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


utcs."
"I'n see you amt disturbed for that
time said the attendant.
Athcrton thrust II hand into his pocket
brought forth the warning note, laid 1t
down before his companion, and looked
at him in silence. Jack Jones stared.
"Jackr Atherton lowered his voice.
81 brought you over here to tell you what
no other soul will ever hear from me.
| want one man to know the truth. May
be it will be best-it may serve me or
mine"
Athcrton looked around him, then bend
ing forward, asked his companion:
Did YOU ever hear talk of how Peters
diedY
Talk O, there was plenty said YOU
had IN old grudge and a good reason to
wallop him, but death stepped in and
cheated you of your chance. They do
say, speak no i'll OF the dead, but never
could abide Peters. He was too upset
tin'--too much for the boss, and too bossy
for any Of us. But he is dead, and let
him rest"
amen to that You never heard any
thing like hint of foul pay?"
why I'd knock a man down if he
limited it afore me-"
you must know the beginning and end.
| was quarreling with him, you know |
had good cause | told him Id let no
man ride rough-shod over me. And he
goaded me to desperation. Well, | had
just made up my mind to whip him, or
he'd whip me-"
IL predicted it often, Dam"
And was just going to him-with this
~ -. l. I L. II. MI
| hand. He had picked up a weapon,
when he fell in heap-like man struck
| by lightning"
Jones looked at his companion, open
mouthed.
You didn't tell that at the inquest"
mo. Mr.. Mecker did not like to raise
any more talk than was necessary. The
moment the inquest was over | felt un-
easy, Ii was the first thing l ever CON
cealed, Jack"
IT'S like you. Nobody never knew
you to keep anything back"
Then Gripp came to me and talked as
il | owed everything to him for not be-
ing in Jail"
And you hit him?"
mo. You sce--I began to think of
Irene. | bore much on her account.
When Grip found | was alarmed about
the way Peters died, and the whole case
was not explained, he began to build on
controlling me. You know my patent"
aye"
at brought me foolish letters, and one
just one business customer-young
Mayberry. We bargained-or. / signed
an agreement with him. He was to help
get others interested and carry out my
plans. When we talked the process over
not very far from where we are sitting
-Gripp, who was in a stall in a restau-
rant next us, overheard every word |
said"
And If he did-he dare not come into
your way. You'd your idea patented"
Not everything. He heard enough to
cheat me. Mayberry and | went to Mead
Bros. Il CO.-Mayberry was going to get
Mr.. Mead into the scheme with us--and
there was Grip ahead of us. We heard
him talk about his new process to Mr..
Mead. Mayberry and | separated and
afterward Grip met me- think he was
on the lookout-and he tried to induce me
to throw Mayberry over and take him
in"
Then did you fly at him|
81 did not. | thought of the scandal
of Irene. | ought to have quarreled
with him and have done with it."
Then what"
Atherton's eye was more resolute, his
tone more impressive.
I'm going to prove to you how easily
it is to be mistaken. I'm going to show
you how l let the thoughts of Irene ard
scandal COW me. said I'd think over it.
| should have struck the villain, for he
is one. When Mayberry called on me
for a talk, l was ofsh-he got offish
, too, and as he is a high-mnded, spirited
, young fellow, he gave me back the agree
ment l signed"
; WELL" said Jack Jones, sitting bach
from the table, she was fool. He'd q
,, right to hold on to the paper, and not lei
his high-miudedness come between hin
, and his plain rights. never believed il
, of you Dan-never."
: 81 know Grip would like to marry my
| daughter. He has means. He is wortl
: a good deal of money-as he was having
p everything his own way with my pro
I cess"
= I'm sorry for you, Dan; I'm maiI
sorry, DAN"
=: IL believe it. But | am sorrier fo
|
h out-of- the-way place"-here Dan shud
g dered-"a place where a murder was com
mitted that very night; so you may know
e the sort Of gang l had to encounte
II going there"
k 1.-The murder was"
" The murder of that woman in ALE
5 ghany. l agreed to send him my draw
ings, SO he could show them to Mr.
+ Mead"
e Then he's got you foul, Dan. If he
got the drawings, you must get then
k back"
e Stop. He didn't get them. When
sent him to my house for them, lren
ID would not give them on a verbal order
SO | wrote one at the mill, and he wen
back for the drawings. When | got HON
lie from work this evening, | found Iren
gave him the wrong drawings"
Good! Good! Good for lrenew
IL don't know, but | think she mayb
in made mistake. Anyhow, Grip has
IS, lot of papers with Irene's birds, vase
A., and flowers on them