Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1903-07-04
CHAPTER XVII.
THE FACE IN THE HEDGE.

James Ellison stood before an open
safe built in the wall of the study in
his city house. He was examining it's
contents, and occasionally comparing
what he found with a list written down
In Il little book he held in one hand.
Now and then he sighed, while a wor-
ried look came over his face. Suddenly
at the sound of a door being opened he
closed the safe hurriedly and turned
the knob.
"Oh, it's you, is it?" with a weary
air, as his brother entered the room
looking ~light-hcarted and debonair.
He went back to his seat by the desk,
and sat there with his head resting on
one hand in an attitude of deep dejec-
ton.
Yes, it's only me-" replied the
brother. why, you started, Jimmy,
when l came in, as If you had been a
burglar surprised in the act of rifing
that safe"
You have an unpleasant way of
plunglnG in on people when you are not
expected
cor wanted" continued the other,
with q malicious smile, as he flung
himself down into a chair and lit a
cigaret.
Il thought 1 had locked the door;
I vas busy with accounts"
Preparing to give an account of your
stewardship, l suppose and Frank,
watching his brothers face, saw a
faint flush gather at the words.
That Is my own concern" be said.
testify. Il hope you did not come here
to be quarrelsome. You know we new
er could get along we. together"
That was not my fault, for / am
naturally of a mild disposition" replied
the other, with mock earnestness.
You happened to marry q fortune,
and then became so airy hat 1T vas
no longer possible for us to pull to-
gether in harness. Now, as / said be-
fore, I am glad to see hat you are
preparing to give an account of your
stewardship" James looked at his
brother IN surprise.
II don't know what you are driving
at, nor do see what possible business
1t is of yours"
"a great deal of my business. Your
daughter, when she marries, will, nat
urally, want the bulk Of the fortune.
Well, as l intend to marry her, l am
interested that my wife should receive
her fortune intact"
James Ellison laughed, but there was
little heartiness in IT.
You still cling to that absurd idea.
l thought the other day h a you were
merely joking"
~ JcNN NA oNSh a lAOuS sun
ject. Apart from the fortune, I find
the young Woman charming, and 1 am
not too old to appreciate the charms,
mental and physical, of so attractive
q parsonage. l know you will find it
hard to surrender the fortune, or the
biggest part of it, to me, but you will
nave it in the family, and that should
be a satisfaction" with a grin.
"Oh, a great satisfaction" replied
Il q mnG CrTin11U &c hn 1nn1yn1 81 ht1
brother keenly, to make sure that he
was really in earnest. And Grace,
does she consider your attentions in
any light but that of r~idicule?"
"Oh, l nave not been precipitate. ]
mean to win her by kindness.
"Since that - er - er unfortunate
tragedy she is in a sympathetic mood,
and l can do much to comfort and con-
sole her." Frank Ellison reeled off this
speech with apparent satisfaction, as
If he was quite sure of his ground.
And the school teacher. what of
him?"
II don't think 1 need fear him any
he is as god as done for"
You evidently are not aware Of what
has taken place." said James Ellison,
with q pleasure hat he could not dis
guise.
What do you mean?"
why, the pOllCe HdNe Hdue an ar
rest. 1t is in this mornings paper
Frank Ellison allowed the cigaret
to fall from his fingers, and the air
Of smiling ~complacency disappeared
from his face.
"The police have found an earring,
one of those my poor wife was robbed
Of on the night of the murder, in a
pawnbroker's shop in this city. They
have found the man who pawned it,
and, though he denies hat he had
anything to do with the crime, they
have still hopes of getting him to con-
fess. Why, you seem very much dis
turbed over the news" as Frank flung
himself out Of the chair where he was
seated, and walked back and forth with
a nervous air, as If unable to keep still
In n place.
"and What might this fellow call
himself" he asked, as he paused by
his brothers. chair.
HE retoices in the name of Reddy,'
as the police know him. What his real
name is no one knows"
Frank Ellison looked relieved, and
went back stly to his seat.