Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1901-03-16
"a GIRL R.GRIT.
BY MAJOR ARTHUR 6Rl-rlrHS.
Copyr right. 1900. by r. r. Fenno a Co.


| Wood, for this rough handling" he
began, slowly revolving an u~nlighted
cigar between his lips: "but we've got
anyhow. ! may first observe that o
are In our power. and that we can do
what we like with you"
"Pshaw! The first ship passing, lin
er or man OF war, will set me Free" /
cried contemptuousiy.
That's so. IL you could communal
cate; u we shall prevent that, /
YOU swear to do no such thing"
What do you want OF me? Money,
I suppose? Weil-Itl pay anything In
reason"
Now you're talking. That's the
caper; only I take 1t we shall pretty
we'll help ourselves. The scheme, as
We've figured It, n I don't mind tell
Ing YOU, ID to keep you-right here, in
this same hooker at sea-while the
rest Of us dip down into your dollars.
We've a better right han you to your
misgotten %fortune,"
Nonsense. What can you do with
out my signature?"
We've got It,. young squire, or a
first class, imitation OF It. That was
managed long ago"
There will be a heavy reckoning for
YOU all-all. LAwford, YOU under-
stahd7"
The poor wretch looked down, but
said nothing, Guess we can take
care OF ourselves; anyway, that's our
business. Yours Is to consider wheth-
er you want to be kept a close prisoner
down here. IL Will be mighty unpleas-
ant In a few weeks time. l calculate.
Mayhap you'll think better OF 1t, Mr..
Wood, tomorrow or next day. Mean
while your comfort WIFI not be forgot
ten. Lysanderh here Is an excellent valet.
You will prepare a bath for Mr..
Wood
yes, Colonel Mcouahe," replied the
mulatto.
Get him some clean clothes
Yes, Colonel McQuahe."
And jest walt On him closely, pune
tually, dye see? Never let him out OF
our sight unless ne Is here in this
cabin under close lock and key"
Yes, Colonel McQuahe."
I found to my surprise a portman-
n n or two suits OF dittoes, had
been put into my cabin. AS I vas still
in evening dress, that which I had
worn on the night Of my capture, I
glad enough to change. Before I
threw off my clothes I felt In all my
pockets and found my watch and my
purse. Nothing was missing except a
bIIldll Wdllet WHICH Il always carried
and In which l had placed the letter
from the New York lawyers ANNOUNCE
Ing ny accession Of fortune. No doubt
It had been removed for some evil pur-
part Of the general scheme of
fraud.
1 could find no fault with the mulatto
Lysander except hat he was too at
tentive. His care was that Of a keeper
jailer, tempered with the devotion
NJ q narGnnnl hn1u oaruant IIa she ..oI
me very skillfully. helped me into my
clean clothes. made my bed. tidied my
cabin and brought me what stood
most In need of, n hot and sufficient
Save for one ever-haunting, torment
Ing uncertainty, I could afford to bide
my time; / might possess my soul in
patience, fairly confident that the right
would come right In the end.
But what OF Frida? When should /
see her again? To win her and be
parted from her all within a few short
hours-it was hard measure, indeed.
how would she take my disap-
p~earance? Would she be grieved, an
noyed. suspicious-what?
These last rather anxious specula-
lions were broken In on by the appear
OF Lysander, my laconic TALLER,
brought me q cup of hot coffee,
with the brief words, Breakfast,
He was presently followed by Colonel
McQuahe and Lawford. They both In
CURED most a~ffectionately after my
Had / slept we'll. was the FOOD
to my taste, the boy attentive ?-all as
as though they were my hosts and
we were the best OF friends magma
BILE.
Say now Mr.. Wood" went on Nc
II dew hope you'll change your
Of yesterday. 1t was Ill con
sidered-yes, sir, you may AXE thai
from me. See, we've no wish to keep
you here below the whole voyage
mayhap a tarnation long voyage-but
we can't let you 60 on deck unless you
PROMISE
WHAT"
Vest this. You must promise not
to try and communicate with n
hooker that may approach us, neither
by waving, shouting, or otherwise sig
Also, neve to speak to any
soul on board but our three selves;
never to signal or make signs to the
or any man Jack OF the crew
not that 1t would help you any, for
they believe o to be sick mentally, a
with disordered senses, brought
to sea for his health. We two are the
doctors. Lysander here Is attendant
and keeper. VIII you give us your
Of honor as a gentleman
T gentlemen" / interjected. and
he irony was not lost on Lawford,
whose red face grew redder.
"As mar to man." corrected Nc
II calculate that's good
And don't raise our dander,
o may hurt yourself
Il will promise" | said, but condi-
/ claim to withdraw from Ii
when It suits me. when and how 1
LAS how"
IF I find that I am fairly treated, IL
alter, if
You see a chance Of making your
Waal. sir, when hat time
comes we shall take the gloves of, and
you will feel our fists"
1t was a splendid day on deck. bright
sur, a brisk air freshening off the
rkling sea. We were under full
% nvas-shew was a schooner yacht-and
doing a good ten knots, 1 imagined,
down channel. / judged the direction
Of our course by the position OF the
the movement of the shipping and
steamers going both ways, yet more by
he blue line on either bow.
1 have called our vessel a yacht, her
the Fleur-de-Lis. as 1 saw 1t
on the life belts, brass work
md compass box; a yacht, as was evi-
from her fittings, the clear deck
fore and aft, the abundant brass work,
the absence OF hamper, the fairly white
sails. But she was not particularly
not as spick and span, as
clean, as II her owner was
board: her crew were seemingly a
lot. not true yachtsmen, and
he skipper, although alert and sailor
Ike, was In a shabby suit. not the reg
blue cloth and brass buttons.
Then they arranged me In my chair.
quite tender s~olicitude, 1 admit,
but that was part of the play; gave
books and a pipe and left me. but
lot to myself. Two of the three were
at my elbow or held me con-
in sight. 1 was close guarded,
out I hardly minded 1t, for a sort Of
luxurious lassitude overcame
ne, the reaction, no doubt from so