Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1889-08-14

dss y IL kisehsn window, Via !
4kGAly - sd lying conveniently
~, - NJ eye roaming over the ont.
lying prsanises ior Aglimpse Of his do
yutod hSAa.
He crspt-Almost erawled-around
the honse to the apple tree which
grew under his bedroom window,
climbed the apple tree, and crept IN
81 the window.
Safely inside, he made straight fol
tho rag.bag. which lay In i corner.
plunged into its capacions depths, and
aucceeded, sitter Home difficulty, In
bringing forth . small wooden box
which contained : motley assortment
Of goods. The first thing TO attract
attention WAS q thirty-two .caliber re-
volver. IN . very dilapsdated condition,
minus both sides Of thu handle and the
cylinder pin, and having, in place Of
the latter useful appendage, q large
and very stiff wire, which protruded
IN inch OF two beyond the muzzie Of
the weapon, ending In q ring.
Among other things the box also
contained . bowie-knife, a small mag
nifying glass, false mustache and
whiskers and several wigs.
For halt m hour he busted himself
with the contents Of this box and some
old clothing, secured by o stealthy trip
70 the attic. Then, stealthily as be-
fore, he descended the tree, crept to
i the fApn nn6 aA.or1.J - AZ LII
II was q grotesqne figure that
slipped down from the loft Ct the hour
Of nine, and, with . cautious glance
around him, started up town. On his
head, covered by . wig Of gray hair,
was . SLOUGH hat with several holes in
the crpwn The coat was u cutaway,
and rather large for the wearer, while
the trousers and shoes were the ones
worn through the day. On his face
Was 4 fierce, black mustache, and q
long, flowing gray beard, and as the
wind blew the loose vest slightly ont
Of place, it disclosed q very bright
piece Of tin, the bottom Of an oyster
can, on which had been l~aboriously
worked, in sprawling characters, the
following:
@Old Thunderbolt, the Lightning
Detective"
As he stepped into the street he did
not notice two dark forms in the door
way of his fathers abode, that started
slightly at first, and then slyly follow
ed him. Their actions, however, would
not be hard to explain.
A search had been instituted by his
parents, and, the father Of the family
CHANGING to question the gentleman
with whom our hero had had the con-
yersation in the cemetery, they had
started in o n the trail of the detect
i've, and, having spotted him. they pro-
posed to shadow him and get ON to his
game.
II must start in on the trail at the
point where the robbery aud abduction
we're committed, muttered @Cld Thun-
derbolt,' 81 We shall hereafter desig-
nate hero. "Once started in on
the trail, | will not eat or sleep until I
have tracked the villains to their lair
And Is he spoke he had a faint recol-
lection OF "Old Electricity" or some
other detective, having once used the
same words.
Gradually the store and residence of
Tommy Graves hove in sight, and, as
he came nearer, his eagle eye scanned
the premises with lightning-like rapid
ity for signs Of life. Dim lights were
shining from various windows in the
second story, but everything was qniet.
He tried the gate, but it was locked.
However. he soon climbed to the top
Of the fence. and, with an agile bound,
his 1.-THE form landed in the yard.
Fortune s. emedssto favor the detective.
He raj not disturbed, and going to
the back door Of the store, he began the
search for clews.
The search was not very long or
difficult. The eyes Of the detective
royed about like those Of . hawk, and
oon lit upon . button-the regulation
clew-a small and dirty shirt-button,
hut . button all the same; and in
these days of romance and adventure, |
it is often, indeed, that life, fortune, |
and all depend upon q button.
Az the detective examined the clew, |
. fierce exclamation escaped him. and
. terrible, relentless look came into
his fine blue yes 81 he Missed through |
his clenched teeth.
Aye, villains, you may well trem-
BILE, for the sAvenger' is ON your track.
The chase has commenced, and | will
follow you to the end Of the earth. IL
will never cease until the innocent is
saved and I have dragged your vile"
The detective felt q powerful grasp
on his collar and pants, and he was
hurled through the air, with terrific, !
relentless force. His iron nerve avail
ed him nanght against the powerful
enemy who had caught him in that
terrible grasp, and Is he was hurled
violently to the earth . cry escaped
him, . terrible wall. no loud and de-
sparing thatit must have made "Bleary-
Eyed Bill" turn green with envy.
All the tom-cats in the neighbor-
hood, with cries Of dismay, and tails
standing in the air, sought more ron
genial climes "a frightful din came
from the hen-house, and, horrible to
relate, there were sounds of surprised
ordinations from within the residence
Of Tommy Graves. The whole family
turned ont to see what was wrong,
while the abashed detective heard Miss
Grace herself exclaim, in q voice Of
mingled horror and disgust:
Why, grandfather, was THAT ugly
little rag-mnffin trying to break into
the st0re?"
Some conversation among those as
sembled followed, but the detective
fsA