Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1901-02-23

by the Lord Harry, we shall be In
Queer street IL they don't turn up" he
said with much emphasis. Wood or
no Wood, We've got to get them, or
there will be q jolly row; a cabinet
question. egad, and the DEVILS W
complications. The matter can't rest
here. SO cheer up, Miss Frida. Well
all do our level best"
why, certainly" added Snuyzer,
I'VE don't depend entirely on police
colonies, and this one is not so al
mighty clever. I've got to get on the
inside track of this business, and I'll
do it yet, you bet your bottom dollar"
1t was kind of them, but / would not
be consoled. When l got to Hill street
| crept up to my room, very sorrowful
and sick at heart, and cried myself TO
sleep.
Next morning while / was dressing
they came n told me that Mr.. Snuy-
ger had called. He had something inn
portant to tell me, and was rather in
a hurry.
= Captain Woods not in that house."
began the American abruptly, when l
got down stairs.
How do o know? Why are you so
sure?' l asked.
Haven't the smallest doubt OF 1t.
l kow, because / went right through
the house last night. every single
ROOM
What! Did they let you in?"
"No, miss; / broke i~n-burglary you
call it In this country, / believe, and
you may give me into custody if you
please. But the detective that's not
good enough to break the law on an oc-
casion as well as break into a house
and stand the racket had better give
up the business"
The mans audacity staggered me. /
was quite terrified, but l liked him for
It.
you see, miss, / can't afford to stick
at triles. My professional reputation
Is at stake, and the more / thought It
over the more l hungered to get inside
that house In Featherstone gardens.
and this is how l worked It: First, l
set a close watch on the house, front
and back, and found before midnight
that no one had gone either In or out.
| rcckoned hat there were not very
many OF them, and we mustered half
a dozen, two Of them practiced crooks
professional burglars, miss. We got
into the house right e~nough-the
crooks managed that-in half an hour.
First thing was to lay hands on the
Carctaker. There was no one else In
the house. He swore to that, and we
soon saw that he was speaking truth,
for we drew every room, ~ransacked ev-
cry corner turned out every cupboard,
but nary soul was TO be found. They'd
all cleared out but this one %critter. So
| went back to him and threatened his
life. He was very stiff, but a revolver
is a mighty fine ~persuader, and pres
entity he outs with the story; lies may
be, maybe truth, but good enough to
make him worth keeping till we could
get some confederation"
What was his story? Anything
about Captain Wood? Did he admit
that they had taken him?"
You bet he did. Told us the whole
game from first to last. The first we
knew pretty we'll before; the last Is
that they have taken him out to sea
In q steamer. The steam yacht Fleur-
de-Lis, auxiliary screw, pa tons reg
lister, cleared from Victoria dock yes
terday at 3 p. m. I've been there and
verified It this morning
Already"
YES" lie went on. THE yacht Fleur-
de-Lis, Chapman master, left the dock
at 3 p. m. yesterday. They knew her
well there. she was waiting, ready for
sea, fires banked, blue peter flying,
waiting only for her owner, and left
her berth directly he vas got on board.
He was an invalid, came in a carriage
TO the dock side and had To be carried
on board wrapped up in blankets"
"Ah! Joe was right then"
"A lady helped him, thought to be
his Wife, but she did not accompany
him TO the ship. She staid on shore
very much upset, they told me who
saw her, and could hardly be persuaded
to re-cnter the carriage. But n gentle
man at last made her, and they drove
q yyD " fnpnthnr So tho nnrtipC ho va
pitt UP. One lot are alloat with their
prisoner, meaning, I've no doubt, to
keep him away at sea, incapable OF in
terfering, while the others carry on
their spoliation IN NV York. That's
how I figure 1t now" said the detective
shrewdly.
II dare say you're right" I inter-
rupted him hastily. But surely these
spoculations will not help us. We've
got TO give chase to that yacht. How
is It to be done?"
You see, she has a tremendous
mo auxiliary screw can do more
than eight OIL ten knots, l believe.
Mother and 1 were in the Mediter-
last year with one of the best.
Let US hire something faster. There
must be plenty of steamers. l will pay
any price gladly"
Then we have no idea of what
the Fleur-de-Lis has taken"
There are signal stations all along
the coast, / believe. We hear of ships
being reported every hour almost, as
long as they are in sight Of land"
"She will fly no signals and will GER
tainly get out OF sight of land"
"Oh, dear, dear!" / said, almost cry
ing with rage. You only make diff
It's too terrible to think of.
Is there nothing YOU can suggest?
Have o no advice to give? | shall
and consult Sir Charles Colling-
He is n man IN authority, and
car help, | believe. l shall tell him
what you have discovered
We'll, miss, let's each go our own
way. But see here. Take this. I've
noted down n description of the Fleur-
just as l got it from the dock
yard. It's the only guide you'll have
in tracing her, for She wonA fly her
number, you bet"
CHAPTER VII.
At the Admiralty and Lloyds.
Sir Charles Coilingham lived out
Kensington way in 2 new red house on
Campden hill. / got there in less than
half an hour, for my carriage was at
the door, ana, although / knew
thing OF his ways from Willie Wood, l
ruped to eaten him before he left home.
Ii was not yet 10 q. m, He was out
already on his bicycle when / arrived,
but he came up, fortunately. just as l
a asking for him.
Come tor news or brought some,
hey, Miss Fairholme? II it's the first |
help ~you-worse luck; If the 9TH
egad, by the look ON your bon
ME face l believe you've something to
tell! Is that It? Hal" He hoped off
his " with all the alacrity Of q
young man and lea the way into the
house.
surprising chap, that Americanl"
nc cried In his brisk. abrupt tones. II
were bound to believe him.
Actually did break in and all that, hey?
INFLOW he's fnrua rIar than yya ora