Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1890-10-18
CarliStOls Gift.
By HUGH CONWAY.
L.
TOLD DY PHILIP BRAND, NJ. D., LONDON.

out OF doors. The fierce snowstorm hadbeen
the farewell of the frost. The heavy rain
that followed had filled the roads with slushy
n rapidlythawlng snow. managed to ex.
tort some sort of a breakfast from my host,
then, having r~ccompensed him according TO
my promise, not his deserts. started, as soon
as | could, on the bare back of my unfortu-
nate steed, for Mldcombe, which place, after
my nights experiences, seemed gifted with
merits not It's own,
/ was surprised upon leaving the house 10
find It was OF larger dimensions than, from
the little | saw Of IL during the night | had
imagined. IL was altogether q better class Of
residence than ] had supposed. Ny surly
friend accompanied me until he had placed
me on The main road, where could make no
possible mistake. lie was kind enough 10
promise 20 assist any one | might send out in
getting the dog-cart once more under way.
Then, with a hearty wish on nay part that I
might never again meet with his like, we
parted
/ found my way TO Mldcombe without much
trouble. | took off my things, had a wash,
and, like a sensible man for once. went I'd
bed, But l did not forget 10 send a boy
straight of TO the nearest telegraph station:
My message to Brand was q brief one. II
simply saidt-"rell your friend L have found
his man." This duty done, ] dismissed all
speculation as TO the result from my mind.
and settled down to make up arrears OF sleep.
was surprised at the reply received that
same evening nom Brand:-"We shall be
with you az soon as we can get down to-m0r-
row. Meet us at station" From this II was
clear that my friend was wanted particular
all the bctlerl i turned 10 the time table and
found that, owing to changes and delays,
they could not get TO c., the nearest sta
ton to Mldcombe, until three O'Clock In the
afternoon. i inquired about the crippled
dog-cau. II had been brought in; so | left
strict instructions that q shaft OF some sort
was to be rugged IN time for me to drive over
thenext day and meet the doctor and his
friend.
They came as promised. IL was a comfort
10 see friends of any description, so 1 gave
them a hearty welcome, GARRISON took hold
of both my hands, and shook them 40 warm
ly that | tcgan TO feel | had discovered a
long-lost father of his in my friend. 1 had
almost forgotten the young fellows appear
ance, or he locked a very different man to-
day from the ole | had seen when last we
met. Then he waSa wan, pensive, romantic,
poetlcal-looking sort OF fellow; nov he seem.
ed full of energy, vitality, and grit. Poor
old Brand looked as serious as an undertaken
engaged In burying his own mother.
Carriston began to question me-, but Brand
stopped him.. You promised | should make
inquiries first" he said, Then he turned to
me.
Richard | know he Is fearfully IN earnest
II DtlltNN NbA ldNt ulOuk III lN uOhH iii a
fools Grand; but let us go TO some place
where we can talk together for a few min
utes."
/ led them across the road TO the Railway
Inn. We entered a room, and, having for
the sake Of appearances ordered a little light
refreshment, told the waiter to shut the door
from the outside. Brand settled down with
the ar OF a cross-examining, counsel. l ex-
pected to see him pull out a New Testament
and nut me on nv oath
Now, Richard" he said, "before we go
further L want TO know Your reasons for
thinking this man, about whom you tele-
graphed, Is CarristOn's man, as you call him."
"Keasonsi Why OF course he is the man.
Carrlston gave me his photograph. The like
ness Is MISUNDERSTANDING the finger-joint
out of the question"
Here Carriston looked at my c~rossexamin-
er t~riumphantly. The meaning of that look
have never to this hour understood. But |
laughed because l knew old Brand had for
once made a mistake, and was going to be
called to account for IT, CaITiston was about
TO speak, but the doctor waved him aside.
