Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1895-05-09

~ 1ES
BEGAN A FURIOUS BEATING AROUND UN-
DER THE BED.
gently, gently, Uncle" demonstrated,
what do you propose to do now?'
"Your wife's chamber"
"Uncle" l exclaimed in a tone of out
ragged feeling, ''this farce has been played
| far enough. l demand that it come to an
| end. l cannot"
civilian Harvey" he blurted out, shak-
! ing his finger in my face, ''I'm your legal
and lawful guardian. l stand in the
place of a father, and even if use vio-
lence, it is my intention to search this
house thoroughly before leave. 1t shall
| never be said of Joseph Belts that he
stood calmly and meekly by and allowed
his sisters son to overlook a wife's in
discretions; never. sir. Come ON And
again shouldering his cane, he dashed up
when he reached the landing and could
only gasp out:
This is Elizabeth's door, isn't it?''
nodded my head. The old gentleman
tapped gently on the door as if he had
just come to a realizing sense of the seri.
BUSINESS of the step he was about to take
'Who is there:" asked Bess in her
round, musical voice.
"Me."
"Who is me?'
"uncle joe"
"Why, isn't Will with you, Uncle?"
"Of course he is, growled the old man.
"Then why didn't he speak?"
"She is trying to gain time" whispered
Uncle Joe to me.
Eyes, am here, Bess," cried out rat
Ting my fingers on the door in my usual
style of private signal. open the door,
please"
"Oh, bother" she replied. And then
there was brief silence, during which
Uncle Joe clutched me by the arm and
whispered:
"Ha! more day. What does it mean?"
II say. WILL" Bess now called out,
"you and Uncle go down stairs; I'll be
down presently. have wretched head
ache, and had half undressed and am ly-
ing down."
MARK that" came in a hoarse whisper
from Uncle Joe, putting his mouth to my
ear. Everything for delay. Have your
permission to burst the door in?' he de-
manded, as he drew back in threatening
attitude.
'For heavens sake, Uncle" replied,
ARE you mad? Think of the noise it
would make. How it would brighten Bird
get, and besides it would be expensive;
broken lock, splintered door, locksmith's
and carpenters bill, and what excuse
could l give for having broken in the
door of my own sleeping apartment
Uncle Joe looked bit dabbergasted,
and az he stood there picking up his scat
tered thoughts, Bessie's velvety voice
again reached our ears.
What in the world are you two men
mumbling about out there? Send Uncle
Joe down stairs and you go round to the
other door If it's 50 important that you
should see me at once"
Hold, Will Harvey" cried Uncle Joe,
what did tell you? This is mere ruse
to get me out of the way. Not one inch
shall bulge from this spot. If you
are the man that think you are, you'll
open this door. the minute you have en-
tered E1izabeth's room and allow me to
continue my search for the man whom we
know must be secreted somewhere in this
house."
VERY well, Uncle" said l, "stand guard
here, then, while 60 around to the inside
door" and saying this, l passed into the
front room with the intention Of making
my way through the passageway into Bes-
sizes presence. But no sooner had turn
ed my back than the transom of the door
which Uncle Joe was guarding was eau
tiously opened and deep voice exclaim-
ed: Gracious heaven. Mr.. Belts is still
there"
Aha! 80 he is, young man, so he is"
growled Uncle Joe. with q particularly
savage snarl. and then giving a vigorous
thump on the door, he called out, "Come
come. Will, no delay now. Open the door,
open the door!
SO fastened to unlock the door and
throw it open. With two strides Uncle
Joe landed in the middle Of the room.
Bess was lying curled up on the lounge
her soft, wavy hair loose about her head,
looking very pretty.
Elizabeth" cried Uncle Joe in a voice
OF terrible severity, and swapping OF each
word with an especially vicious nip on the
word. man." there 10 a man in this
ROOM"
Eyes, Uncle Joe. two Of them" replied
Bess. land one of them love and one
don't"
mo tri6ing, Elizabeth" said Uncle Joe
sternly, ~ he brought his cane down ON
the door with bang and threw his head
back in his most magisterial manner. Il
say there ID . man concealed about these
premises. saw him enter the house.
heard his voice over the transom. ask
your permission, William, to search this
ROOM
"You have IL. Uncle Joe" said
"Aad mine, too. you old bear of ar
uncle" came from Bess a. she snuggied
into q more comfortable position.
In IN instant Uncle Joe pumped down
upon all tours and began a furious beat
Ing around under the bed with his cane.
mot there" he blurted out, AZ he re.
gained his feet, somewhat winded. II
must search that closet" he now exclaim.