Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1900-09-22

un Win the nag, ne Saiu, TENTATIVE
ly. Then, with d possible. doubt OF
ais customers politics. he added.
with a forced smilel 81 reckon it's
all party fuss, thohgh-thar aih't any
real danger"
Bnt fast as Clarehce might ride the
words fingered lin his ears. He saw
had probably heard that, Clarence
Brant weakly sy%mpathized with his
wife's northumberland dared not
speak fully. And he understood the
cowardly suggestion that there was
mo real danger"
1t had been Clarebce's one fallacy.
He had believed the public excitement
was only a temporary outbreak. of
PARTISAN feeling-sooh to sibside!
Even how he was conscious that he
was less doubtful of the integrity of
the union than of his own household.
1t was not the devotion OF the patriot,
but the Indignation Of an outraged
husband that was squirting him on.
He knew that If he reached Wood
Vile by 5 o'clock he would get ferried
across the bay to the embartado and
catch the down coach TO Fair Plains,
when he could ride to the rancho.
AS the coach did not connect directly
with SAN Francisco, the chance Of his
surprising them was greater.
Once clear of the city outskirts he
bullied Redskin into irascible speed,
and plunged into the rainy darkness
of the high road. The way was ia
miliar.
Fer awhile he was content To feel
the buffeting, caused by his rapid
pace, OF wind and rain against his de-
pressed head and shoulders, In a sheer
brutal sense of opposition and powert
or TO relieve his pent-up excitement
by dashing through overlooked gull
lies in the road, or across the qitag'
gy, soddeh edges Of meadow land, I'm.
til he had controlled Redskins rebel
lious extravaganza into a long, steady
stride.
Then he raised his head and
! Strengthened himself on the saddle
TO think. But to no purpose. lie had
no plan; everything would depend up.
on the situation; the thought of fore
stalling any action of the conspira-
tors, by warning or calling in the aid
of the authorities, for an instant
crossed his mind, but was as instantly
dismissed.
He had but III instinct, to see with
his own eyes what his reason told him
was true.
bay was breaking through drifting
scud and pewter-colored clouds as he
reached Woodville ferry, eheckered
with splashes Of the soil and the
spume of his horse, from whose neck
and TANKS the sweat rolled like
lather.
Yet he was not conscious how in
tent had been his purpose until he
felt a sudden instructive shock on
seeing that the f%erryboat was gone!
For an instant his wonderful self
possession abandoned him; he could
ored bay without a thought or cxpedi-
ent, but in another moment he saw
that the boat was returning from the
distance. Had he lost mis- only
chance?
He glanced hurriedly at his watch;
he had come quicker than he mag
ined; there would still be time. lie
beckoned impatiently to the ferry.
man. The boat, n ships %pinnace, with
two men In 1t, crept in with cNasper-
ating slowness. At last the two row.
ers sullenly leaped ashore.
"Ye might have come before with
the other passengers. We don't rcck-
on to run lightnin' trips on this fer
ry."
But Clarence was himself again.
Twenty dollars for two more oars in
that boat he said, quietly, and $50
If you get me over in time TO catch
the down stage"
The man glanced at Clarencc's eyes.
run up and rouse our Jake and
SAM" he said to the other boat
man,; then more leisurely, gazing at
his customers travel-stained equip
ment, he said: There must have
been a heap o passengers got left by
last nights boat. You're the second
man hat took this route in "A hur-
ry."
At any other time the coincidence
might have struck Clarence. But he
only answered curtly: unless we
are under way in ten minutes you
will find i am not the second man,
and that our bargains off,
But here w men emerged from
the shanty beside the ferry house and
tumbled sleepily into the boat.
Clarence seized an extra pair OF
SOULS that were standing against the
shed and threw them into the stern.
81 don't mind taking a hand myself
for exercise" he said, quietly.
The ferryman glanced again at
C%larence's travel worn figure and de-
termined eyes with mingled approval
and surprise. lie fingered a moment
with his oars lifted, looking at his
passenger.
1T amt no business o mine, young
man." he said, deliberately, but /
reckon you understand me when /
say that I've just taken another man
over there"
Il do" said Clarence, impaticntly.
And you still want to go?"
Certainly" said Clarence, with a
cold stare, taking up his oar.
The man shrugged his shoulders,
bent himself for a stroke and the boat
sprang forward. The others rowed
strongly and rapidly, the tough ashen
blades springing like steel from the
water, the heavy boat seeming to
leap in successive bounds until they
were fairly beyond the curving in,
shore current and clearing the placid
misty surface of the bay.
Clarence did not speak, but bent alb
stractedly to his oar; the ferrymar
and his crew rowed in equal painting
silence, a few startled ducks whirret
before them, but dropped again tc
rest.
In half an hour they were at thu
Embarcado. The time was fairly up;
Clarence's eyes were eagerly bent fol-
the first appearance of the stage
coach around the little promontory
the ferryman was as eagerly scanning
the bare, empty street of the still
sleeping settlement.
Il don't see him anywhere" saiC
the ferryman with a glance, half o
establishment and half of curiosity, a