Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1901-02-16

probably. II will send there to in
quire," said the colonel, making a
short note.
And captain Woods man knows
him. They came together this after
noon"
And for the matter Of that so do l."
added Sir Charles. "Not much, of
course, and he's an uncommon queer
looking chap. But the fellow seems
honest and straightforward"
Unless the whole thing is a put up
job" remarked the police colonel, with
a meaning smile, "a scheme to throw
you off the scent OF these papers which
you say are SC important, Sir
Charles
But Captain Wood has gone. He
has been carried off" said.
Gone, yes sneered the colonel,
but carried off. How do we know
that? It's not the first time a young
gentleman has disappeared for four
and twenty hours or more. Who knows
all the ms and outs of Captain Woods
alters and private movements?'"
At that moment Harris, the butler,
came up with a card. Gentleman asks
Of he can see you most particular.
Same as CONF this afternoon-Mr.
snoozer--but he's got a dirty scrub Of
n boy with him"
"Joe,"I cried. SHOW them up here,
''e' 80 ''Aho p'NiA VI AllNlls VI
course. We shall hear something now"
Mr.. SnuyZer came up to the drawing
romo at a run, I'm sure. He was al
most at Harris heels. The boy Joe
Jagged a little behind and stood
abashed at the door, and Roy, who
by constitution hated all boys, espe-
cially ragged ones, took his hesitation
as suspicious and gave an ugly growl,
with a show Of his fierce teeth. The
collie, | should mention. had never left
me since he was brought to Hill street.
Look var. What did / tel you,
miss?" began the detective, coming
straight at me and talking eXcitedly.
II never thought TO show myself here
again, but, by thunder, 1t was too
strong for me. I've got the pride Of
my business. and / wanted you TO see
/ was right TO believe in Joe. Now,
speak out, young squire"
/ must say / thought well of the boy
from the very first. He was an apple
checked, healthy looking, bullet head
ed urchin, with clear china blue eyes,
very wide open just then In astonlsh-
lnent, / think, not fear. He did not
care one bit for the dog, but faced
him sturdily, STOPPING as If to pick up
n stone, with n Would you-br-r-r, lie
down, will you that sent the collie,
still growing, under the sofa.
How was 1t, Joe? Won't you sit
down? Let's hear what happened" /
said just to ncourag him, and he
asked nothing better than to tell his
story, and taking his seat at the very
edge Of q chair after busting 1t he be-
AM:
ut was this way, mum-miss. When
he-Mr. SnuyZer there-Set me on the
mark. | mean watch, this morning. |
held on 90 the job close for a matter or
three hours and never saw nothing.
Worn't no move at all in the house TIL
about IL o'clock, when a trap comes
down the Dad and pulls up at the gar
den gate. The coaChman he was in an
old blue coat and silver buttons, bad
hat-half n crown an hour business
regular fly. But inside was a dona-
a real lady, a real lady you understand,
dressed up to the knocker. l saw her
get out
Would you know her AGAIN." we
asked, all Of us in a breath.
Joe nodded his head.
II couldn't see her face at first, she'd
got a thick veil on. But afterward /
got my chance, as I'll tell you directly.
she was a shorter, too, real jam, and
no mistake, a lady, like as I've seen
at the music 'alls."
when did you see her face?" asked
the colonel, rather d~isdainfully.
I'm the carriage, when | was asset
ting right opposite her. I'll come TO
that. But first of all | must tell you
how II was. You see, the dona she
wouldn't go right into the garden at
first. She kept at the gate spyinglike,
watching the house and doubling, as I
fanCied, she ought to go In. Then she
made a dash forward for the front
door, but before she reached the steps
some one came down, a man
Would you know him again."
Rather, in a thousand. He was a
little black muzzled chap, with a skin
like a picked walnut, and he came
out all in q hurry. as though he had
been watching for her.
He waived her back, but she stuck
to 1t, and they must hav had words,
for l seed him take her by the wrist
and pull her out toward the carriage.
II was CrouChed close under the
wall, for I'd sneaked up at the back
OF the carriage to spot ~whats l could,
and / was just by the door when the
small chap opened 1t and was forcing
the dona to get in.
81 will not go, Papir (Pepe), she
says, not until l have heard what you
have done to him. There was to, be no,
violence. You promised that, and +
wish to be sure. | must know she
says, that he amt come to no harm
she says.
with that the little fellow gives
her a great shove. l think he'd "a
struck her, but just then he caught
sight of me.
why, in the name of'-some for
eign gibberish-'where have you
dropped from? What brings you 'ang-
ing about 'ere?'
II tried to stall him off by axing
him to buy n box of matches, but he
cut up very rough and wanted to lay
old of me. saying he'd call h police
and give me in charge for lettering and
all that. But / checked him and slipped
through his tlngers-'twasn't difficult
and ran up the road.
After l had been caught out" Joe
went on, FOR which I'm very sorry, sir,
l judged I'd better keep Off a bit If l
was to do any more good.
1T was time, too, now they'd dropped
on to me, to send word to the office
what IA up; that was they was a
moving down here. | was a-making
for the nearest %postoffice to send a
wire, VIXEN. from where l was, / saw
the carriage drive straight into the
garden.
The road was clear. so l crept back,
keeping out OF sight and %scrouging in
side the pillars of the next gate, where
I'd got my eye on what went on. The
carriage was nowheres to be seen.
They must have took II rlGht inside the
stables, for the coachhouse doors was
open"
That was to get Mr.. Wood away"
said the American detective.
How do you know that? You don't
even know hat he was there at ALL"
sneered the olonel.
"Hah! You wait. Guess you'll see,"
retorted Mr.. SnuyZer. Il believe the
carriage came on purpose, or they were
uneasy at seeing the boy. Suspected
something: some one had got wind,
some one was on the track and want
ed to clear out"
"All pure conjecture" said the coll
onel.
Anyway. they did remove him." ar
gued Snuyzer.
IF he was ever there" retorted the