Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1903-03-26


When he rose, he looked at one or two
books treating mechanical matters. lie
began TO hum an air Of tune, then sud
denly turned to hi, daughter, who was
washing the dishes.
81 say, Irene Are you sure you gave
Mr.. Gripp the right roll? These papers
are all mixed up together. can't tell
them apart"
81 don't know. won't be sure. You
can satisfy yourself by opening them
He opened the first large roll near him.
An exclamation brought Irene to the
door. Her father looked at her with a
grave face.
why here are the drawings Gripp
came for"
81 can't see how it happened" said
Irene, coming forward. II was so anX-
ious to get rid of him, after refusing
him the first time, that | gave him the
roll ! thought he wanted"
"rhe next thing ! want to know. what
did you give himT
Irene stood on a chair, looked at the
remaining rolls, then descended, put
finger on her lips, and said:
Papa ! gave Mr.. Grip my drawings
in mistake"
Dan Atherton made a wry face.
The mistake in the drawings evident
" made him very uneasy. Suddenly his
eye fell on the note addressed to him,
He strobe to the mantel, saying:
when did this Gomez"
Il thought you saw it when you came
in; 1t came half an hour before Mr.. Grip
| called the second time"
Atherton opened the note quickly, cast
, his eye over it, then in an altered tone
| asked: who left this hereT
| Irene, quick to note the change in his
voice and manner, replied: "A boy"
"A boy. Do you know him? Would
you know him if you saw him again?
What was he like?"
Yes, l Think am sure-I could tell
him. | never saw him before. Why, he
was about twelve or fourteen"
"Irenew His manner alarmed her; his
eyes shone with a terceness that alarmed
her. You must keep on the lookout for
him-the boy, ! mean-and if you see him.
as you value your life, do not let him get
out of your sight until you learn who he
| is, where he liyes-all that is necessary
to be able to put my hand on him. You
hear Irenc?"
Yes, | understand, father"
Then Anterior hastily crumpled the
note up, thrust it into his pocket, graspcd
his hat and without saying word more
left the house.
| When Anterior was a little distance
from home he paused. stood motionlcss,
and reflected. Opening the note he had
thrust into his pocket, he reperused it
slowly. 1t was very mysterious. 1t read
thus:
There Is no telling what a moment
may bring Forth Best cut your stick, and
less Chance of Trubbe. I'd tell you this
only for strange eyes watching to get =
grip on some one.
"A FRIEND IN NEED"
Anterior read this over twice carefully
and walked on, first holding the mysteri
GUS note up carefully and placing it il
his pocket. There was no date. Nh,
signature was not reassuring.
1t could only mean one thing. 1t re
ferred to the death Of Bob Peters. Ant
yet no name was mentioned. 1t WA
vague. but all the more calculated I,
alarm a man of weak mind; timid MAJ
would be driven into panic by it, un
less he felt that he could easily meet anC
dispose of any charge brought agains
him.
1T means more than Grip knows o.
all that passcd-and maybe some on,
who does not know, but suspects what Il
not true"
Atherton walked slowly along ponder
ing the meaning of the warning note.
And why may it not be somebody try
ing to brighten meP Somebody wht
wants to get me out Of the way"
This view was as reasonable as IN.
other. His strong common sense tolC
him he ought not to be guided in any i'm
, portant matter by any anonymous note
In short, he took the correct view; h
said to himself he would stay where h
was He was as innocent, as sinless, II
any man who could confront him, and h
would not be driven away from the city
And yet there was enough to make hin
feel uncomfortable, nervous, apprehen
sive. A man who would stop to writ
him such a note was cowardly enOug
! to do anything So he had two enemie
e where he thought he hard but one. Tha
t one was Grip. Grip, whom he wa
= clinging to; Grip, whom he felt Xix
e choking; Grip, who hoped to be relate
:. to him in closer manner than CONNER
J. cial cords could bring about
!. Atherton asked himself then and there
:. VIII l fight for freedom-for myself, fo
e my daughter2 Long he debated wit
himself. When he had turned to NOV
A on he made this resolve:
II II will fight. l will be as wise as tn
RI serpent and as gentle as une dove-unt
4 my time comes. Then, Mr.. Grip, loo
4 out for yourself-look out, Mr.. Grip
If lie thrust a hand out in Imagination
t he walked ont was now dusk.
II Hello, there! What do you mean, hi
er ting a fellow that way? Why, bless II
If faint Dan Atherton."
You're just the man l want to tai
to. Come with me, Jack Jones. l hay
IN something very serious to say to YOU"
is Dan, you know I'd go through fire M
nd water for you"
II believe it. Come"
Then the two puddlers walked on s.,
by side,
IN CHAPTER XVII.
One of the best known localities
a | pittShurU as in all nthpr la roo Gift,