Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1902-09-13

Curtis. Acton said not q word, as they
walked slowly from the camp. When
they were in the open fields and well
out of hearing, Curtis tool out the pa
per containing Problem 3" and held
1t towards his friend.
Nov, John, read 1t again."
II tell thee. Curtis, thou'rt ridiculing
me-, n tits not to be borne
II was never more serious in my
life."
but tits all nopsensei"
"'Tis naught OF the kind
We'll" said the other, trying to
smile, in order to keep himself from
growing vexed again, give 1t me-" and
he e it again.
Nov solve It."
Rob, tits unfair in you to carry the
thing to such lengths"
TITS you that are unfair, my
friend. answered the other, seriously
enough.
why. l can answer 1t in a moment.
Sol times 6 is "a, 3 times S. is
John Acton said Curtis, pulling UP
IN his walk and facing his friend,
what is thy name?"
Come, lad, let It DROP" said the
other in an altered tone, lest I lose my
temper"
Thy name, mani"
Acton" roared the lieutenant, now
actually Initiated.
What does it begin WITH"
"A! but l will not"
What is our friends name who left
us a few days ago?"
Acton looked at the other a moment
n then said slowly:
"Balfort."
And his name begins
with b."
And my name
rs Curtis and begins with c." said
Acton, pulling n long face and looking
at the paper in his hand.
Nov read Problem g. again." said
Curtis, putting in the Names"
Acton began:
Acton can ride to Hardcastle-'
which might be-" interrupted the
other, without much change"
North Castle" muttered Acton.
Acton can ride to North Castle in -four
hours at six miles an hour by the
shorter road. Balfort can do 1t in
three hours at eight miles IN hour on
the same road, starting earlier-'
Which he has already done" put in
Curtis.
How far must Curtis go by the
longer road, if he travels six hours and
goes at the rate represented by the
sum Of one-half the rate Of each of the
others, n when should he start, in
order to arrive half an hour after Ac-
ton?"
The men looked at one another with
the two different expressions of coun-
tenance that may well be imagined.
I've thought often since how / would
like to have seen them then. Finally,
Acton gasped:
Rob, 1 am indeed an idiot"
"'Tis precisely what l said," n
swered the other, dryly.
Then we meet Balfort at North
Castle. ?"
Certainly"
And you go by the lower and l by
the upper road?"
Precisely"
And you are to get there half an
hour after me?"
Exactly" Curtis replies were the
pith of dryness.
And o are to start an hour and a
half after me?"
Correct again."
Then we shall not be noticed leav-
ing here nor arriving there?"
Eye grow sagacious, my friend"
""Tis not only idiocy; tbs nigh upon
stupidity"
(Which l presumed to suggest but a
moment ago." replied the lieutenant.
But wilt tell me, then, how, in
heavens name, the thing came into
my pocket|"
AYE, now, that's 1t! How think ye? %
Acton said not a word.
WAS IT there before lunch?"
Let me ee-no it could not have
been. l set that kerchief in my pocket
Just as we started for the mess"
"Didst sit by any one at lunch, per-
haps?' asked Curtis, blandly.
AYE! l sat Rob! Rob! we would
not tell me-ye do not mean-that Mr.
Argyle Bartlett, merchant of Boston,
was Merton Balfort?"
"At last" said Curtis, casting his
eyes ~heavenward.
well may / be damned!" exclaimed
Acton.
Nay" answered the other, laugh
ing, rather be ready to go by the up
per road to North Castle in four hours
But this must be serious, If such
care is necessary"
still more, 1t would seem important
that no American soldier should know
Of it."
And how do we get leave to go?'
"There you have me- replied Curtis
"'Tis the one thing that catches me
Yet if Balfort finds it necessary to &C
to this length to insure secrecy, you
may say surely he has arranged in
some way for our absence. SO let us
go back, get ready, and-wait." Upon
which they returned to the barracks.
AClOA was Ol lit punt VI pulNiilS
together a few necessaries for the
journey, when an orderly entered and
reported that Colonel Livingstone
would see him at headquarters at once
He smiled as he thought of what per-
plexity he might have been in If Cur
It's had not cleared the way. Passing
by his friends quarters, he stepped il
and found him quietly smoking.
II have my already" sale
he softly.
And | must be at headquarters a
5 this afternoon" replied the other.
Decidedly The thing is serious"
Decidedly"
By $50 Curtis had passed the pick
cts to the south.
BY 7 Acton took the upper road anC
started his horse at a siX-mile gait TO
North Castle. And it seemed as If NJ
one in the world knew anything of al
this, but General Washington in Tap,
pan and the two men themselves be,
sides Colonel Livingstone. Yet thing;
are not always as they seem.
CHAPTER XIV.
THE EPISODE OF HOLT'S TAVERN