Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1901-11-09

SUFFICIENT to show that he had been in
dulging deeply. His small. bleodshot
eyes were fixed upon vacancy, and ne
was apparently meditating deeply.
Hell be off tomorrow" he u
tered, savagely, land then my chance
is gone / must have those papers n
money enough to get an outfit. das.
then the cat would be out Of the bag.
IL I had that paper the old man give
him what's to hinder my going
claiming to be Mr.. Scott? There's q
fortune In 1t, but It's ugly business
Filling his glass again he drained II
at a gulp as II trying to screw up ms
courage to the necessary point TOT
some resolve. Then he looked at his
watch and said:
Ten O'Clock. No time to lose. First
to gee IL he Is on board yet"
Five minutes later he was back
again. Tom had not returned, and
| Rider gulped down another draught or
| fiery liquor and hen skulked up the
street until he came TO the darkesi
portion, where a narrow alley a1ordeq
him a secure hiding place. His right
hand was hidden In the pocket OF MS
coat, and grasped a short Implement
made OF bone, which h sailors call d
I'D" and which he had secured while
Z OH u IGh
Under ordinary circumstances the
LIQUOR ne had imbibed would have con-
fused his brain, but now he was only
conscious of an intense, empowering
determination to secure n papers
which meant so much to the man VINO
could reach the gold region with them.
There had been a smart shower IN
the early part Of the evening. n the
dripping from the low caves or the
-. ..lIi aartlnyAd httf had a draR
ging and relenting sound. A solitary
street light fifty yards away cast a dis.
NAL CLEAN for n few square yards IN
either direction, while an occasional
burst OF drunken laughter from the
next street told of some party or revel"
ers making their noisy way home.
The mate noticed none OF these
things. His eyes were fixed intently IN
the direction from which he expected
his victim to come, n his square Jaws
were set. Through his brain ran but
n thought:
THE papers,
Half an hour passed and Tom cams
striding along under the gaslighti
humming O tune and merrily rehears-
ing the play he had just witnessed.
Suddenly the watcher uttered an I'M
precatlon under his breath, for just as
he was gathering himself for a spring
he eSpied a dark nBure Stealing holSe-
lessly along behind the young man.
Closer and closer crept the fateful
shadow, and as Tom arrived opposite
the alley where the mate was crouch
| ing, the latter saw the second hgure
take q few rapid, noiseless strides.
Then an arm was raised over Toms
| head and fell with crushing force, send
ing him stunned and senseless to the
muddy pavement, while his assailsnt
bent over his form to secure h Yalu-
ables ne might have about him.
With a shout of rage the mate rushed
| from his place of ~concealment toward
the stranger, who sprang nimbly to his
feet and sped down the street at amaz-
ing speed. without waiting to dispute
the field with the newcomer.
To kneel by the PROSTATE form and
tear open his clothing was the work OF
an instant, and when Obed Rider arose
to his feet he held the belt containing
the precious documents In his hands.
Slipping it quickly into his pocket he
gave a hasty glance about him. All
was still and once more he knelt by
Toms side, painting.
us he dead? / must be sure!"
In one hand he grasped his weapon
and the other he placed owe the young
mans heart.
CONTINUED Next Weekly