Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1886-09-29

| muir OF voices. sat upright suddenly ana
cautiously. A sweet, scarcely perceptible
perfume filed the atmosphere, and caught
the Hutter of white dress.
| II have the old fool completely in the
| tolls. Nick
sHist, woman! Not that name here. You
know that the people of Upgrade would
not rest easy did they know whom they
have entertained SO royalty during the past
month--call me Frank still"
The voices were attuned to low key, al
most whisper, and could not be heard a
dozen feet away. II was o lucky accident
that placed me within sir feet of the two.
The only thing feared was discovery.
Frank it is. The old chap is iipe for
the plncking; ii is all arranged, and to-
morrow night the hour"
Good. At what placer"
THAT remains to be arranged"
How much swag."
"Twenty thousand"
"Good again. Your beauty is valuable,
my pert Priscilla"
1hen they moved away, and sat rooted
to the spot In unspeakable surprise.
When the woman was so unceremoniously
shut of at the word Nick started. knew
one Nick Wilder, an escaped convict and
forger, for whom large reward had been
two years standing-the very case that had
brought me to the silver hills when Storms
induced me to turn aside to look after his
robbber.
/ realized with NO little satisfaction that
/ might kill two birds with one stone. My
wits were abont me now, and resolved not
to be caught hopping.
Early the next day / met Storms. He
questioned me as to my progress on the
case in hand.
u am on the trail, " said. and that was all
the confidence he received from me. / did
not question him regarding Miss Mcdonald,
knowing full well that he would be angry,
but watched his every movement as cat
would watch a mouse.
During the day boy delivered note
to the mine owner, which, aften reading
and smiling over, he thrust carelessly into
q side pocket of his coat.
While taking friendly cigar with him,
. little later, dextrously appropriated the
note for my own benefit, knowing that if
he missed IL he would never know that /
had filched 1t.
Ten minutes later was alone and had
the note under my eye.
~you DEAR OLD Duck: All is arranged. At
the little slab house under the bluff, 10 sharp,
remember
"PRrssY.'
could not forbear a smile Mt the word
ing, and yet when remembered how badly
had been hit by the siren / could not
wholly blame the mine-owner for his in
fatuation.
"So,"I muttered, the little slab house
under the bluff, will see about that"
resolved now to secure the services Of
several friends and keep Luke Storms
company to the TRUSTING place of his
inamorata, but, of course, we were to re-
main in the background.
l will now give what took place in the
mine owners case as afterwnrd learned
II from his own lips:
He had partially bargained with pretty
Miss Mcdonald TO marry her secretly on
the following evening, but the hour and
place had not been designated until he re-
ceived the note that SO soon filched from
his pocket.
aBrother Frank would be terribly put
out did he imagine that / was TO marry a
man twice my years." explained Priscilla,
"and SO we must be married in secret"
Blinded by his infatuation, the mine
owner agreed to meet her at some out Of
.he-way place, and there consummate their
happiness, she agreeing to find a suitable
person 10 perform the ceremony.
The most suspicious circumstance was
that Storms was induced to draw all his
available funds from the bank. and
as soon as the marriage was consummated
it WINS agreed to take the midnight train for
the East. 1t was a neatly arranged little
scheme. Old Storms fell into the trap.
He knew where the slab house was, under
the bluff half a mile ont of Upgrade.
Drawing his money about the middle of
the afternoon, Storms passed the re-
mainder of the day. up to near 10, in a
nervous manner.
He hurried on foot 10 the scene of the
contemplated marriage. A light was burn
ing in the slab house, and Storms was
quickly admitted by Priscilla herself.
"You dear, darling old duck you"
She kissed and Rugged him, aud then
led him 10 seat. or course after this
Storms was gone. He hadn't the moral
courage of mouse, and Priscilla had her
way with him.
"The minister will soon be here" she
said, ut length, "and--there he is now!"
The door opened and man crossed the
threshold-not pious clergyman, but q
man in mask.
"Mercyln
And then Priscilla uttered a wild scream
and sprang from the side of her old lover.
"Hand over your money, uttered stern
voice, and the demand was backed by a
cleaning revolver. What could he do but
obey? Even yet the villainous plot did not
dawn upon his mind. but as the man in
mask bent TO take the money from the hand
of the trembling mine owner, two stalwart
men sprang from the shadows upon him
and crushed him to the door.
The woman had sped from the house in
simulated alarm, and rushed into my
arms.
keep quiet, Miss Priscilla. and will
not harm YOU"
She struggled and screamed, but before
she realized what had occurred I had the
steel bracelets over her wrists.
"Now, my charmer, think we are quits;
you stole my watch, and l send you to
prison." said, with low laugh.
"Nick-Nick Wilder. help!'
''Qniet, my duck. Nick can't help you
now" said. mockihgly. II was my turn
to laugh. Then led her inside where
my two companions had secured the no.
torious Frank. alias Wilder, forger and
robber. had photograph Of the man,
had altered his looks as much as possible.
And Priscilla?
She proved to be the forgers wife, and
most useful ally. It was Wilder who
had nabbed Storms. he getting inform
alton from the woman who had completely
infatuated the miner.
Az for the dead horse on the wagon
trail, it was ruse 10 gain shekels from
any traveller who might chance TO come
upon the scene. The woman was an ex-
pert pickpocket. regoined my watch,
and had the satisfaction of seeing both
husband and wife imprisoned for term
Of years.
A TRUNK MYSTERY.