Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1896-12-10
CHAPTER Xxx.

CHAPTER Xxx.
When Stamer came to the gable of the
house next but one to the public house,
and the wall Of which formed one half OF
the northern boundary of the yard, he
paused and listened. He could hear no
sound of life or movement near him be-
yond the snort or cough Of horse now
ard then.
After pause Of two or three minutes,
he stopped, slipped OF his boots, slung
them round his neck, and having hitched
The crook OF his heavy stick to belt he
wore under his waistcoat, he laid hold Of
thewaterpipe that descended from the gut
tes Of the double roof to the yard, and be
San ascending the gable of the house with
surprising agility and speed.
In less than two minutes from the time
he drst seized the waterpipe he disap-
3eared In the gutter above. He crawled
In few yards from the edge and then
seclined against the sloping states of the
root to rest. The ascent had taken only
i couple Of minutes, but the exertion had
been very great, and he was tired and
ont Of breath.
Then he unscrewed his ferrule and
withdrew the hampton and unscrewed the
Aandle Of his stick, and was busy in the
darkness for awhile with tine weapon he
carried.
He particularly wished to have a steady
hand and arm that night, 70 he made up
his mind that he would rest until i've min
utes to II. Then he should get into
position. He should creep down the
gutter until he came to the gable wall
standing up over the roofs Of the houses
On which he now was lying. He should
then be almost opposite the window at
which he last night saw the dwarf wind
M his clock. He should be little out
of the direct line, but not much. The
width OF the street was no more from
house to house than atty feet The dis
tance from the wall Of the house he
should be on then, and the wall OF Forbes
bakery could not be more than sixty feet
The weapon he carried was perfectly
Trustworthy at q hundred and fifty yards,
Dr more. He hsd beene practicing that
afternoon and evening at an old hat forty
yards, and he had never missed it once.
Forty yards was just double the distance
ne should be from that window If he were
On parapet instead Of being ut the coping
lie, lying on the inside slope Of the roof.
Allow another ten feet for that. This
would bring the distance up to seventy
test ct the very outside, and he had never
missed once at hundred and twenty feet.
Flo had given himself now and then a
rood deal Of practice with the gun, for he
enjoyed peculiar facilities; because the
factory wall BY which the lane at the
tack OF his place ran, prevented any one
seeing what he was doing. and the noise
Of tn. factory drowned the whir Of the
Gun and the whix of the bullet.
At half-past il that night the private
bar OF the public house held about half
. dozen customers, but 1t lacked the ele-
waiting presence Of Oscar Leigh, who al
ways gave the assembly distinctly in
Gellectual air.
A few minutes later, however, the spir-
~ Of those present rose, for Mr.. Oscar
Leigh came in, rubbing his forehead and
complaining Of the heat.
II have only minute or two. / must
be Oh to wind up" said Leigh. 'Ten
,ninntes to II by your clock, Mr.. Will
iAms: that means !, quarter to right time.
ut 70, have heard. the most wonder
aul clock in Chicago" spoke an acquaint-
Ance.
'In Chicago! In Chicago! In the world
uir. 1t ID the most wonderful clock ever
Goodnight, gentlemen"
He scrambled on his high stool and was
quickly out Of the bar. 1t was now Eve
minutes to IL o'clock, right time. HI
asossed the street, and opening the pri
yate door Of Forbes, went in, closing the
door after him.
As he came out John Timmons turned
into TIE street. He went on until he came
opposite the window Of the clock room
Here he stood still, thrust his hands deer
his back against the wall, prepared Il
the clock.
In less than Eve minutes the window o.
The top room, which had been dark, grad
sally grew illumined until the light cam,
full through the transparent oiled musli1
st3cal purposes a. plainly AZ through glass
There Leigh is, anyway" though
4 Timmons, working away ct his lever
It this hour last night? Nonsense. al
was walking away from this place witt
4 ne at this hour last night % sure az
IN here now. must be going mad
There, he IL turning round now and nod
1ing 10 the men at the bar. They cal,
NJ did the same last night, and, ~ live
{ heres the clock we were under strikin,
4 ne quarter past again! must be goinl
mad. / begin to think last night mus
lave been I'll a dream with me. I dom
think he's all right. l don't believe ii
.Witchcraft, hut there's something wron
sAere; IN watch this out anyway"
Mbiwh
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