Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1901-01-12
II.

CHAPTER II.
At the Intelligence Office.
AZ ! left the bank, where / had been
most cordially received, with my SOW
ereign purse full and the nice crisp
notes for ESQ carefully put by in my
pocketbood, l began at last to believe in
my fortune. There is a solid, unmis-
taxable reality in the chink Of good
gold, while the supple civility Of the
great ~inanciers, who had so lately
looked black at my overdrawn account,
proved how completely my position
was changed.
The mornings adventures and sur
prises had occupied much time, and II
was now getting late; past noon, In
fact. We members OF the Intelligence"
made It a point Of honor to be In good
time at the oftiCe-an hou or more
earlier than this. IT had hardly oc-
Cured TO me that / need not go to the
office at all. You see, / had been
some thirteen years under discipline
and not many hours an archmillionaire.
Besides, there is such a thing as esprit
de corps. | was a public servant, en-
gagged in responsible work. and / could
not, would not, have neglected 1t will
ingly; no, not for the wealth Of the
Indies.
So | stepped briskly down the steps
below the Duke OF York's column and
crossed the park at my very best pace.
For all that, l was overtaken near
Birdcage walk by some one who hailed
me without coming too close.
"One word, sir, / pray, In our own
best interests. But, sakes alive, keep
back that hound. He is a fine beast.
no doubt, but I'd rather have him
farther away.
Quiet, Roy! My dog will not harm
YOU" / said civilly. But at this mo-
ment / an very much pressed
IF you will allow me to walk with
you a few yards, no more, / reckon /
could make 1t plain to you hat / have
a good eXCus for intruding upon your
valuable time"
The park was as open to him as to
me, and when he ranged himself along
side / made no objections. / confess /,
too, was curious to hear what he had
to say.
You have enemies, SIR" he began
abruptly, and he looked so comical as
he said this that / was rude enough to
laugh. Ee was a broad -shouldered,
square-faced. weather beaten looking
mnn, with n ford complexion and a
bulgy nose, ir~reproachably dressed in
the very height Of fashion. But he had
rather the air OF a second-class trag-
tulun, WIFI Ills lOilS, Dlu'h. curly mar
and his voice 80 deep and so solemn
as he conjured me to be serious.
II reckon this is no laughing matter,
captain. Guess your enemies will 500
FIX that. They mean mischief"
He spoke II like a sentence OF death
and seemed very much In earnest, yet
could hardly take II seriously.
Such a threat scarcely affects me.
You gee, It is my business to risk my
life. The queen has sometimes enc
mics, and hers are mine"
These | speak Of are altogether
your own, captain-people who grudge
you o new wealth.
You have heard them"
Heard" he cried, with great scorn.
There is nothing l do not know about
you, captain. How did you enjoy the
summer on the Cuyuni river. and were
the maps you got at Angostura very
useful to you?"
Hush, man, hush! Who and what
are you? What the mischief are you
driving att"
Nv this time we had entered Queen
Anne's gate and We're at the door OF
the office.
lis this your bureau" he now asked.
May | go inside with you only for one
moment? The matter is urgent. 1t af-
fects YOU very closely. Your danger
IS imminent. They are bound, these
4 enemies, to do you an injury-a terri
bic injury
"Oh well, then, it must keep" !
said petulantly. II cannot give you
any more time now; / am expected
here. / suppose Sir Charles has ar
rived?" / asked Of the office messen-
ger. old Sergeant Major Peachey.
Yes, sir, he has been here these
hours. He came-on his blcycle-soon
after 9 a. m, and he has asked for
you, / think, twice
There, your business must keep,
Mr.
"Snuyzer. l bow to your decision.
but If you viii permit me, | will call
in Charges street this evening at
IF you must come, come about 5.
Good day." and l passed into the Of
flee.
l shared my room at the 'intelli-
gence" with a colleague, Swete Thorn
hill, of the artillery, a lively youth out
of hours, but who stuck to his work
manfully-more so han any of US, and
we were by no means idle men.
Thought you were dead" he said
shortly, and without looking up from
his. papers; wonder you took the trou-
BILE to come at ALL
II was detained by something spec
ldl. lIIlpOi ldIl DuSllSoS' All hON' ~
no affair Of yours / answered, rather
nettled.
Yes it Is, when 1t throws me out OF
my stride. i wish you'd make up your
mind either to come or stay away al
together. There has been a regular
hue and cry for o all the morning
and I've been disturbed abominably.
have those calculations Of the compar.
alive penetration Of the new projectiles
In hand, and they take some doing"
We'll, keep your hair on. ] dom
want to disturb you. But who Is 1t
anyhow"
The BOSS chief himself, Collingham
Sir Charles. He has sent three times
for you, and came In twice. Wanted
you for something pressing. Now,
believe, he Is doing the job himself
Wise man. Do 1t a blamed sight bet,
ter than you or any man Jack Of u.s.
At this moment an office messenger
came in with a huge bundle Of papers
which he placed before me on my desk
They were enveloped In the usua
grean Jacket" which meant extreme