Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1879-09-03

bseakfass and / adjourned 10 the man
aGers room, leaving the door partl,
open, 20 . to b able TO eeall round I'll
bAnk III Z cigar, and e~nsconcing my
seH comfortably In the managerial arm
chair, prepared to stay the two hour
which inte1yened between the cessation
pf III church bells and luncheon time
Suddenly old lance appeared again .
The half opened door and spoke In thi
wise:
nScuse me, sir, but I've besn . pleace
man, and ! don't think that locks Il
right
Whist lock, Lancet" said 1.
THAT there drawer with the stamps
sir."
Well, let us look again"
So laying, We both went to the counter
which contained the drawer and Lance
pointed out some small scratches on thu
lock, and I slight indentation in thu
woodwork surrounding it.
"Tbat's = chisel, If / die for i'll" said
the ex-policeman.
by Jovel You don't mean 1T"
"6nre of Il, sir"
"Well, lett have Bennett up stairs
and hear what he thinks of IT."
Angry ct being disturbed Ut his break
fast, the head porter came grumbling Ia
the place where / stood, and, bending
down to the lock, impatiently inquired
If It WA not Z dealmore likely the cashier
had scratched it in the course of bust.
ness. After q few miDutes' further in.
spection he looked up with Z knowing
smile.
~ believe lance Is right now; it
l0ohs 70 fresh. l shouldn't wonder il
tho Waterman knew something about
this."
.... fs,h.ps g" said I; "vh.s DO you
We'll, he looks honest enough-but
looks amt alwaysa guide" said the man
"Then I'll stop in the bank tonight,
and see II ] can trap my gentleman
exclaimed Bennett, "if you will leave
me the key"
II can't do that" I replied, "but /
shall report the fact to the manager the
first thing In the morning."
AS you like, sir" he assented reluct-
antly, and they both returned to their
long neglected meal.
Again l returned to my den, this time
with the proud consciousness of having
something important to relate when
Monday morning should see the stream
Of busy workers once more settling with
books and papers and filthy lucre gener-
ally. One-nay, two cigars did l con-
sumo down to the last half inch, read
" Byles on Bills" nearly through, in
default of more cheerful literature, and
/ am afraid q tiny doze must have en-
sued, - ! was awakened BY Benefits
voice close to me, asking what l would
take for luncheon. Mechanically / fixed
upon the hackneyed chop, and with it a
pint of stout, to be fetched from the
only eating house that deigned to open
for : couple Of hours on Sunday. While
he was gone / took the opportunity of
making my second round, and found
nothing but peace everywhere, with the
slight exception of being startled by the
sudden appearance of the bank cat from
the cavernous depth Of the enormous
coal cellar. Eventually I returned 10
my room and found . s~ucculent chop
smoking upon the table, fanked BY Z
pewter pot of foaming stout, which, ON
i found unusually soft and
creamy-indeed, / fancied / could detect
, peculiar aroma in thy grateful bever-
age, which seemed 10 make it more than
palatable; anyhow, / thor
enjoyed the repast, and when an
intensely slumberous sensation crept
through all my veins, my strongest effort
Of will was insufficient to keep me awake.
While l was still struggling against the
impulse, Lance came TO inform me that
he was going out to dine at his home
close by, while Bennett was left on
guard below. Al he closed the door be.
hind him my eyes ahut and I fell asleep,
but only TO be reawakened by his voice
again addressing me:
II don't think I'll 10 ont to dinner,
sir," said he, gazing at me with a strange
"Why mott" quoth /, drowsily.
"Well, sir, I don't feel very bright to.
day, and I'd rather stop indoors; and if
you'd be 20 kind a. not to mention to
Bennett - I've come back. But you
don't look very well yourself, sir, just
"Lance, that stout has made me most
confoundedly sleepy"
"Wsll, have . bit of q nap, sir. I'll
So that the place is all ~right-only |
don't want Bennett to know Pm here"
"AH right, all right" I replied, rather
shortly, for l wanted to be left to myself;
yet / was somewhat surprised at his wish
for concealment In 70 trivial q matter.
Again ! saw the man pass out and
close the door, and once O l
drifted into = heavy but pleasant slum.
ber. Soon | was denixen Of dreamland
and . sharer In Its grotesque and fantas-
tic Imagining. / thought / was cling
ing to the telegraph wires that stretch
like webs over London, and performing
thereon athletic feats in impossible posi-.
tions; then ! few through the air IT,
ward my home 1t Wood Green, spinning
~ / went q thread of wire by which to
return-a useless precaution, n / was At
once transported to the desert of Sahara,
where ] found myself ON q camel's back
sSAV0 WAC OulIAuk Rl0lus oUS
In my dreams the face of the camel was
The face Of the ex-policeman Lance, and
and anon strange grating noises
.eemed to Be borne past us on the wind,
The pace began to slacken; and a l
Ipurred ON my steod to fresh exertions, /
seemed TO feel the prick Of the rowel in
my own flesh. It became sharper and
moro painful; and gradually camel.
desert, chase, faded from my vision, and
The bank once again dawned on my
awakening senses. Butthough my arial
steed and his surroundings had all dis.
appeared, the spur unacconntably enough
IemAined. - my neither limbs were pain
lully reminding me.
II wa no dream this time-Iwas wide
wake. Quickly glancing round, l dis
severed Lance crouching down beside
chair, and vigorously applying Z Din
% the calf Of my leg. 10 this proceed
[rg ] was about to enter an indignant
when = significant gesture
warned me 70 remain quite. His face
- -xAA I