The Warner sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1885-1???, 1886-06-25


Three chairs, an old deal box and q
dilapidated table formed the principal
articles in the room. Two other
things, however, attracted my atten-
tion more than all beside They were
a long wooden bench, such as is used
by carpenters, and from the nature OF
the tools 1 saw lying about-with dies
| and moulds of various sizes-my sus-
picions became confirmed.
The other object which arrested my
attention was q strong, capacious
W ra robe IA the opposite corner, fac
ing the bench. It's foldidg doors stood
little aiar, and grew curious to
know the character of its contents.
was just rising from my seat with che
intention of making closer inspec-
ton, when the woman opened her eyes
again and beckened me to her side.
Then, in a voice just raised above q
whisper, she said:
"Who are you that have found your
way into this miserable dwelling?"
~ am q woman peddling q 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
| may be of simple service to you,
for / see you need helping hand"
"Ah, 'tis true-'tis true," she re-
piled; tbut / fear your kind assistance
has come too late-yes, too late"
81 hope not. Tell me, though, how
you have come by that wound in
your temple, Is 1t the result of
fall?"
"No, no; it was done by him--my
husband. He struck me with ham
mer because would not consent to
his taking away my child"
"Merciful heavens, can such things
be? Where is he now2" | some what ca
gerly inquired.
'I-I canroG tell" she answered;
and she appeared to begrowlngfaint
by the exertion. Last night, a little
before l2, he came home in q terrible
temper. / saw murder lurking in his
eyes, and after listening to his fearful
oaths, ran to tha police station,
pursued by him. could not attract
attention. He overlook me just as
re-entered this room, and -Harkl
What is that?"
Instantly we were as silent as the
dead, and listened. The faculty of
hearing is remarkably keen with me,
and / soon came to the conclusion
that some one was crouching behind
the door. Imotioned to the woman
to be silent, while crept noiselessly
into the open wardrobe. closed the
folding doors from within, and, as
good fortune would have it, discovered
a large crevice through which could
see the movements of any one who
might choose to enter the apartment.
The poor woman head sank on the
pallet Of straw, apparently in q swoon,
and all was stiffness again.
The minutes that elapsed seemed
hours to me, my ears had deceived me,
when, very slowly. and Without the
faintest sound, the door opened. and
the figure OF a short, stout, bushy-
bearded man crept in. He stole to
where Lizzie Thornley, lay; he bent
over her, as II to assure himself that
she was unaware OF his presence.
"Um!--she must have been mutter-
ing in her sleep, Ireckon. lcould have
sworn, though, / heard two voices.
Curse heri And you would have split
on me, would your" he growled, be-
tween his set teeth. wonder ifsnel
croak this timer"
As he said this his voice sank in q
hoarse whisper, and he turned toward
thS bench. A momentary fear came
over me lest he should open the ward
robe doors, and with this feeling upon
me I placed my hand in readiness on
my revolver.
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 un-
speakable surprise, however, he pro-
cesded TO dives himself of his flowing
beard and wig, and then beheid in
him the long-looked-for coiner, Bill
Thornley,. My first impulse at that
| moment was to spring suddenly upon
him, but his next movement deprived
me of any such intention.
| Slipping his fingers in his waistcoat
pocket he drew forth a small key.
With this he opened q secret panel in
the wainscot of the wall, and there |
saw great piles ofglittering coin, which
my practiced eyes told me were
| spurious. One by one he placed them
| noiselessly in bag beside him, then
relocked the panel, and after closely
examining his pistol, laid that on the
bench preparatory to resuming his
hirsute disguise.
With the rapidity of panther
springing on its prey. flung open the
wardrobe doors and sprang on him.
The suddenness of my appearance
struck him dumb. Hecould but glare
at me-, while held him in a vise-like
grip, and his lips trembled and grew
ashy pale.
| At such moment as this a detec-
| tive needs all the cnnlnasa and deter