The Canton advocate. [volume] (Canton, D.T. [S.D.]) 1877-1897, 1879-09-18

men all traced Brashear not only to the
place ne adopted in his flight, butto the
bouse where even now he lay awaiting q
favorable opportunity to quit the country
Mr.. Americus Biggerton was of him.
sell diplomat, who, though loving hon.
Iesty and square dealing much, loved the
fabulous possession Of Midas more
Hence, when beggarly pittancc of "twc
hundred dollars, dead or alive" was of:
fered for the apprehension of Brashear
lsArs~aBiggerten aeilsted his widespread
noslrlls, and whispered he would await q
higher iuctuatiop in the market of re.
| ward
| So 1T happened that one afternoon, as
he sat coming over the entries made by
his head clerk, Sliggins, in his "Dockct
of Criminalities," the dusty door of his
dustier office revolved on its creaky hin.
gcs, and, looking up, Mr. Biggcrton spied
theawsal-known form of his nephew, join
Liel, standing sabashed III the shadowy
Aperture.
"Well, it's you, is it?" quoth Mr.. Big
gerton, ungraciously enough.
eyes, SIR And John Liel walked un.
Steadily forward. II hope you are glad
to see me, uncle
III can't say that I am," grunted the
chief. ~ suppose you are out of work
again. IdleneS has become a chronic
malady with you, john"
John Liel stood twitching the frayed
end of d not immaculate handkerchief
through his i9d digits.
II hope not, uncle; leastwise, T.
a""Happilv, wc don't see our own faults
John. But ct nc tell you that one OF
yours is lazlnes; x r!s SO don't stand on the
II have not cndeavorcd to defend mya
self nor could conscicntiously do so,''
with short, faint laugh.
Mr.. Biggcrton replaced his gold-bowed
glasses, and sat looking for moment or
two at his nephew. He was short,
corpulent, old fellow, this uncle of Johns;
close shaven, keen-eyed, alert, and dressed
with scrupulous care in a suit Of shiny
black broadcloth.
"Well, what are you going to do with
fyoursclfe''~ nc fiKally interrogated
~ hardly know" and John looked
down appealin gly into the round, ruddy
isfe faint nt 1sps 1tss sS"'"D ""' entertained
/ NsAnd What did you hopc?"
THAT there might be something in the
service that you could offer me-"
Mr.. Americus Biggerton let fall his
docket of crlminalities with something
| very much like a smothered gasp.
"You?'
"Certainly; why not?'
| 'Why not9 For the very sufficient
reasDntha YOU are. not qualified TO Ifill
any spositions beyond the counter Of a
county shoe-shop. Ittakes a. deal more
than 4 good-natured dolt to fulfil the
| duties required Of a detective.
''For all that, you might put me to
! the test
Just then sudden thought revealed
itself to Mr.. Biggerton.
! "sAnd so I might" he conceded. ~
suppose it's against the code of human
nature to let ones own flesh and blood
starvc outright, and l have kind Of half
notion to try you, anyhow. There, there T.
he rejoinded, cautiously; don't rush into
a vortex af avowals before you are certain
ofMy intcu tions;whiclare these You've
heard Of Israshear, the sclcrk who de-
camped a~week or so ago, leaving Killop
and Carr a considerable sum the worse
for his flight. Well, very contidentially,
and strictly between ourselves, the United
American Detective Service has tracked
the fellowto a alittlemanufacturing centre
in Massachusetts,, where the aforemen-
toned service intends to keep him until
the rewards offered for his apprehension
Is colossal enough to recompense them
for their pains. Now, John, here's your
chance 60 up to Beamis Point, and
keep'a clear eye on the fellow; then. when
the time arrives to expose HIM, I'll come
up and arrest him, and pay you we'll for
your trou5c-all with the proviso that
you do your work in the right way
/. But,howwiu Irecognize the cplprt?"
tnueried Lisls ~ = j ~ ~ S~-s
Easily enough; he is your height to
a hair breadth, very dark, and eliminate
to last degree"
care you Certain he is at Bcamis
Psint2"
"Certain as l am of my own existence.
There is but one tavern III the place, and
at it he is tdomicilcd. It is highly prob
able lie will be disguised and under an
assumed name. But you must ferret out
his identity, aided by the information !
kh,ye givenyop, and hc ftct that he has
beer II iiasthss macs just asfoSftnight come
Tuesday. Here's enough money to cover
your expenses. In event of your failure.
I warn you never to come my way again,
II YOU succeed your. future is assured
Now 60" = ~ i
tcoil 81 6iills IN his innermost pocket. obey
ted fsBigsertonH b peremt fss bkdig
Now Beamis Point was nm ralmless
province of unfertile soil, somewhere
along the Massachusetts, coast; Of wliich
one predicted ct first a acantiness of pop.
ulation, and a general poverty in the way
of human confer II t. There we're precisely
seven rambling farm.housesi iian equally
RAMBLING church, and, more prefer tious
than the, rest, a,heap Of BRICK, and NOR
tar stigmatizedF F'for brevity's's sake ''fht
lar, ss~ 1h7ss5 ,oks'--' ) va ,7rsst4fA
IlaHerh.iw has-lfsr iSrSz.o '.e-Lat sa1 s+F =
John Liel got to TINS place on the sec
ond morning after his departure from
tBiggeTton g 0fiices7 Once there he se1
fabout his duties with all the system anc
regularity ,bes.t;ng .hem- Going direct
l4y 10 the tavern, he ordered q room, and
While subscribing himself upon the bat
tered register, took occasion to scan thu
names enrolled thereon. = Il. 4 ss s5is5ssF
In most part they were good, sensible
Yankee names, such, he argued, asmigh
he and fpvobabiy were the possession Q
the itinerant. pedd dlers who predominatet
IN that sec,ions sRut two names were on,