Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1890-10-04

away-that she had gone by her own free
wlll-that there was a man who had at the
eleventh hour alienated her affections from
Carriston. But ] could not bring myself TO
believe TINS: So i was placed w the
horns of a dilemma.
IL Matelihe had not fled of her own free will.
some one must have taken her away, and is
so our agents report was a coined one, and,
II a coined one, issued at Ralph's instance
therefore Ralph must be the prime actor In
the mystery,
Butii Sober, moments such a deduction
seemed an utter absurdity.
Although j have said that Carriston was
doing nothing toward clearing up the mys-
terry, / wrong him In so saying: After his
own erratlc way he was at work. At such
work too! | really lost all patience with
him.
He shut himself up in his room, ont OF
which he scarcely stirred for three days. BY
that time he had completed a large and beau
tiful drawing Of his imaginary man. This he
took to. a wellkhown photographers, and
ordered several hi,1dteo small pllotogr9ghs
Df IT. 10 be prepared as soon as possible. The
minute description which be had given me of
his fanciful creation was printed at the foot
OF each copy. AS soon as the first batch OF
these precious photographs was sent home,
to my great Joy he did what he should have
HoIie days agD, yielded 10 my wishes. and
put the matter into the hands OF the police.
was glad 10 find that in giving details OF
what had happened he said nothing about
the advisability of keeping u watch on Ralph
CaIriston's proceedings. lie did, indeed, Of
Ter an absurdly large reward for the dlscOv-
cry of the missing girl; and, moreover, gave
the officer in charge OF the case n packet oil
photographs of his phantom man, telling him
In the gravest manner that he knew the origl-
nal Of that likeness had something to do with
the disappearance Of Miss Rowan. The Of
tcer, who thought the portrait was that OF q
natural being, took his Instructions in good
faith, although be .seeIned greatly Surprised
WHEN Ne head that Carriston knew neither
the name nor the occupation, in fact, knew
nothing concerning the man who was to be
sought for. However, as Carriston assured
him that finding this man would insure the
reward as much as 4 hs found Madeline the
tasks, little knowing what waste of time any
attempt 20 Uerform the latter must be.
Two day after this CaTTiston came to me-.
~ shall leave you tomorrow" he said.
where are You goingy' asked. 'Why
do you leaye""
II am going 10 travel about. | have no in.
tention OF letting Ralph get hold OF me. Sc
mean to go from place to place until find
Madeline"
"Be careful / urged. ia
~ shall be careful enough. III take care
that MS doctors, surgeons, or even apothe.
carries get on my track. / shall 20 lust as the
III - AL'N NV l. II iflN Y "a NAN' ~ W 4
shall be the next, it will be impossible fol
that villain to know"
This was not a bad argument. In fact, If
he carried out his resolve Of passing quickly
from place to place l did not see how he could
plan anything more likely TO defeat the IN.
%tentions with which we credited his cousin.
AS to his finding Madeline by so doing, that
was another matter,
His idea seemed 60 be that chance would
sooner or later bring him in contact with the
man Of his dream However, now that the
searh had been intrussed to the proper per-
sons his own action in the matter was not
worth troubling about. | gave him many
cautions. lie was 10 be quiet and guarded
In words and manner. He was not to con-
verse with strangers. Ii he found himself
dogged or watched by any one he was to
communicate al once with me, But, above
mental lntrmity. The folly ot man who
could avoid il throwing himself into such a
state ought ~ be apparent 10 him.
"Not pitcher than ! can help" was all the
promise 1 could get from him: but see her
| must sometimes, or shall die"
With his peculiar idlosyncrasy. So, with
many expressions OF gratitude ON his part
we babe each other farewell.
During his absence he wrote to me nearly
every day, SO that j might know his where
abouts in ease ] had any news TO communi.
cate, But ! had none. The police failed TO
lind the slightest clew. ! had been called up
on by them once or twice in order that they
might have every grain of information /
could give. / ooh the liberty OF advising
them not 10 waste their time in looking for
the man, as his very existence was problem
atical. 1t was but a fancy of my friends,
and not worth thinking seriously about. |
am not sure but what after hearing this they
did not think the whole affair was an i'm.
aglned one, and so relaxed their efforts.
Once or twice, CarTiston, happening TO be
In the neighborhoOd of London, came to see
me-, and slept the night at my house. He
also had no news 10 report. Still, he seemed
hopeful as ever.