Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1903-07-18
CHAPTER Xxx.
JUST A H~ANDCLASP.

u Hendricks was so much inter-
ested In studying the face of the man
seated at the table that IL he was at
al uneasy he did not betray It. who
was this person who had evidently set
q trap for him2 He could not remem
per under what conditions he had seen
him last. There was something about
ms features that recalled the strange
being he had caught a GLIMPSE Of
nrough the window on the day he had
visited James Ellison. But there could
surely be no connection between that
ragged individual and the smiling and
well dressed person on the other side
OK the table. His thoughts ranged in
10 the past, and there the face appeared
asalh younger but still the same, and
'hen was lost In the haze Of
"hen you have quite done study
ihs me- we a talk business" said Ell
lson, pleasantly.
~ftehdrlcks' only reply was to erasp
ms knotted stick a little tighter in his
hand' but II was suddenly snatched ont
Oh MS grasp and at the same time he
was FORCED down into a chair. Turn
ing his head he saw that a man was
staholng on each side of him. It was
nara TO distinguish their features
smeared with lamp black. They stood
there silently like grim specters, evil
IDENTIFY awaiting orders.
just take away his and
then you may CO." said Ellison.
JOB struggled to his feet, and made
a violent effort to break away but the
ouds We're against him, and he was
FORCED back In the seat, his pistol wa 6
'aKsh from him and a huge jackk nife.
Now tie him to the chair, but leave
his arms free"
Anything else ?" after this was done
asked one of the men.
NO, that is all, for the present; but
l expect the police here In a few min
utes, SO you had better, both Of Won,
make yourselves scarce"
one or the men, the tallest, showed
MS teeth IN a fierce grin.
sure you can ana him vo,,r-
self" he asked. N
Why not? There is but one wov
OUT or here, and the police will come at
my call and he laid a revolver on
the TABLE. so vamoose, or Won two
night be gathered into the net"
Nolselessly in their bare feet they,
snpped out of the room.
l suppose you wonder why 7 baye
arranged this pleasant little surprise
party said Ellison.
Hendricks was silent. still tbir,-,-
where he had seer this man bnfora
put the search bafled chin.
Ellison lit a cigarette and puffed -
with keen enjoyment. -
You are an escaped convict-a
a or note, and worthy of n better
rate" he said in a bantering voice
l would like to let you alone, bur
you are a worry to certain persons
90 Tor a good Of society, you must
go back from whence you came"
Hendricks sighed as IL the neIan-
choly prospect Of his future life rose
before him. o'0
.before you go, however," con-
tlnued his tormentor, handling his
revolver carelessly, you must do me
a favor" 81"
I am mo- in a position to do anv
one a favor, replied Job. grimly con-
sclous that there was little chance
OF freeing himself from his bonds.
as the Knots must nave been the
work or sailors, they were so cum
ningly made.
You have n paper-a certain
agreement, which should properly be
In the hands Of one James Ellison"
JOB involuntarily made a motion
In the direction of his breast.
All, you keep 1t there, do youl
very wise TO carry 1t about with YOU.
Tor then you know that it is safe"
JOB withdrew his hands and began
to drum on the table. He saw that
oASOAAoNiOuSly DGiIdNGQ mat
ne carried the paper with him. He
had never In his life been compelled
10 guard q treasured possession, and
therefore did not know how to care
for such things.
I left your hands free out of no.
liteness, so that you might hand
that document over, and not COM
pei me to resort to violence. which
l abhor," said Ellison.
Hendricks did not make any mo-
ton to do so, which seemed to anger
the other, and the smile disappeared
at once from his face, to give place
to a forbidding frown.
You had better" he said, and his
white teeth shone in the light of the
lamp. MY friends OF the police will
be here in a moment, and there is no
reason why this simple transaction
cannot be conducted in a genteel
way"
AS he said this he held out one
hand, while with the other he trined
with the shining revolver, and there
was a look In his eye that showed
him not unaccustomed to the use of
weapons when 1t became necessary.
Job sighed, and then, with ar air
OF resignation. thrust his hand in his