Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1902-09-20

cautiously.
my friend" said Curtis, "a moment
ago you asked us to accompany you
TO New York 10 help o at the risk of
our lives, n told us we were not TO
know the reason
And, my lear friend" said /,
neither Acton nor / will ask why or
how YOU ear help us"
No. 2 Broadway, then, let 1t be.
Now as to getting there-but / think
something Is happening in the mex
room"
AS Curtis spoke, a shot had been
fired from the kitchen, and now same
another report from outside. and with
1t a long, low cry from the house. AL
most Immediately some one yelled
Fire! FIre!" and ran into h hall.
We stood an instant, and then, hap
pening to be nearest, ] ran through the
tap-room and thrust open the kitchen
door. A bright light shining in the
ROOM, l had started towards the fire
when 1 was checked by the cry of a
man Immediately in front of me. An
other step, and l had fallen yer him.
Here, joint cried the wounded
man, I'm hit bad. John, l cannot see
you. Take the papers and get out Of
here. They must be delivered! Where
are you?" cried the man again, for the
other bad run into the next room in
StdICH Oh water lot Tie lire. Inc
papers, JOHN cried the dying man
again, lin the back-part-of my
shirt. Clinton must nave them-tomor-
row. Fake 'em-sure-I-" He had
tried to sit up, but fell over into my
arms.
l took a belt knife and ripped up the
back of the MANS coat, tearing off the
greater part of the garment to make
a wad for his head. IT was scarcely
done when the other came back to the
room, now brightly lighted by the
and Curtis and Acton ripped off the
boards of the window. A shot or two
came into the ROOM, but each man
looked TO It that he was not in range,
Then Of q sudden the stranger TUNED
towards his companion and caught my
eyes as / bent over him.
He is quite dead" said I, as the
other approached; shot through the
head"
Let me see" said he, quickly, and
pushing me aside, he began feeling OF
the man, going through each and every
one of his pockets, muttering the while
to himself.
The fire mani" cried 1. Let him be
now; he is better off than We" Their
the tav~ern-keeper appeared, bringing
water-pails, and the stranger tool one
Holt said Curtis, '1stay here ant
we will return to the front of the
house. IT is two to one they take this
opportunity to attack there" And sc
we started for the front again.
And as we did so there came another
crack and the moonlight shot IL
through the a fracture in the big OAK
door. a mans head appeared, and Ac.
ton, grasping a chair, held 1t in front
Of him, and, leaping on the table
ahmed it against the head, forcine
the man back with a roar of pain
Then, standing still on the table, bur
not in front of the hole. Acton begar
to converse with the unknown out.
side.
Now, gentlemen said he gaily, "tht
first head that shows itself will ge.
scalped."
Surrender" cried two or three gruf
voices.
Ready, ready, step up, gentlemen
n at a time, TO be scalped!" cried the
imperturbable Acton.
Surrender, you there, and Wen give
| you quarter, If you turn the house ovel
to u.s." said a gruff voice again.
mo use to surrender, my dears," re
/ piled Acton, because the house is al
ready turned over to the hames."
Then we'll shoot every soul of you*'
cried mother voice.
Continued Next Week.)