Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1903-05-09

have to tell me-" he said; some btu Of
ancient history. Did you force your
way In for that? Tell mel" recovering
his arrogant manner.
Yes It was exactly to rehearse some
bits Of ancient history that I came to
see you, James Ellison" returned the
visitor, at the same time fixing his
bright eyes on the others face.
For a moment their chances met, but
1t was not the visitor who retired first
from the contest Of staring each other
out of countenance. Ellison looked
down at the floor, twiddling his thumbs
n twisting uneasily In his chair.
There was something in the manner Of
his unlimited guest that made him
think, after all, II might be best to hear
him out, and have done with him.
You had a certain interesting trans
action with this Frcle near seventeen
years ago." began the stranger.
Certainly, but what of those Did
times? In the first place, the man we
are speaking about Is dead and in
saying this he seemed to feel a certain
satisfaction.
How do you know he Is dead2"
"Eh, what's THAR" this time staring
at the little man as If he would read
the secrets of his heart.
II say how do you know he Is dead7
Did you ever take any great pains to
find out?"
IT heard 1t on pretty good authority"
sullenly. Then, his voice rising, II wish
you would be kind enough to come to
the point, and not be beating around
the bush in this distressful manner"
1T don't distress me a bit" and the
little man smiled. well since you
wish 1t, we will come to the point. If
1t pleases you to have 1t so, Frale IL
dead, though / would not be willing to
swear to such a statement"
GO on"
"Frale, these many years ago, became
involved in a robbery. A factory 1t was,
and the foreman happened unfortu-
nately to be killed. Frale was supposed
to be guilty. lie managed at the time
to escape. He came to you"
"Oh, why tell me everything that I
know already" said the banker testify.
Il thought perhaps you had for
gotten. But am coming to the
was to find a home for his baby
daughter. 1t seems that he had been
reduced to robbery because he was
a ruined man, and his wife had need
Of surgical aid, which he could not pro-
cure for her."
Ellison tried not to appear inter
ested, but he did not venture to warn
the other again not to repeat mat
ters Of ancient history.
AAANSCdg NS Nould NV hCSp Ills eyes
Off the little mans face as he told
his story in a calm and dispassionate
way.
Now We are coming to the most
interesting period in the lives Of
these tow men, whose paths lay so
wide apart" He drew q long breath,
as If to add emphasis to what he was
going to say. Ellison had married
a short time before a rich woman,
but her fortune was in her own
hands. n II she died childless, it
was all to go to her relations. All,
I thought you would be interested
sooner or later" for while he was
saying this, Ellison had leaned over,
n his heavy breathing could be
distinctly heard in the silence Of the
room. Ellison at once sat up in his
chat with a jerk and assumed an
air Of indifference. IF there was a
child that survived, then the money
was to remain in the fathers hands
in trust. 1t was just about the time
Of Frale's trouble that the Ellison
baby died, while the mother was In
a dangerous illness"
The last words, innocent enough
in themselves, seemed to excite the
banker bayond control, for he rose,
and going over, laid his hand on his
visitors arm.
CONTINUED Next Weekly