The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1903-04-24
bad hat, while his dusty and dubious
sshoea showed that he had not come in

Doa AAhS hAo oudNy IA W
shoes showed that he had not come in
town In a carriage.
Peter thought he must have heard
wrong until the order was repeated,
with the pleasing addition, Make it a
quart"
Then MI. Bowersox realized that he
was confronting a pleasant reality, and
nos a dream, and at once set down his
guest as a prince travelling in disguise.
1t did not ocur to him that princes sell
dom spoke with q pronounced Yankee
tWang.
The wine was secured from its fly
blown em1nence behind the bar. where
1T had served for many years as an or
nament. After 1t was duly opened, the
stranger displayed his princely charac-
ter when he invited the landlord to
share its contents.
The stranger smacked his lips with
gusto over the vile decoction Of goose
berries and alcohol, to the great de-
light of the host. who was afraid the
first taste Of the beverage might be the
cause OF q violent outbreak. 1t warmed
his heart to meet with a customer so
easily pleased, fer the natives of the
place were not very considerate of his
feelings. He was shrewd enough judge
of human nature to know that the
stranger was there for a purpose, so he
waited respectfully to learn what 1t
was.
1T seemed to me as I came along that
there was a great deal Of excitement
going on in the town for such q quiet
place" began the man in the snuff-col-
ored suit. Whats up? Some political
matter on hand?" And he ooked the
landlord over keenly with his sharp,
black eyes.
mo wonder they're flynn round like
hens with their heads cut Off. There
hain't been such doin's, 1 guess sence
the town was started!" exclaimed
Peter, who dearly loved to retail gos-
sip.
"Ah!" and the stranger took advan-
tage Of the others enthusiasm to drop
the contents Of his glass on he floor.
There was a murder committed up
to the big house. You might have
passed 1t on the way down. Got two
stun critters on the pillars on each
side Of the big gate"
Yes, I passed It,"
"Ellison's wife, it seems, was waikiki
in the park t'other night bout 10
O'Clock, and she never come back alive.
Was struck down right in the path near
the house. lust one blow-she never
spoke again."
Bless me, what a tragedy for aquiet
place like this!"
I'VE may we'll say so. The folks is
wild. It'll go hard, Tn afraid, with the
school teacher"
What had he to do with it?' and the
little man seemed to prick up his ears,
as if a point of interest to him had been
reached.
well. they think he done it-and
everything points that way. Ye see,
the Eillisons had one child-a daugh-
ter"
"Ah!" The little man pushed his
glass aside, drew himself closer to the
table and looked at Mr.. Peter with such
a piercing expression that the good
landlord for a moment was s~peechless.
"Well. what about his daughter?
Why don't you go on, man." exclaimed
the stranger.
Mr.. Bowersox risked a swallow from
his glass to fortify himself, made a wry
face, and continued:
The young gent what's been school
teacher here for the past five years
was sweet or the young lady, and them
what knows says it was returned. Mrs.
Ellison heard of it, and was mad
enough, though her husband never let
on to the young man that he knowed
what was up though, Of course, he
couldn't help it. All the town knowed,
Well, young Barnett, which was the
same school teachers name, was per-
vadin' round the grounds that night
He was seen to meet with Mrs. Ellison
by the Waterman. There was hard
\ No1ho pSAfSSh ~ NV oSAlloii III
young la Of tryin' to steal her daugh-
ter away. Just what happened after
that isn't known, but some time alter a
cry vas heard, and when folks got on
the scene they found Mrs. Ellison dead,
and neal by Barnett, cleanin' his hands
on the grass" The landlord was silent
for a moment, as If to give emphasis to
his words. He was astonished at the
cool way in which the little man re-
ceive his tragic recital.
well, that don't mean that the young
man was the murderer" said the latter,
"Oh, it don't, Ell? Well, most of US
in this here neighborhood thinks it
does. And do you know that he had
made arrangements to leave last night,
surptitious-ltke. as they say. and had
sent his trunk off, instructing the man
what carried it not to let any one know
that the schoolmaster was goin' to skip
All that looks bad"
Hunt" and the stranger for a mo-
moment drummed on the table with his
stubby red fingers. THE young man Is
certainly in an unpleasant position
What does he say-what is his side OF
the story?"
Continued Next Week.)
WIN Thew eff