Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1896-11-26
CHAPTER Nv.

mons had not yet emerged from his cellar.
All the while he had been below strong,
pungent smell of burning, the dry, sui
phurous smell Of burning coke, had as
cended from below, with now and then
noise Of hand-bellows blowing fire.
but no steam or sound or SAVIOR Of cook
ing. Now and again there was the noise
Of stirring fire, and now and again the
noise Of tongs gripping and loosing and
slipping on what listener might take to
be pieces Of coke.
II no one was listening to the stokes
some one was watching the exterior Of the
marine store. A short time before IL
o'clock man dressed in seedy black
cloth, with short iron-gray whiskers and
beard, and long iron-gray hair and wear
ng blue spectacles, turned into the street,
and sat down in a crouching position on
the axle-tree Of a cart
When it was about a quarter past IL
.rimmons emerged from the cellar, carry
ing in one hand dark lantern with the
slide closed. He went cautiously to the
wicket, and with trowel began digging
up the earth Of the floor, which was here
dark and dry. 1t was old sand from a
foundry, and could be movedpnd replaced
without showing the least trace Of dis
turbance.
After digging down about foot he
came upon small, Old bag, which he
lifted out, and which contained some
thing heavy. The bag had been all rubbed
over with grease and to the grease the
dark sand stuck thickly. Out OF this bag
he took small. heavy, cylindrical bun
die OF chamcis leather. Then he restored
the bag to the hole, shoveled back the
sand and smoothed the floor.
Tmmons walked softly over his noise
less floor until he got behind the old
boiler Of donkey engine. Here he slid
back the slide of the lantern and unrolled
the leather. The latter proved to be a
belt about palm deep, and consisting
OF little bags or pockets Of chamois leath.
or, clumsily sewn to band.
There were dozen OF those little pock-
cts in all; six Of them contained some
heavy substance. Each one closed with
a piece Of string tied at the mouth. Tim
mons undid one and rolled out on his hand
q thick lump Of yellow metal about the
eize Of the large buttons worn as Orna-
ments on the coats Of coachmen.
He smiled a weli-satisfed smile at the
gold ingot, and weighed it affectionately
in his grimy palm, gave the ingot loving
polish with his sleeve, dropped it back
into its bag. and retied the string Then
out OF each Of his trousers pockets he
took q similar ingot or button, weighed
each, and looked at each with affectionat.,
approval, and secured each in one OF the
half-dozen vacant leather bags.
1.-TWO pounds two ounces all together
be whispered. II have never been able to
get more than four dollars an ounce for
it. taking it all round at fifteen carats.
His offer is as good as ten dollars an
ounce, which leaves margin for man
20 get living out of it, il the dwarf il
cafe. II / had had only one deal with
him, I'd feel he's safe, but he has done
little but talk grand.y and vaguely up to
this. Well. after this deal tonight he
can't draw back or betray me. That's
certain, anyhow"
He unbuttoned his waistcoat, strapped
the belt round his lank. hollow waist,
blew out the lantern and stepped into the
deserted street. Before lie disappeared
the elderly man with grizzled hair and
whiskers, dressed in seedy black cloth,
emerged from the shadow Of the cart and
kept stealthily in the rear uf the marine
store dealer. Timmons was on his way
to keep his appointment with Leigh il
Chetwynd street. and the low-sized mar
with blue specta cles was following, shad-
owing Timmons.
Oscar Leigh sat in the dark on the last
step but one Of the stairs Of his house
awaiting the arrival of Timmons. It wal
close to the appointed hour. He had one
- T. l~n 10 hfn h<n<Tv
his elbow rested on his knee, his lone
bearded chin in the palm of his hand. /,
was pitch dark. Nothing could be seen
absolutely nothing.
'tMy mother cannot live forever" whis
pered the dwarf, "and then al win b
blank, all will be dark as this place round
me. Where shall turn then? Whom
shall speak my heart tot ] designed
my clock to be companion, friend, I
confdant, a solace, triumph: Il II BE-
coming q tyrant and scourge. A mar
must have something to think Of besides
himself; q deformed dwarf must neve,
think Of himself at Ill, unless he think
| great thiLgs Of himself. Here's Tim
| mona"
| Leigh rose, and sliding his left foot ans
supporting his body on the stick, went I,
| the door and opened it.
Twelve to the minute" said Tim
mons.
Let 10 60 for walk" said Leigh.
"But have the stuff with me- sait
Timmons, In tone Of annoyance an,
| protest.
LET as 50 for walk, say cric'
Leigh, imperiously, striking his thicl
/ <~Usctnd r4tclrs EsoHaolv IN tho Aacx 90 n