Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1886-07-24

ut the corners.
pray, for the present DO not agitate
Yourself | exclaimed in u well AS
sumed female voice" You will feel
better presently, and then we will speak
q little"
An object which arrested my atten-
ton was a strong, capacious wardrobe
III IN opposite corner, facing the bench.
Its folding doors stood Il little ajar.
and | grew curious TO know the char
acter OF its contents. ! was just rising
from my seat with the intention of
making a closer inspection, when the
woman opened her eyes and beckoncd
me to her side. Then in u voice just
above Il whisper she said:
"Who are you that have found your
way into this miserable dwellingp"
IL am a woman ~peddling a few sim
pie wares" | answered, ..but how |
managed to find myself here is more
than | can tell; yet | am thankful
have reached you, if it is only that I
may be of simple service to you, for :
see you need a helping hand"
"Ah. It's true, It's true" she replied,
~ iN"' .'hi 'iSS NoiAiS
too late-yes, too late!'
II hope not. Tell me, though. how
YOU have come by that wound in your
temple. is il the result of n fail?"
.No, no; il was done by him-my
husband. He struck me with a ham
mer because | would not consent to his
taking away my child"
"Mercifri heavens. can such things
be? Where is he now" ! somewhat
eagerly inquired.
IL cannot tell" she answcred:
and she appeared to be growing fainter
by the excrtion. Last night II little
before - he came h,me in a terrible
temper. ! saw murder lurking in his
eyes, and after listening to his fearful
oaths | ran TO the police station pur-
sued by him. could not attract at
t|ention. He overlook me Just ~ ! re-
entered this room, and-Hark! WhaH
is that?"
Instantly we were ~ silent ~ the
dead. and listened. The faculty Of
hearing is remarkably keen with me.
and | soon came to tine conclusion that
some one was crouching behind the
door. ] motioned to the woman TO be
silent. while | crcpt noisclessly into the
open wardrobe. | closed the folding
doors from within and. rs good for
! tune would have il. discovered a large
c%rcvicc through which | could see the
movements of any one who might
choose to enter the apartment.
The poor woman's head sank on the
pallet Of straw, apparently in Il swoon,
and all was stiffness again.
The minute that elapsed seemed
hours TO me. and ! was beginning to
think that after AL nv ears had de-
ceivcd me, when. very slowly and
without the ~faintcst sound. the door
opened. and the figure of "a short, stout,
hushy-bcardcd man crcpt in. He stole
10 where Lizzie Thornley, lay; he bent
over her aS if to assure himself that she
w?s nawaro OF his presence.
''Um, She mist have been muttcr-
ing in her sleep, | reckon. ! could
have sworn, though. heard two voices.
Curse her. And you would have split
on me. would YOU, he growled between
his set teeth. Il wonder if she will
cTOitk tllS tltlicF
The RAYS Of the setting sun were just
glinting through the latticed pane; his
face was straight before me. but | did
not recognize it. TO my unspeakable
surprise, however, he proceeded to di-
vest himself Of his flowing beard and
WIG. and then | behcld in him the long
looked for c%oincr, Bill Thornley,. My
first impulse AT that moment was to
spring suddenly upon him. hut his
next movement deprived me of any
such intention.
Slipping his fingers in bis wais;coat
poke, he drew forth n small key.
With this he opened II secret panel in
the wainscot Of the wall, and there |
saw great piles of glittcring coin, which
my practiccd eye told me were spuri-
Gus. One by one he placed them noise
lessly in a bag beside him. then re-
locked the panel, and after closely ex-
amining his pistol. laid that on the
bench preparatory to resuming his hir-
suite disguise.
With the rapidity of Il panther SPRING
inc on its prey | flung open the ward
robe door and sprang on him. The
suddenness of my appearance struck
him motionlcss and dumb. He could
but glare at me. while held him in a
vise-like grip, and his lips trembled
and grew ashy pale.
At such a moment rs this 4 detective
needs all the GOODNESS and d%ctcrmina-
ton he can command, for then it is
that his victim is almost powerlcss Of
resistance.
At least such was the case with thfr
ruilian Thornley,. l made short woiA
with him. As for his wife and child,
for such they proved to be. | had them
tenderly conveyed to the Royal infirm-
airy. where for ten long days and nights
she and her baby lay, and then their
| spirits crossed the confines Of a better
world.
Thornley, was found guilty. and /
had the satisfaction Of hearing him
sentenced to 3 long term of penal serv-
itude.
Saratopa Mater CrapkS.