Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1903-06-20

III IA lll vi Al1 ~ D1 ~
ing must in time be found IL he was In
the city. Those of his class belonged
to certain groups, and, however. mys-
terious their movements, their pres
ence in a 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 n 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
peered out on the deserted garden. "A
faint moonlight lay over the ragged
berry bushes along the walks. n on
the pile of wood that was a most con-
s~picuous decoration and rose like q
funeral pyre in the center of the grass
plot.
That's queer" HI muttered, drawing
In his head. mot a person in sight,
and certainly I didn't dream that l
heard that noise"
He took another peep out of the win
dow and closed it softly, shaking his
head.
Must be in the h~ouse-wonder IL n
rat could make a noise like that? The
beggars do grow pretty big In these
parts. All, there it is again-and comes
form those rooms below. l suppose 1
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 n mad round
him out.
He took his revolver out of his
pocket, examined ii carefully to see
tina il was in working order, n then,
holding it in one and and carrying the
candle in the other, opened the door
leading to the stairs and went down. III
was very quiet below as he paused at
the last step TO listen. He heard n
scurrying sound in the wall, but there
was nothing to be alarmed about III
that: 1t was a mans step he thought he
had heard in the first place. After "a
moment he stepped onto the floor and
swung the candle around, to get a good
view OF the place.
lust as he did this he was suddenly
conscious of heavy breathing close be-
side him, and at the same time the pis-
toll was suddenly snatched out or his
hand.
1t was done so quickly that for a
moment he felt stunned, then turned
about to grapple with his opponent;
but the candle went out, n the out
stretched hand only famed the empty
air. He stood there unarmed, not dar-
ing to move, lest he should betray his
whereabouts, and give his unseen Zoe
a chance to locate him for a shot. SO he
stood silent and was considerably sur
prised to near not the crack OF an ex-
ploding cartridge, but a cackling auSh,
that in the silence Of the place sound
ed so weird that 1t ever startled him
from his usual condition Of calm imper-
durability.
Who are you? What are you doing
| harn 30. ba pa1aH ont
Just wait until I get this candle
eoin', and I'll make myself known
said the man he could not see, and at
the same time Job heard n scraping
sound as If the other was trying to find
the candle. This he was able to do, for,
after n moments hunt, the candle was
lit, and out Of the gloom q stunning hg-
ure appeared. Job took the candle out
Of his hand and held the light up to the
mans face. 1t was not a handsome
face into which he peered. The fellow
had dotted a ragged hat that he might
show his features better. His hair de-
sCended in ragged wisps about his
hungry and ~cadaverous face, that, being
unshaven, seemed s%prinkled with Goa
dust. His dark eyes set In deep hol-
lows, wore q half amused expression
while his lips were parted In a grin
that disclosed a double row or yellow
and uneven teeth.
"Oh, it's you, en-" grumbled Hen.
bricks.
you know me-Jebbs-do you? All
I thought you would" and the stranger
broke out into a cackling laugh again
Here's yer pistol" said he, handing
over the weapon. ave We a jolly scare
that's what l II
"Nonsense-come up stairs and say
what YOU have to say" and Job, an
gered at the way he had been treated
led the way up the stairs, while the
other. evidently conscious that it would
not do to anger his host further, fol
lowed him slowly.
"Now, how did you come to find me-?
asked Hendricks, as he set the candle
down on the table and eyed his CUES
with anything but an amiable look.
well, l see you several times OF lat
in the street, and somehow you slipped
away fore l could catch up with you
Tonight / had better luck"
Hunt" Then, going to a box in on
corner Of the room, which he EVIDENT,
used for n closet, he took a bottle from
it and a plate Of bread and meat, am
set them down on the table before hi
guest. Job did not attempt to spear
again, as he watched the man fall OF
the food like q wild animal, n 1t wa
only when the last crumb had been de
NObAV i anu lllC pCNNA~ fAAfNN~
ventured to say:
"Why did you come in like a thief?
II wasn't sure you was in, and
wanted to surprise you" with q grlr
when / see you come down in tn
dark with that pistol in hand l wa
feared you'd PUNK me fore l coul'
make myself known, and so l had t
take 1t from we. Hope you'll excuse m
for that. Ye might have killed me b,
~oi,foln aud then an aXnl1nnfin'
wouldn't have did me ne good. See?"
Eyes, l see," growled the other, t
whom the subject was evidently an Ga
pleasant one, and rankled, since
showed how easy it would be to disarr
him another time.
well, what do you want?" h
asked, after a moments pause. "Wh
did you come and seek me out? ?"
Il thought that you might nave som
work on hand for me to do" Their
with a keen look. Il must say, Will
that you have changed-there are som
things bout we 1 can't make out"
Changed? Course I've changed
who wouldn't in all these years. Wei
1 don't know but l have work for 20
to do"
The other drew his chair up neare
to the table and moved his thin liz
together as If he was smacking theI
over q prospective treat.
What is 1t, cleanin chimneys?
with a knowing wink.
I'm lone with all such things"
Get out-what sort of a story
that? Turned Methody, have We, al
you one of the best in the business
Mind takin' the bishops gold snuff DO
at a weddin'-Oh, say, h a was rich
and he broke out into noisy laughter.
'There-there, / wish o wouldn
make so much noise" grumbled Her
bricks. 1 came here to keep out {
peoples way, and while I don't min
your finding me OUT
The stranger drew a long whist!
and her nodded sagely.
Il see. Wanted, Ell? Well, natural.
you must lay low for awhile. Nov
!, what wos tho ioh Won would nut m