The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1903-05-15
) Stairs ] St
Sand .

ldsFHI@s1N s6G1 ENI4
Granting that he is. It might be
that I was instructed to see her, and,
being a mar Of my word, would natur-
ally wish to carry out the agreement
Ellison was silent. During an expe-
rience of ear among men, he had
never met with such a human enigma.
Who was this MANI At least he knew
much, and was amiable, and might be
easily managed If treated with kind
ness and consideration.
Then o promise that IL I tell you
Where h daughter is''-he did not
have the courage to say my daughter
you will be silent respecting her
origin?"
II am listening"
Can l trust you?"
For a me the face OF Hen
bricks relaxed, and he smiled.
1T seems to me that Just now we
have reasons to trust and yet distrust
the other. One will safeguard the other.
You need, however, have no fear that
she will ever learn whose daughter she
really is. I know that you can mean
her no harm, and that she is safe. But
! should like to see he. for reasons it
Is not Unnecessary for me to state"
Very we'll. After the terrible at
fair Of the other night, 1 thought 1t best
to have her removed to the home of her
old nurse"
"And where might that be?" and the
question came as If Hendricks was deal
ing IN court with a recalcitrant witness.
The nurse is housekeeper for the one
lawyer that this town affords, named
Jared Henslow."
"Henslow?" the other repeated, rub
bling his forehead.
What, you know him."
How should l know him? But the
name is familiar. Ionce knew a man of
that name"
We'll, she Is there"
Hendricks rose and stood for a mo-
ment looking down on the floor with a
strange expression on his face. ~
For this last information I thank
you-as the friend Of Martin Frale, of
course. I have no doubt that she has
led a happy life all these years"
She has been brought up as the
daughter Of q rich man should be" re-
piled Ellison, Electrically. Then, re-
membertng that he was not addressing
an ordinary visitor, continued: Il am
quite sure that, If Martin Frale was liy-
ing, he would never have regretted hav-
ing trusted his daughter to my care.
What, after all, does 1t matter if some
trickery was used in the matter to re-
tain the fortune in the family, instead
OF allowing 1t to be scattered among a
dozen perhaps worthless relatives Of
my wife. Martin Frale's daughter must
have gone to an asylum as a child, and
never known what happiness meant, but
for this strange circumstance in her
life. She has been carefully reared, has
enjoyed everything that money could
purchase. Could Martin Frale, We're he
living today, wish her differently, off?
Would he attempt to drag her down
to his own level again? Would he take
her from the luxury in which she had
been bred, to a different life-one Of
possible misery?"
"As the spokesman Of Martin Frale,
I believe that he would do nothing Of
this kind" said Hendricks, in a low
voice. "She would hardly love her old
father with the brand of shame upon
hfm--the father h never knew. She
Wouldnot be a woman to care to change
her lot for the sake Of carrying pos
sible comfort to the declining years Of
an old convict"
Job Hendricks at this ju%ncture
seemed to be particularly interested
in a picture OF the library walls, for
ne turned his back or his companion
and said, after a pause: "Ah, you are
well provided for here. I should like to
feel that I was going to be SO comfort
ably lodged for the rest Of my life
You are not in very prosperous cir
cumstances. then, Hendricks?" ven-.
tured Ellison, who thought he sawgthe
way now to offer a bride which his
guest had rejected with such scorn a
short time before.
Job Hendricks turned about and
pumped down in a chair again.
Il dare say I am as prosperous as
I deserve he said. my wants are few
and I am getting on in years. A man
don't ned much when he has reached
my age"
"still, there are comforts that might
make life easier"
Il know what you are thinking about,
but oblige me by not approaching the
subject again.
The banker was silent.
"Thell me-" said Hendricks, after a
pause, ARE there NO clews that would
point to the fact that some other per-
son must have committed the crime,
rather than young Barnett?"
Nothing as yet" replied Ellison, as
IL weary Of the subject. of course.
as I told -you, I am interested in setting
the young mar free. and SO at the first
opportunity I sent to New York to
bring down an expert detective to take
Ing something, Of course, but I thought
I might do a little Independently"
""And what Is the result?''
Nothing as yet. He only arrived yes
terday afternoon, and has spent the
time since In ~interrogating the SER
wants"
well, 1 should not wonder If I
took a hand in the matter myself If
all else failed"
What. you?"
Yes, why not?" replied Hendricks,
calmly. II am interested, as I tell you,
in this young mans affairs, and
anxious to get him free. Sometimes
you know, an amateur is able to do
more than the argus-eyed professional,
for he brings originality and fresh ideas
to bear uopn the subject. These moss
covered bureaucrats go plodding along
in the same rut year by year"
Then you have engaged in such
business before?" and Ellison, who had
never ceased to wonder what manner
of man he had to e a with, east a
searching look at his companion.
Perhaps n Hendricks smiled.
Come, why should you want to know
SO much about q poor stranger? If
Martin Frale was. standing before you,
l suppose you could sift him heart and
soul in q moment"
II don't see why you keep referring
to that unfortunate man." said Ellison,
with a grimace. Lee the past bury
her dead. He was an ignorant man, a
poor, miserable fellow, who is we'll out
of the way. He did one good thing, and