Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1886-09-29
4 DETECTIVES STORY.
u STERILE CRAFT, DEFECTIVE.

1T b The most provoking thing ever
had occur 10 me, Alr. Craft. The loss
Of Slu,UUO 10 not uncomfortable. hut our
business will stand the pressure, I believe.
cool thcusnnd II yours if you will secure
the rObber."
.Ihs reward 10 good; will do nv best,
Mr.. Storms said, ~ sat in Listening,
half-thoughtful attitude, before the mine-
owner.
One week before, Luke Storms had
been Waylaid. knocked senseless and
robbed, while driving from the town Of
Upgrade to the Crescent mine, Of which
be was sole owner.
Al Upgrade lie had drawn the $4,000
from the bank, all in national bank notes,
and after short waiting in the town, set
ont ON horseback 10 regain the Crescent,
one Of the then best-paying silver mines in
Colorado.
soon after the robbery, the mine- owner
having heard Of my vocation from friend,
called me 70 his house and gave me an ac-
count Of his trouble, concluding with the
offer Of $40 for the arrest ef the man
Who had robbed him OF his money.
Have you many acquaintances in the
town Of Upgradef questioned, finally.
Several"
Name them.'
He did %, each one being familiar one
10 M. since l had been some weeks in the
town looking mp another trail, which be-
lisved led In another direction, when
Storm induced me to listen to his troubles.
II will give week to your case, Mr..
6torms, " ! said; THAT Is all the time can
spare now"
Il ann sorry. he said; you can do moth
ing in 90 short time"
That remains to be seen,' l returned,
nvS6 thar f,ad1ssns Aha NINA -owuor uJioy1 4
turned nv face toward Upgrade mounted
on : feet horse.
The tail that followed led through
Wild country. over rocky hills, through
deep wooded depressions, altogether a
glcomy journey, and when arrived ct the
spot where the miner, Storms, had been
wsylatd and robbed involuntarily came to
ha1k.
AZ IL left gurgled a shallow brook,
frinaed with bushes; \ bridge SPAWNED the
wa1ex Just ahead, and on the right was
dense thicket, beyond which lofty ridge
reared upward several hundred feet.
II vas from this thicket that the object
had been hurled that had sent Mr.. Storms
senseless from his saddle.
A. eat In the saddle looking about with
oae hiIhd on the butt of my revolver, q
sharp scream In advance, beyond the
bridge, attracted my attention.
a female in distress.
! 1t once spurred forward, and turning
point Of rock, caugs upon scene that en-
listed my sympathies.
Beside the road was female--a beauti-
ful young girl, wringing her hands and vail
ing beside dead horse that lay on the
ground IN the narrow road between the
shafts Of light vehicle. Evidently the
animal. rather sorry beast, had been
IA -. Il - LII ~.
deprived Of mode OF conveyance most un-
sxpsctedly.
aOh, sir, am 20 glad ron came" cried
The girl. wringing her pink and white little
banda In helpless way. and transfxing
ma With pair Of the most beautiful eyes l
had ever beheld. I've been trying ever 80
hard to induce Homer to rise up. He fell
quick = dash. Oh dear, don't know
Whist 10 DO.
.Your horse is dead, miss, said, as
sprang TO the ground and made brief ex-
animation.
.Deadl Poor Homer!n
With clasped hands the girl regarded
her fallen beast, while tears filled her
heavenly blue syes. ! glanced at her rs
che stood there, and mentally assented
that she was the most lovely female had
ever looked upon.
Ehe could mot have been over 20. and
thsro vas an artiess expression OF counte-
nance that was altogether charming.
80 intending to visit Upgrade, she
aaid. Il AnHwer 70 an inquiry, and after her
aFst deep emotions had subsidized. II have
bsc4her living there, and sister mp in
the hills. rode out with brother Frank
two days ago, and Yesterday be was COM
pelled 10 return. and 20 be took the stage,
lseving me to drive in with Homer and the
vehicle. was elated ut the progress had
made. when poor Homer dropped a. though
- had been shot: What can we do, sir?"
4 will put my horse in the shafts; am
"a ny way 70 Upgrade, aud ron will not be
dstsissd long. after iii.
Tea are VERY kind, sir. What name
williams. said, quickly. Even under
The in6nence of this girls marvellous
beaniy was not led to give my true name
md character.
aAnd am Priscilla Mcdonald. l feel
ssze us shall get on very nicely, You are
Ms Mcdonald adjusted herself 10 cir
eurDstances with naivete that vas truly
ckafninR. and very hattering to myself.
was not long in exchanging the living
To- The dead, and then, seated beside Pris-
ella, gave the horse rein, and soon was
whitfield from the vicinity of the accident.
left my fair passenger at the door
ot enc a. the most imposing dwellings,
II ~ frontier city, she informing
- that Frank would care for the vehicle,
and rode my horsx to the "Great Bear"
the principal hotel In the town
Tia time was now evening. When
moved to consult my watch met with .
slastling discovery.
NJ handsome gold thermometer, with
i'll haavy chain, was gone!
stood Stunned for an instant, realizing
that had been robbed.
- oncs remembered my adventure on
the rod from the Crescent to Up
grade. when I left the mine had con-
4 ~ I'D uaw wntch 90 that the loss had rav