Are
you mad, man?"
81 promise" said Ivan, sullenly, but
relaxing himself, and Kent arose.
Ivan got slowly to his feet, with a
stare of hatred and defeated intent at
Provarsk. who was painfully trying
to extricate himself from the pieces
of splintered screen.
Kent put his hand firmly, but gent
~, beneath him and assisted him to
his feet, and Their to a chair. There
was no need to ask his condition.
The loosely swinging arm told it's own
story.
The door gave way under a fresh
onslaught and several ~guardsmen fell
into the room. Behind them could be
seen two others holding Provarsk's
m~ercenary between them. Kent smiled
grimly and said, Thank you men;
but I do not require your help. Pull
what's left of the door shut and at
once go and arrest or kill Provarsk's
hired men. Leave one mar on guard
outside in case I want him"
They saluted and obeyed ,@ith con-
vincing alacrity.
"Provarsk," said Kent. I'm very
sorry: i didn't wish ina. done toj
you"
That's all right, Rhodes, or Kent,
If you prefer it. It's nothing to what
torted the baron. |
cor nothing compared to what Ivan
wanted to do to you,' remarked Kent.
why didn't you let hin finish it?
In your place 1 should have don So"
Provarsk asserted, without rancor,
and clutching his shattered arm.
Because" declared Kent, with
quite dignity, Il have punished you
enough. You are finished as it ia.
Somehow, I'm sorry! You're a game
a Baron, and-I like them. I shall
send for a surgeon
"Oh, may as we'll put that off for a
few minutes" the chancellor said,
wincing with a physical pain that
barely exposed itself in his level
voice. MAY as Well tell me thea
worst" y
There's not much to tell" Kent
said, gently. Only that I've beaten
you past any chance of your coming !
back. BY this time you are not even
the chancellor. L mink. I fancy Won
Glutz, the loyal, has come back to his
own. And you are broke. Broken like
an empty egg SHELF"
Provarsk shut his teeth, tried to
get his arm to a less painful position, |
attempted a brave smile, and said, 81
think not. The Marker Mineral com
pany, my dear Mr.. Rhodes
rs worthless! I couldn't quite for
oA'N S'AA AHS " - AHJ SSSAS
tary. Provarsk. That VAST playing
the anne 1 went after you on that.
It's a rule of finance to get a man
who tries to bite you leg under the
table. l got you! The only I'M
profitable, completely worthless en-
terprise in Marken, is the one in
which you've put every dollar you
could get. I saw to that. I kept it
going at a total loss just for your
benefit. You're not worth a copper
centime. You'll have to borrow money
TO buy your railway ticket out-unIess
Unless I relent. Maybe I shall. There
are a lot Of things I like about you.
There are a lot of places where I can
use brave men, if they are willing to
be honest, and you are at least brave"
II don't think" said the baron, BIT
ing his lip TO hide his mental and
physical pain, that I can accept any
thing from yDu: but I will say this
just TO show you that in my wa I
an fair-sf I can learn this game you
ptay-th.s thing of finance. and I can
find ans way to nav another go at
you. I'll do it: And-and while I'm
tolng ii, ali the time, I'll like and ad-
rnire you and" He shut his teeth
savagey In a determined effort to
subdue the giddtness and weakness
that was mastering him. and then,
with a long sigh, fell sideways and
would have fanen to the floor had not
Kent leapt forward and caught him
Ii his arms.
He picked min up as1f he were y
no weight, and strobe across
room, followed by the princess