NOW, Richard, think very carefully. You
speak on the missing finger-joint We doc
TOTS know how many people persuade them
selves into all sorts of things. Tell me, did
you notice the likeness before you saw the
gers mutilation bring the likeness TO your
mindY'
Bless the man." / said; zone would think
\ had no eyes. / tell you there is no doubt
this man being the original of the photo"
Never mind-answer my question"
+, Wei, then, l am ashamed 10 confess II,
but put the photo in my pocket, and forgot
auabont il until l had recognized the man,
and pulled out the likeness 10 make sure. /
didnt even know there was a printed de-
scription at the foot, nor that any member
was wanting: Confound It, Brandt Pun
not such q dnffer as You think"
Brand did not retaliate. He turned to his
friend and said gravely, ITO me the matter
is inexplicable.. Take your own course, as l
promised you should" Then he sat down,
looking deliciously crest-fallen, and wearing
the discontinued expression always natural
70 him when wossted In argument.
liz was now Carriston's turn. lie piled me
with many questions. In fact, / gave him
the whole history of my adventure. what
kind OF house Is itg' he asked.
Better than a co~ttage-scarcely a farm
house. A place, / should think with a few
miserable acres Of bad land belonging TO ii.
One of those wretched little holdings which
are simply curses to the country"
He made lots OF other inquiries. the purport
OF which could not then divine. He SEEM
ed greatly impressed when | told him that
the man had never for a moment left me
alone. he shot a second glance of triumph
at Brand, who still kept silent, and looked as
- ~ t'N "sh q bNtii tahtn Out W lie
sails.
How far is the placer asked Carriston.
'C0uid you drive me there after dark?'
At this question the doctor returned 10 life.
what do you mean to dow' he asked his
friend. Let us have no nonsense. Even
now / feel sure that Fenton Is misled by
some chance resemblance"
Deuce a bit, old chap" ! said.
well, whether or not, we needn't do fool
Ism things. we must go az I. swear informa-
ton, and get a searchrwarra.t, and the assist
ance OF the police. The truth is, Richard"
son to believe, or / should say Carriston per-
sists In f%ancying, that a friend Of his has for
some time been kept In durance by the man
whom you say you recognized"
Likely enough" ! said. "He looked vii
lain enough for anything up to murder"
Anyway" said Brand, I'VE must do
everything according TO law"
Law! 1 want no law" answered CARTS
ton. II have found her, as knew l should
find her. / shall simply fetch her, and at
once. You can come with me or stay here,
IS You like, doctor; but ! am afraid i must
near the place he speaks Of"
Foreseeing an adventure and great fun
moreover, not unmoved by thoughts Of re-
~venge-I placed myself entirely at Carriston's
disposal. He expressed his gratitude, and
suggested that we should start at once. In q
few minutes we We're ready, and mounted the
dog-cart. Brand, after grlmbling loudly at
the whole proceeding, finished up by follow
Ing us, and installing himself In the back
seat Carriston placed q parcel he carried In
side the cart and away we went
1t was now nearly dark, and raining cat
and dogs. l had my lamps lighted, so we got
along without much difficulty. The roads
were deep with mud: but by this time the
snow had been pretty nearly washed away
from everywhere. / don't make q mistake
In q road twice, so In due course we reached
the scene of my upset Here ! drew up.
1.-THE house lies about five hundred yards
PIP the lane" | told Carrlston; 1--WE had bet
tor get out here
What about the horse?' asked Brand.
mo chance OF any one passing this way
such q night ns this; 50 let us put out the
lamps and tie him up somewhere"
w Q uiu 80, uicn suoggled IN afoot until
we saw the CLEAN of light which had been so
welcomed by me two nights before.
It was Just about as dark rs pitch; but,
guided by the light we went on until we
TODD In front of the house, where . turf bank
and dry hedge hid US from s.S,ht, although ON
such 8 night we had little fear of our pres
ence being discovered.
what do you mean to DOR asked Brand
in q Disseminated whisper. "You can'tbreak
Carriston said nothing for q minute; then !
felt MIN place his hand on my shoulder.
,,s .Ags there N any horses; any cows about inc
told him / thought that my surly friend
yejoiced In tho possession of q horse n q