Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1895-06-01
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Soon after sunrise on a cloudy morning
IN the year 1881 n special messenger dis
turbed the repose OF Dennis Howmore at
his place OF residence IL the pleasant Irish
town OF Ardoon.
Well acquainted apparently with the
way upstairs, the man thumped on n bed
room door aud shouted his MESA &c
through f.: the master wants yoi, ard
mind you don't keep him waiting"
The person sending this peremptory
message was Sir Giles Mountjoy. OF Ar
doom. knight and banker. The person re-
ceiving the message was Sir Giles head
clerk. As u matter Of course Dennis
Howmore dressed himself at full speed
and FASTENED TO his employers private
house. on the ou' skirts Of the town.
He found Sir Giles in an irritable and
| anxious state OF mind. A letter lay open
on the bankers bel. His night-cap was
crumpled ~crookedly OF his head. He was
in too great n hurry TO remember the
claims OF ~pOliteness when the clerk said,
"Good-morning."
dennis, ] have got something for you
to do. IL must be kept n secret, and 1t al
lows Of no delay"
ais it anything connected with business,
sirs"
The banker lost his temper. "How can
you he such an Internal fool ms to suppose
that anything connected with business
could happen ut this time in the morningt
Do you know the first milestone on the
road to GarvaDf"
Yes. sir"
VERY well. Go 10 the milestone, and
take care that nobody sees YOU when you
get there. Look az the back of the stone.
III you discover m Object which appears
20 have been left in that situation on the
ground, bring it TO ne: and don't forget
that the most impatient man in all Ireland
is waiting for you"
Not n word Of explanation followed these
extraordinary instructions.
I The head clerk set forth on his errand,
with his mind dwelling on the national
tendencies 10 conspiracy and assassination.
His employer was not "a popular person.
Sir Giles had paid rent when he owed IL;
aud, worse still, was disposed 10 remem-
Der In q friendly spirit what England had
done for Ireland In the course OF the last
fifty years. IL anything appeared 10 justi-
~ distrust Of the mysterious Object OF
which he was In search. Dennis resolved
10 be vigil1nily on the lockout for "a gun
barrel, whenever he passed "A hedge on his
return journey to the town.
Arrived at the milestone, he discovered
on the ground behind il one object only
Q fragment of n broken teacup.
Naturally enough, Dennis hesitated. IL
seemed to be impossible that the earnest
and careful instructions which he had re-
ceiyed only related TO such q tritie as this.
At tie same time he was acting under or
ders which were as positive as tone, man
ner and language could make them. Pas
sive obedience appeared to be the one
safe course 10 take-at the risk OF recep-
ton, Irritating TO any man's self-respect,
when be returned TO his employer with q
broken teacup in his hand.
The event entirely failed to Justify his
misgiyings. There could be no doubt that
Sir Giles attached serious importance TO
the contemplate discovery made at the
milestone. After having examined aud
re-examined the fragment, he announced
his intention 81 sending the clerk on a
second errand still without troubling
himself To- explain what his Incompetent
sible Instructions meant.
IF am -ot mistaken" he began, 'the
Reading Rooms, in our town, open rs ear
ly ms nine. Very well. Go to the Rooms
this morning. on the stroke of the clock"
He stopped, aud consulted the letter which
lay open on his bed. Ask the librarian