Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1901-10-05
Why MarchiSOn Went Back
Mauxlco velIor, in Chicago Tribune.

II seemed to him that all hat had ever
happened to him had been the result of
some eXtraneous and irresistible force.
Sometimes he felt as II he had been
compressed into q mould by circum-
stance; sometimes buffeted from pillar
to post by cruel accidents.
Captain Robert Arnim was the al
most the last person likely to be In his
mind. There had been nothing In all
these years to cause Murchison to re-
member him, and he was never more
surprised In his life than he had been
when, looking up from his bookkeeping,
he had seen Arnim before his desk.
II say, JIM" Arnim had said hurried
ly, II want to speak to you. Can you
give me q few moments?'
Certainly" answered Murchison,
slipping down from his stool. Here
take a seat"
Your wife's well?' said Arnim, as he
sat down.
20 yes-very," replied Murchison. In
p~erplexity. Hester Is in the country
now a little place where l run Town
and Join her on Saturday. And your
wife ?" he went on tentatively.
That's Just it. said Arnim, bending
forward and putting his hand on the
arm of the chair on which Murchison
was sitting. "She isn't we'll, and I've
got to send her to a place where she'll
get better while l am away"
You're going away?" said Murchi-
son.
I'm going to India. I am to Join my
company at Aldershot, and I've got to
start at II tonight to do 1t. You've
seen my wife. Here's her pic
ture."
Murchison saw the photograph Of q
pretty young face-only the checks,
which should manifestly nave been
healthily rounded, were O little sunKen.
1T was taken just before l came
away. You understand, the baby's just
been born, and she isn't strong, and
I've got to go. l can't leave her IL I'm
not sure about her, and i can't be un-
less l nave money. We men In the
army get out OF touch with business
and with men. You have It, and you
have got to lend It to me-"
II assure you" Murchison began,
We'll, o must say something. I
shouldn't say anything about II at any
other time; but this is q matter OF more
than my w life and death TO me. You
know, l got you this berth here, ana
turn about is fair pay"
After his fathers failure young
Murchison had walked the streets with
nothing but the clothes he wore. 1t
was then, in his wanderings, hat he
had met Arnim. who had befriended
him and ound him a more comfortable
berth.
Murchison had worked ever since, ad-
vancing in position as the years ad-
vanced, for he was an accurate, math-
ematical machine, and marrying-for
he had his moments Of being q man
the sister Of a fellow clerk.
u tell you, man, Nv got to have the
money!" said Arnim, in sudden excite
ment. you've got to lend 1t to me!
Three hundred will do"
1t was just the sum. 1t had taken
years to save It, and the next day
Murchison knew thai he was going 20
double it-treble-quadruple It. There
was the sure thing" about which he
had SO much Inside information" And
now he was asked to give 1t up. II was
too provoking.
You've got that, surely?" demanded
Arnim.
"Yes-o, yes; I've saved that" said
Murchison YEARLY.
"Well, give It to me, and I swear
you'll have It again within the year.
Can / have 1t now?"
Why" said Murchison, i%nstinctive-
ly following his nature, and delaying,
II might give It to you this evening.
The money is In bonds, and / shall have
to sell them"
Il could come to your place." ex-
claimed Arnim joyously.
Murchison gave him the name and
address OF the house where the fiat
was.
That's just the thing. I'll stop on
my way to the train. 1t will be early,
for / can't miss 1t; for, money or nc
money, I've got to CO."
Then Arnim had gone, and Murchisor
had slowly taken his way back to his
desk-thinking.
Arnim meant to repay what he Dor.
rowed; he believed that he would pay
It. But could he?
He was crossing q small park on his
way home, when he finally realized
what he was thinking, and had to ST
down upon a bench to pull himself to.
gether. Not let Arnim have the money
The Idea came to him as q daring pos.
sibility, hardly to be entertained. And
after all, why not?
Money or no money, Arnim must take
the train at IL o'clock.
All arranged itself SO perfectly. He's.
ter was not at home. If she had beer
there he knew that he could not have
done 1t. Hester was romantic, as hi
sometimes called It.
just then he was passing O rather IA.
nous place where he knew hat hi
could dine. He went in. The first clocl
he saw told him hat II was s o'clock
He had been walking for three hours.
When he had finished dining he wan.
dered out into the street again. There
were two hours before him.
Arnim had befriended him in hi
need; indirectly. perhaps directly, al
that he had came from Arnim: in tim,
Arnim had asked help from him; 1
was in his power to give such assist,
ance; Arnim vas waiting for II now
for the aid that YOU save his wife
probably, and would set his mind a
rest. And he was running away.
Where was he now? 1t struck hin
with something Of the force OF {
thought occurring In a half-broker
dream that he had been walking
leagues. His watch had stopped. i
might be after IL o'clock, for all HI
knew, as well as after IL o'clock. Per.
hEps Arnim's fate-his ~own-might b'
decided by the flight Of time, and tina
he was free to go home n get som
| rest.
What time was 1t?
A clock! CHANGING ahead. he saw q
clock. supported by a heavy post, that
/ rose from the curbstone. 1t "a the
| sign of a jeweler, and he thought thai