The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1903-05-01
Of
|Sand....

80 S RI
one.
For a moment the two men regarded
each other. Barnett. for the life of
him, could not remember yer having
seen that grizzled face before.
II don't know you," he said at length,
be a newspaper reporter, or a curious
minded fellow who was bent on getting
a Loo at such a dangerous character.
mo, I know you don't know me-" re-
piled the other, calmly, never taking
his eyes off the young school teachers
face.
What do o want?"
ITO do you a service"
But, If you don't Know me-, what pos
sible Interest," began Barnett. and
yet there was an earnestness about the
nan in the tree that fixed his atten-
ton.
You are In a close corner, young
man." said the stranger.
did you come here to tell me that?"
mo. I am going to save you. If I
can, and I am pretty sure that I can"
But L can save myself"
II sincerely wish you could, my boy,
but it may be a long and tedious oper-
alton, and I think l may be able to oil
the wheels of Justice"
Barnett stared at the stranger, Won
dering what sort Of a mar he had to
deal with, n why a man he never
Ia should take such an interest in his
case.
Who are you?" he asked bluntly.
AS l said before, I am a maj SIM
ply who is ready n able, I think, to
do you a good turn. What my name is
don't matter just now. You know that
there is quite a pile Of circumstantial
evidence against you?"
Yes, SO it seems"
with a foundation to build on they
may erect q, pyramid that will crush
YOU
earnestness about the stranger that did
not fail to make an impression on the
school teacher.
Now, justice seldom miscarries to
the extent of hanging an innocent man,
but O may have a good deal of
trouble before you clear yourself Of the
charge"
Barnett's face became grave. He
was beginning to realize hat what the
stranger told him must be true, and
that his position was fraught with
peril.
There: I didn't come here to depress
you, but rather t cheer you up, my
boy-to point out that you must not
treat the matter carelessly.. l wanted,
Was the mar mad? Barnett Won
dered, but he dismissed the idea as
absurd, for he stranger spoke sensibly
enough, and his eyes were clear and
bright. Well, he was not so burdened
with friends that he could afford to re-
fuse the friendly offices Of even a
stranger. Perhaps the man was a
type of those ~eccentrics that spring up
often when a crime is committed, and
lend sympathy and funds to the cause
they have espoused.
The fellow might do some good since
he spoke so conldent;ys at least, he
could do no harm. Let this eccentric
person have his will, If it amused him.
you don't seem to much of q pris-
oner, with nothing but those wooden
bars between you and liberty remark
ed the stranger. "a good wrench, and
out they Would come"
LAS far as I am concerned, they shall
remain as they are" said Barnett. II
have many privileges here that
should lose If / tried to escape, so I
shall just let matters run along as they
are. confident that, as I am innocent.
I need IA no fear" .#
And what of herr"
The young man IA an inquisitorial
look at him.
"What do you mean?"
II mean Grace-Miss Ellison, I should
taken place"
you know her, then?" feeling a fresh
interest in the unknown.
mo, I don't know her, but It is pos
sible that I maytsee her, If there is any
message that I can carry to her coming
from YOU"
Man, If you do that, I am your
friend for life!" exclaimed the young
school teacher. Just wait and 1 will
jot down a few words" and he turned
hastily away from the window.
Make haste!" called the other in a
loud whisper.
Barnett. filled with a desire to set
down the thoughts that had been up
permoss in his min since the tragedy,
had no trouble in making a start on his
letter. To be quick anG concise was
another thing. Though his pen dashed
over the paper; q warning Hist" was
q notice to draw the episrle to a close.
He folded it, and, without stopping to
set down the address, went back to the
window and passed it to the stranger
by tying it to the end of a poker
which happened to be standing by the
fireplace.
you will be sure and deliver it?" he
said, earnestly, wondering If he was
doing right in, trusting the note to q
man he had seen for the first time in
lbs life.
Deliver it? To be sure I vii. unless
/ should happen to have an accident
that would lay me up. Hush! Go
back! There. is some one co1ning!" he
whispered, warningly, and then sudden
ly dropped out of the tree and disap-
peared among some bushes on the other
side Of the garden.
"A queer character. that muttered
Barnett, as he watched the small man
disappear, and noted that he was very
agile for a man Of his years. well, he
managed to cheer me up. and I relished
his visit. HOW did he manage to get
into that tree in broad daylight with
out being seen, / wonder? Evidently it
is not the first time that he has had
occasion to make a surreptitions call.
I should not be sorry to see the old fell
low again."
The subject Of these remark hae
|. wriggled his way through The denselE
growing bushes, just as the village
constable came around f-Dm the front
of the house with a party of friends.
Job Hendricks, for such was the name
the stranger had given to the innkeeper,
peering over the top Of the hedge,
grinned and wagged his gray head.
All, there's an ideal keeper of a pris-
oner. I wish there had been one of his
kind way back in the past. 1t might
a h VIC rho,,oa3 ox,ar1ytlir NO. b&s.