The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1925-10-12
THE BISMARCK. TRIBUNE
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=, RUBY II AIRES q SsM;saa

be hers and that She was scndin"
this note TO LISTER.
An ugly expression crossed his
face. He dropped the note into 4
pocket and shook Claude till he was
GREATNESS.
You young monkey. Xop! SO this
is the little game, is it.? I'll teach
youth .a ....@
He lifted the riding whip which
he invariably carried with him in
the country and brought it down
heavily on the child'S shrinking
body. :,
"I'll teach YOU to defy me and
hate nc. I'll"
''Oh. YOU brutc--you brute!"
1t was Mans voice Nan, who
came flying through the wood and
caught his arm just as it was de-
sccnding for the second time. 81"
was as white as death; she hardly
seemed to know what she was doing.
She struck at Harley Sections face
like Il mad woman. -,
"You brutc-oh. you. brute! Let
him go let him go!'' .....
Sheer surprise made Seton re
lirquish his hold OF the boy. and
Claudio dropped sobbing aud shak-
ing amongst the bracken and under
growth.
Seton tried to catch Mans arms
and hold her. hut for the moment
rage made her stronger than he.
She struck at him again and
again. She saw the world red. That
he should so have dared 20 hurt
Claudio. She could have killed him
in her passionate anger and hatred.
"You wild cat, you!" he said say
aScly. His face was ugly, but there
was look Of unwilling admiration
in his eyes. lie held both her wrists
with on" hand; the other he passed
agitatcdly across his face.
1t was rcd and bruised, and his
lip had bccn cut BY the diamond
ring which he himself had givcn.
Nan. - 80 <
She stood painting and struggling
with him. She, loathcd the touch of
his hand on her. She was sick with
shame that she could ever have
thought il possible that she could
marry such IL man.
Claudio had got over his first deep
terror and was bowling now in real
earnest, raising his voice shrilly till
it must havf been heard half over
the wood.
Scftcn looked around uneasily. He
was a coward at heart. AS are most
bullics.
"Stop that little devils noise" he
said suvagcly "If you think Pm
going to put up with his nonsense
and yours as we'll
He broke off. releasing Nan and
wheeling sharply as someone crashed
hn nnInrtrrnWfh
next moment Peter Lystcr was
there, not yard from them.
How much he had heard or seen
none Of them knew. but there was al
look in his face which Nan had never
thought to see there agatha look
in his eyes as he turned from her to
Seton that made her heart swoon
in her breast for sheer happiness.
She put out her arms and drew
Claudio into them aud away from
the two men who faced one another
In. the narrow pathway.
''Scfton laughed ms olently as he
looked at Peter.
n"Ah! the play,actor." he said with
,lCteStable infection. "Thc man who
l3st' his memory to avoid further
service. or to escape an unWclrom"
dNgagc n,cnt. The man who forgot
y conveniently forgot" |
But he never finished that sen
tence: Peter made lunge forward
and caught him fairly between the
eyes.
Claudio cried out, but with deligh.
now rather than fear, and Nan hid
her, eyes.
anut in contest between brave
man and Il coward the ending is Il
foregone conclusion, and in two mo-
ments Lystcr had broken the riding
crop across its owners back. and
Seton had disappeared "A limpinS,
raging thing, to hide his shame III
the heart Of the wood.
Peter was, breath ing heartily and
his face was very pale.
There was ,dazcd sort OF loo,i
about him; big man as he was. he
trcmblcd like Il girl now his rage !
had died down. ...:.
And. then. quito suddenly. with
out comment Of any sort, LyStcr
turned on his heel and began to
walk slowly away.
downbent--hc walked like man
who is thoroughly ssxhaqy,stcd: !
Nan gently released Claudie's
cllHsiHS AIHScia any LiEHt ~ ~ s'ti
down the narrow path. her light
steps hardly making any sound on
the messy ground; she caught him
p--t.she spoke his name brcathlcssl".
fearfully.
"Mr. Lystcr."
But he did not stop. or look ut
her; he just said hoarsely:
LET me go-lct me go!" rs il hc
could bear no more, and Nan fell
back silently.
She took Claudics hand and they
went homo without speak ing. JOIN
met them in the doorway. She
gasped when she saw the tcar5ta;n,
and agitation on both faces. She
asked Il. vOllcy of questions. Whist
had happened? Was anybody hurt?
Oh, how dreadful! -