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

up to the second story, which In urn
was divided into -four or Ave rooms.
To the right OF the door, In the large
room, burned now, at eleven OF the
night, a large wood fire. Tables stood
here and there, and at the back ran a
bench, or bar, behind which sat a fat
old woman knitting on a hig stool,
SO that she might sew and still keep
her bulging eye on all that took place
within the chamber. BY the hre sat
two men whom / rightly guessed to he
American soldiers, and in the corner,
by a table, occupied in eating an ev-
enlng meal, which the officious inn
keeper, bustling about the room, hao
put before me, cat my wearled SELF,
more anxious than / would have con-
fessed, waiting for the two friends, the
fear growing on me that dear old Ac-
ton would never think to look in MS
pocket nor comprehend the message
when he did. l had thought to leave It
with Curtis, but, no opportunity offer-
ing, 1 was forced to take Acton as the
means, and just before going l had LETT
the generals release for the two lieu
tenants at the c~olonel's headquarters.
IT was an anxious two hours, only
brought to a close by the entrance or
John Acton in civilians dress. He knew
me at once, for Mr.. Argyle Bartlett
was safely slowed ava in the woods
back on the roadside, tied up in a
bundle of his own clothes.
/ feared at first that the honest fell
low would come up to me and blurt out
the whole thing, but. as I afterwards
learned, Curtis had given him the best
OF lessons in the, TO him, quite UNI
known art Of deception. Thus he step
ped into the room ordered a mus or
ale and, like myself, took a pipe and
some tobacco, and sitting himself
near me, looked what doubtless was
the picture of uneasiness and discon-
tent.
While the two soldiers talked quiet
asked:
Have you come from the westward?'
AYE, from the river"
Have you heard what has become Of
Andre?"
mo, there was naught given out
when l. left"
AT the mention Of Andre the two SOL
diers stopped their conversation, and
one Of them, turning toward the table,
said:
He was taken from here day be-
fore yesterday"
isn't known where he is confined?'
I asked. The landlord here putinhis
oar, and ventured:
They do say as they took him to
Tappan for trial"
An, no, Holt, It's not likely So" said
the soldier, He went to West Point
l am sure
1--WE cannot say a word here, said
/. in a low voice, in Acton's a at this
moment. AND yet | must talk with you
as soon as Curtis arrives.
We'll, but would he not go that
way sure?" asked the tavern-keeper,
They'd be afeared of n rescue down
below
Cant we go outsider" whispered
/ Acton. Lord forgive him his whispers
were like the rumbling Of thunder.
"Outside!" exclaimed the soldier,
what is there to go outside OFF,
Acton looked confused.
This gentleman refers to the frigate
Vulture, which has been lying off Tel
ler's Point. Doubtless he Is right, and
mayhap the escort was instructed &c
keep well outside the reach Of hel
guns?'
80, aye, t is likely So" said the sol,
der, for / have heard she lies there
l caught Acton on the point of say
ing something to wreck the whole
business, and had just given him a jat
beneath the table when the dool
opened. Every one turned to see who
else might be arriving at this late hour
and / could not help a silent curse a.
the luck to see two stranger men enter
nod to the tavern keeper, and walk ovel
to the fire.
CONTINUED Next Week.)