Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1902-09-25

wildly round the apartment, which she
now found was a shop where were ex-
| hibited articles Of old clothing and others
scarcely more attractive.
| Jeduthun, the Jew, for he it was, in
answer TO her appeal, opened door
which led into an inner room, and handed
| her rush-light
"On the further side Of the ROOM"
said he, there is door which will admit
you into a long and narrow passage, at
the extremity Of which is another door.
Knock three times, and it will be opened
| by one as young and as fair as yourself.
/ will remain in the shop, lest my absence
create suspicion"
BY this time loud voices were almost
at the threshold. Jeduthun fastened to
remove the bar, which, when Alice had
first entered, he had placed across the
door. He had only time to assume the
appearance of one who is ready to serve
customers when the two ruflians who had
waited under the shadow of the arch for
| the arrival Of the sedan burst into the
shop, followed closely by the two chair
men. Jeduthun stepped forward a little
and said:
What is your willW
DOG of a jew" said one Of them
''you know well enough it isn't your vile
merchandise we wantw
What would you have, thenW
"We would have the bird that's escap-
ed from the cage standing just outside
the door"
II know nothing of bird or cage an
swered the Jew.
why don't you speak to the purpose,
| DickT" said one of the others. "One
would suppose you were bird fancier.
Come to the point, and tell him that a
fair damsel in the guise Of a Puritan,
yet still more cunning than fair, while we
were waiting for the arrival of the gen.
tleman who was to give us directions
as to where we should carry her, stole
out of the sedan
For which, as I was not there, I am
not to be blamed" said Jeduthun.
she fled hither," said he who had been
called Dick.
(which / could not prevent"
"She was seen to enter your shop"
at is easy to be mistaken so dark 9
night as this, but you have your eyes
and can look where you please
1t needed only a slight search to show
that there was no place of concealment
in the shop.
Heres a door," said one.
Eyes, and we will see what is the 9th
er side of it," said Dick.
at is poor place." said the Jew, "anG
you will see no one there, save my maiG
servant, who having been abroad, re
turned some few minutes before your ar
rival, and was doubtless mistaken by yor
for the damsel you are in pursuit Of"
On opening the door, they saw, as they
had been told, only a poor place, as fal
as could be judged by the dim lamp ant
the light of few half-burnt brands il
the large, open fireplace. Near it sat tn,
maid servant, employed in repairing som,
coarse garment.
"Are you satisfied with the search 20,
have made?" inquired the Jew.
"No, as you will some day find to you
sorrow" replied Skellum.
After they had withdrawn, a few word
in suppressed tones passed between on
of them and the person who had beel
) lettering near the door. Shortly after
ward, Gilbert Falkland entered. A quick
almost imperceptibe knitting of tn
brows, accompanied by compression o
the lips, equally slight and transient
showed that either the Jew did not car
to see him, or that some suspicion to hi
disadvantage had entered his mind.
II have come to make you an offer,
said Falkland.
81 am ready to listen to it."
"Either give me one hundred pounds
or deliver up to my protection the younj
lady who is somewhere concealed beneatl
this roof"
IF you have lost a wife or n sister, an,
it can be proved that she is beneath m,
roof, she shall not be withheld from he
natural protector"
"And what if she be neither"
) I'm that case, even if there were dam
sci here, | wouldn't, against her will, de
liver her up"
"Give me the gold then"
81 already hold your bond for twic
the sum you just now named, which, wer
/ to tell you what l think, should sa,
was of little value"
"A minute since, l gave you you
| choice, either to deliver up the maidei
YOU have concealed, or give me one hun
! dred pounds. | give it to you no longer
for, on second thought, day or two will
, place her where | can try the same gam
| over | have tried tonight, which / shal
1 take care sha'nt be losing one; and tn
better to insure success, those employee,
t must be literally rewarded, which cam
e be done with an empty purse. You see
t therefore, that l must have the money.
4 (To be continued)
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They ALWAYS Have a Smile,