Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1892-09-17

strangely, these ivory chessmen ensrossed
them! 1 struck the keys with holder fingers
to drown the voices, and chose a piece which
demanded all my attention; but still fantas
tic yet significant conjectures and conceits
haunted me. When at length Mr. Garden
rose to go, Mr. Gascoigne spoke to me.
"Will you please take that lamp, Miss
Thorne, and light Mr.. Garden down the
s~tairs?'
II deeply regret 10 trouble you" said Mr..
Garden.
made no reply, but led the way.
"You must find your duties at the Grange
rather trying, Miss Thorne," he continued,
pausing at the door below. Poor Mr.. Gas
coigne is an odd gentleman, but he Is most
kind at heart; and / know he values you
highly already"
1 wondered how Mr.. Garden learned that.
II have found him always kind to me-" l
replied. And my duties are not difficult"
Il hope that will induce YOU 10 stay long
er than your predecessors have done" he
said; and then he raised his hat and depart
ed.
We'll" said Mr.. Gascoigne, "have you re-
pented your verdict on Mr.. Crawford Car
deng'
Il have not found any reason to do So"
/ replied.
Isn't he handsomeg' he inquired.-"Cer.
taiuly," / admitted.
Isn't he agreeable?' he asked.-'In man.
ner, yes" ! replied.
Then what is the objection? Is its source
discovered yet?'
might have answered that ! did not APP
prove the comments on himself passed by
Mr.. Garden.
Il canuot help feeling it." / said. "Will
you allow me in future, Mr.. Gascoigne, to
retire when Mr.. Garden comes? Icannot do
anything for you while he is here"
as that request solely because Of your
prejudice against Mr.. Garden, Miss Tho, ne?'
NO" | replied, c~oloring holly.
'Will you please tell me the other rea.
son?7 he asked.
There was nothing for it but candor.
Il canno help hearing what you and MI
Garden say. l cannot help surmising ia
some way what you mean. And do NOD
want to know anything more than aw
told"
You don't want to guess secrets, DOM
you? You're different from the rest of youI
sex then. What have you disceIned in ouI
chess-problem?'
II do not think 1t is simply chess" ! said.
What else do you suppose it is?' he ask
ed.
Il could not help thinking, Mr.. Gascoigne
that you were speaking of real people, not
chesSnen."
And the real people, you imagined, wers
myself and my nephews and n~ieces?" he in.
quired.
Yes" / replied
Very well, Miss Thorne. You are per
fectly correct. Now, as TO knowing NOR,
than you are told, | will satisfy that by tell.
ing you more than you know. have a
nephew, a certain Gilbert, of whom you may
have heard, who ought % have been my
heir. But he never will be-youcan be sure
Of that! / shall not leave him a farthing,
nor his brother either; and | mean TO check.
mate him. And with that in view | like u
go over my position, and see the condition
Of my pieces, and how il is to be done. |
brought Miss Hilda here solely and special
ly to checkmate him, and | mean her 10 dc
it, though things are not very promising just
now. Oh. / know more than | am told
and | don't regret il, Miss Thorne! Imean
TO leave al my money 10 my nieces, chiefly
70 Hilda. Annis can't expect much can shei
Do you think her affection for me rests on
|o- !.,rt"ne1r