Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1890-08-09
A DYNAMITE STORY.

- taf "fhfabH WV Pt0iDPy hUiiG
arm around her fathers neck, as she
perched herself on the arm of his
chair.
Those who knew Silas Clyburue
only as q business man, president OF
several railroads, director In a score of
other corporations and a shareholder
in every paying concern 10 the state,
would have been amazed TO see how
easily this fragile girl bent to her
will the stony-hcartcd, iron-handed
man.
"His name is Osborne Palmer" re-
piled the elder Clybusne, gazing af-
f~ectionately at his idol.
al didn't ask you what his name is;
] ask, who is he? And that is the way
you dare to answer my questions, sir?"
and as she spoke Daisy playfully
plnched one Of his ears.
"Ouch! You little inquisitivc tor.
mentl Well, to be explicit. Mr.. Pal
mer Is to be one of my under sccretar-
les. He is toto assist Mr.. Winchell."
.sCome, come, sir? that hesitation
shows that you are trying To hide
something; 1 want the truth, the
whole truth, and nothing but the
truth"
Perhaps you remember that n few
weeks ago your mother extracted
from me a promise that | would never
again. under any circumstances. open
Packages which might come to me by
mail or express"
''Of course we did, IL those wretch
es send you q dynamite bomb once,
they might do IL more successfully
again; il was by a mere chance that
the thing was out of order and did not
blow us ali up" replied Daisy with a
shddder.
enough to do II for me; Mr.. Winchell
has d family, and t;.ce our recent ex-
perlence he has no taste for the task;
DO / have employed this young Palmer,
whose special business it will be to
Open my parcels"
''Oh, papa, why should he take the
risk Of bis life? He is $3.50 young,
maybe he has a motherp"
mo, nor sister, nor any near rcla-
tive. He Is highly educated and we'll
born, but being unfortunate III busj-
bess, and therefore Tilted by a heart
less girl. no resolved to put an end to
an unhappy life. He procured a
quantity Of %laudanum, but decided
that that was upcertain, aud so shot
himself In the head. Either his hand
swerved or his aim was uncertain,
for the wound proved to be only seri-
Gus, not fatal. He was taken to h hos
pltal, and as the letter he had written
Tor post norton purposes proved that
the shooting was intentional, he was In
danger Of arrest and trial for attempt
ed self-rhurder.
Learning Of the affair. / was struck
with an idea and so used my influence
in his behalf, and there was no arrest.
He placed no value on his life, and so
readily accepted the position / offered
him. He came the very day after you
and your mother went to your grand
mothers to spend Thanksgiving, and
Nj. Winchell tells me that he is of
great assistance to him, especially in
my large foreign correspondence. He
Is a gentleman born, so he will live
with III as a member of our family,
and | want you TO give your cousin
Bertha q hint that while she is with Us
we hope she will be courteous to him.
] am very fond Of Berth, my dear, but
] can see that she Is the least bit snob-
bish-like her father. Obed Jenness
is an inbred snob!"
The famous Kilkenny cats might
we'll have been named Silas Clyburne
and Obed Jenness, for these two men
were continually fighting, tooth aud
nail. IL one could thwart a scheme Of
the other 1t was rare sport to him. but
retaliation was SUR to come Ia some
Understanding way. As they married
sisters and there was constant inter-
course between their wives and daugh-
ters. they outwardly maintained an
armed neutrality. ~
Goodness gracious, Daisy, do you
know who Uncle Silas has in his en-
pl6y nowp" cried Bertha Jenness to
her cousin when she, too, had seen the
yonng package opener.
'sYes. but he told me all about him
Just q few moments ago. Poor fellow!
He has a romantic and sad history"
replied Daisy, and then went on to re-
late what we already know about Os-
OOTuc oluleT.
Bertha listened attentively with a
peculiar smile lowering around her
thin, soulless lips. and when the story
Was concluded she said. with a shrug
Of her shoulders. Every romantic, ]
admit, but what a fool he was"
sSOh, no, Bertha! Doubtless his
troubles had temporarily turned his
brain, yct surely he is to be pitied."
II am not 30 sure that he Is not now
but tell me, Daisy, did you ever
hear me speak Of a young cavalier l
had who used to deluge me with rare
~ and choice bonbons until his for
tune vanished, and then sbowered on
me teuder verses OF his W compost
tiOhp"
s.Oh, yes; and how I envled you for
having a real poet ut your fcctl But
whore is he nowe Does he still send
you poemsf"
..DoggereI. you meant No. hope
not. In Osborne Palmer, your
fathers clerk. you behold the manr
s.Nol Not reallyf Isn't that oddr
And now that he has come TO life again.
% to speak. the lovely romance will
begin all over again." said Daisy,
with = faint shade Of regret In her
voice.
Each Of these cousins had something
the other lacked. Bertha was one Of .
large family. and how Daisy wished
thai she. too, might have n or two
brothers. or one or two dear little
mtdgets Of sisters. But Bertha regard
ID these younger q as channels
where . large share OF her faith
er's money must 20. while Daisy
MAS the soul and ldolixed heir in her
home.
Then. too. Bertha had 90 many low
On and Daisy 20 few. To be sure. the
former. ever eager for attention, met
them fully half way, while the modest
littlsdowsr waited quietly for notice
" attention.
OF course II VA not now at all sur-
prisinG that OsbQrne Palmer was soon
hada quite ut home In tho Clyburno
pansi6n. Ha and Bertha had one day
3 long and confidential co~nyersatiol,
fnd al!sr that thcte was no restraint
Ms|'';%''ssT'' z.1.~r-.s.