Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1901-10-05

1t would be sure to be right. He took I
q few more steps in advance.
Twenty minutes past eleven!
Then 1t was all over. There could be
no recall-the whole matter was over.
HaiIing a cab, he got In, and soon ar |
stairs.
Taking his key from his pocket. he
was about to insert II In the lock when
the door was thrown swiftly open He
had time to see that the room was
brightly lighted and hat Hester stood
upon the threshold.
OF" she cried, before he had time to
think further, II knew you would come
/ told Captain Arnim you would be
sure TO comet"
"Yes-yes," a M%urchison, drifting
into the room.
II came unexpectedly to town and
found him here. He's told me all about
II, and I knew that nothing-nothing
would keep you from being here to give
him the money. o, IL / could have
thought that. I'd never have seen you
again-never!"
IL have been delayed" said Muir
Gibson weakly.
Yes said his wife. you must tell
me all about that some other time. or
she said, with quick anxiety. you have
not had an accident?"
mot exactly" he replied.
Then It's all right" she went on.
But there's no time to lose. Give Cap
tain Arnim the money at once, for he
has only just time to catch his trani."
Automatically Murchison took the
bills from his pocket and handed them
to Arnim.
Thank you'll" ne said simply, and
started for the door. Then he paused
O moment. "Ill tell you one thing. I'd
made up my mind that If you didn't
come ia not start. 1t would have been
desertion and my ruin and would have
broken her heart, but ia have been
with her. That's the reason, Murch! !
thank you now. and you shall hear
from me again" Arnim was gone.
Murchison is the chairman of the
great insurance company now and nc
longer lives In q fiat, but q large house
that he has just built opposite to the
park. The Speculation" that was such
q sure thing" about which he had
such reliable "inside information" had
within six months proved itself q dis-
astrous delusion. that would have swept
his money away without return.
But Arnim's loan had been repaid
when he returned, u lieutenant colonel
to succeed to q fortune suddenly left
him, and an important industry In c
business that could hardly have paid q
biNaNSl iiiNS1iS Al - lul ~ llAN
turned out golden ingots instead Of rs
machinery rolling out steel bars. 1t was
In this that Murchison's money, Will
more now added TO 1t, had bred into q
swarming brood Of sovereigns.
Often he thought Of the change with
wonder. He thought Of IL this bright
afternoon as he walked with another
substantial" business man to look al
a piece OF property he was thinking OF
buying.
There's q short cut his way sale
the other man, pointing TO a small stree.
that branched OFF obliquely from tn,
one they were In.
"Rummy little street, isn't IT." said
the other, trying to make conversation
with the great man.
Very" said Murchison ~abstractedly
He was waiting for what he should sec
next.
1t was there. lie felt II would be
And as his eyes fell on It, ne paused
i~nvoluntarily, staring stupidity at thu
thing.
Twenty minutes past IL!
But II was the afternoon. He hat
only a few minutes before. In his pri
vate room of the great building OF tn.
insurance company looked at hi
watch, and seen that 1t was exactly
o'clock. For the clock face was onl,
painted, and the painted hand had re
manned indicating the same tim
through all the years since the nigh
t when they had sent him home TO soon
instead of too late.
"Ah, yes!" said the other, seeing a
what he was staring. "One Of thos
painted clocks. Do you know, it ha
struck me that mistakes might be mad
| with these things"