The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1903-06-19

few knew that the house in the garden
was occupied. So 1t was that he fell.
genuine pleasure in his retreat for it
seemed to afford a refuge where he !
could pursue his task without fear, and |
where he hoped, for the present, no one |,
could find him out. To make matters
safer, he had taken the precautions to !
change his appearance. SO that even
the worthy innkeeper at Exton would
have had trooble in recognizing his
former guest.
So far Hendricks had not been sue
cessful in his efforts to trace the man
who had written the lette--the torn /
envelope Of which had been treasured
ever since. 1t bore New York post
mark, and he hoped that the writer
was still in town, though it might be
otherwise. At least he might possibly
come across one who knew where he
accomplished nothing, he still had
hopes. A man of the type he was seek
ing must in time be found If he was in
the city. Those of his class belonged
to certain groups, and, however, mys-
FERROUS their movements, their pres
ence in place was always known.
Job had returned one evening worn
out with his search in the lower part
Of the city, had finished his humble
supper, which he had brought home
in paper bag, and had been mapping
on his cot, when an unusual sound In
the empty rooms below him attracted
his attention. He jumped to his feet,
and, setting the candle on the table be-
hind him, opened the window and
faint moonlight lay over the ragged
berry bushes along the walks, and on
the pile of wood that was a most con-
spicuous decoration and rose like
funeral pyre in the center of the grass
plot.
That's queer" he muttered, drawing
in his head, mot a person In sight,
and certainly I didn't dream that
heard that noise"
He took another peep out of the win
dow and closed it softly, shaking his
head.
Must be in the house-wonder If q
rat could make noise like that? The
beggars do grow pretty big In these
parts, All, there it is again-and comes
must look into this a bit" and he
sighed to think that perhaps he was
not to enjoy his peaceful little abode
much longer-that some one had found
him out.
He took his revolver out Of his
pocket, examined it carefully to see
that it was in working order, and then,
|
candle in the other opened the door
leading to the stairs and went down. 1t
| was very quiet below as he paused at
| the last step to listen. He heard 4
scurrying sound in the wall, but there
was nothing to be alarmed about In
that; 1t was a mans step he thought he
had heard in the first place. After Il
moment he stepped onto the floor and
swung the candle around, to get a good
view Of the place.
Just as he did this he was suddenly
conscious of heavy breathing close be-
side him, and at the same time the pis-
tol was suddenly snatched out Of his
hand.
It was done so quickly that for a
moment he felt stunned, then turned
about to grapple with his opponent,
but the candle went out, ana the out
i stretched hand only famed the empty
air. He stood there unarmed, not dar-
ing to move, lest he should betray his
whereabouts, and give this unseen foe
a chance to locate him for shot So he
stood silent and was considerably sur
prised to hear not the crack Of an eX-
ploding cartridge, but cackling laugh
that in the silence of the place sound
+ ed so weird that it even startled him
. from his usual condition of calm imper-
turab ility
''Who are you? What are you doing
= . -
: here?" he called out.
"Just wait until I get this candle
l goin, and I'll make myself known,
' said the man he could not see, and a
the same time Job heard scrapins
sound as if the other was trying to fins
' the candle: This he was able to DO, for
. after a moments hunt, the candle wa:
: lit, and out Of the gloom a shutting fig
ure appeared. Job took the candle ou
$ Of his hand and held the light up to tn
/ mans face It was not a handsom
J. face into which he peered. The fellov
: had dotted ragged hat that he Nigh
t show his features better Ills hair de
: scended in ragged W1sps ABOUT n!
f hungry and cadaverous face, that, bein
+ unshaven, seemed sprinkled with Goa
!. dust. His dark eyes set in deep hol
! lows. wore a half amused expression
u while his lips were parted In a grl
g that disclosed a double row of yelloI
: and uneven teeth.
: ooh, it's you, EN-" grumbled Hen
h bricks.
= "You know rne-Jebbs-do you? Al
, thought you would and the strange
q broke out into cackling laugh agar
:, "Here's yer pistol said he, handin
), over the weapon. Gave we a jolly scare
: that's what I DONE"
"Nonsense-come up stairs and sa
what YOU have to say" and Job, an
j OSS1A - 1870
led the way up the stairs, while tn
" other, evidently conscious that it woul
It not do to anger his host further, fol
a lowed him slowly.
l. "Now, how did you come to find me ::
lie asked Hendricks, as he set the candl
) down on the table and eyed his CUES
n with anything but an amiable look.
lie well. I see you several times of lat
a in the street, and somehow you slippe
away fore could catch up with yo
re Tonight had better luck.
10 "Hum!' Then, going to box in or
i corner of the room. which he evident
IS used for closet. he took a bottle fro
j. 1t and a plate of bread and meat, ar
sc set them down on the table before h
guest. Job did not attempt to spea
ID again, as he watched the man fall {
,g the food like a wild animal, and it w;
ty only when the last crumb had been d
s. voured and the bottle emptied that
ventured to say:
t. why did you come in like a thief
ne 81 wasn't sure you was in, and
en- wanted to surprise you" with gri
i'd when see you come down in t
in dark with that pistol in hand w
he feared you'd PUNK me fore cou
i'd make myself known, and SO I had
to take it from We. Hope you'll excuse 7
he for that Ye might nave killed me
NJ mistake 8 and then an eXplanati