Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1903-07-18
Stairs Of
|Sand....

bosom. drew out the document and
then tossed 1t sullenly on the table.
This Is the real thing. I hope"
said Ellison. and then as he opened
the paper and glanced over It, his
face lighted up. Yes, / know those
signatures only too WELL"
he had taken the precaution to
place his pistol out of reach while
he was running his eyes over the
document. So interested was he In
Its perusal that for a second his eyes
were off the mar bound in the chair.
Suddenly he felt a hand pressed
against his. There was nothing ag-
gressive about the movement, and he
looked at his companion In amaze
ment.
Would you like to have this ring?"
asked Job, with a smile on his face,
and Ellison. looking down. saw on
the red n knotted finger extended
a curious ring set with dull blue
How do you men-do / want it9"
he asked.
Buy 1t, ] mean-you will find II a
wonderful piece of jewelry2 Then
you owe me something, for you must
be we'll paid for what you are do
ing?"
II see nothing wonderful about
soui PieSious ring. Inc poorest plt
or prize package Jewelry-' but he
suddenly stopped short, for Job had
seized his wrist with a dexterous
twist nc that he could not move, TO
get possession OF his pistol. At the
same tim he felt a sharp, prickly
sensation. Job had pressed the ring
against his hand and the sharp edges
of the stones cut the skin. What
did 1t all mean? He struggled to
| free hiYnaalf hut holl IL shat A~~.
grip, forced against the edge OF the
table, he could do nothing. And what
a strange sensation suddenly seemed
to dart through his hands from the
point where hat cursed ring had
abraded the skin; 1t ran through his
veins like fire! And still he strug-
Sled to get to his feet, feeling the
weakness slowly creeping over him
n something like q strange fluid
coursing through his blood. At last,
with a cry, he fell forward, face
down, on the table.
Job, with q smile, removed his
hand and wiped the ring with his coat.
He will learn not to despise such
a humble bit Of Jewelry as this
again." he aid to himself. Nov, If
l were only supplied with q knife l
might get rid OF these ropes that
are cutting me to pieces"
Then, reaching out his powerful
arms, he seized hold of Ellison and
lifted him by sheer strength up on
the table.
That was a valuable present, that
ring he muttered. Its virtues
were not overrated by the man who
gave 1t to mel only hope he will
recover" and then, hearing the loud
breathing Of the other, he smiled and
finding a knife In one OF Ellison's
pockets, proceeded to cut his bonds.
"Ah! this is something like!" as
he rose and stretched himself, and
then, seeing he paper on the table
that had caused SO much trouble, he
thrust 1t, back in his pocket with a
sigh of relief. Il may need you yet.
they shall never find 1t again on me,
living or dead"
He looked at the insensible figure
for a momen in silence, still ram
sacking his memory for the identihca-
ton Of his face.
Bah! Why should 1 worry myself
about him at a time like this. l
must try and find my way out"
lie stole softly over to the door
In the partition that divided the room
from the rest Of the basement, and,
having unlocked 1t, peered out. Then
he shook his head and returned to
the room, again locking the door be-
hind him.
mo use OF my trying to find my
way out in that direction, for, as 1
heard them say, the police are guard
ing the street"
He was surprised to find Ellison
half sitting in a chair before the
table. Was he recovering from his
unconsciousness? But, after an ex-
animation, Job believed hat he had
slipped back through some muscular
contraction. He was like one In q
sound, deep and heavy sleep. Taking
up the lamp from the table, Job
made a circuit Of the room In search
of the revolver, which he felt he
needed In case Of trouble. but hi did
not find 1t, and, as time was precious,
he had to give 1t up. Round and
round the room he went, seeking
for an outlet and finding none, know
ing that at any moment the police
might arrive, for their patience must
in time be exhausted.
THE place was we'll chosen, for
there amt a hole for a mouse to es-
cape" he muttered, bitterly; not q
door or a cupboard or a window, and
beyond, In the street, the police wait
ing.
He sat down for a by the
table out Of sheer WEAKNESS, TO pom
der on the situation. What was to
be done? Should he attempt to force
his way out through the bluecoats in
waiting? No, there was little chance
Of escaping in that way. While he
sat there, he suddenly felt q drop of
moisture on his forehead, then an
other. Instinctively he looked up,
and saw that 1t proceeded from a
crack In the ceiling. This crack was
square, and suggested a trapdoor,
though painted over like the rest Of
the ceiling.
Ready to seize at anything, he lift
ed up one of the chairs to the top
Of the table, and then mounting on
it, lamp in hand, proceeded to ex-
anime the strange square above his
head. Certainly, a hole was there,
hlled in by a square board. 1t might
have been used at one time to let
barrels and goods down into the
basement.
His examination of this was inter
rupted by a sound from below, and
as he glanced down, he saw that Ell
iison had risen to his feet and stood
there for a moment, swaying I'M
steadily, ike q drunken man.. Hen
bricks had uttered an exclamation at
the sight. which attracted the others
attention. For a moment they were
silent, regarding each other fiercely,
as If ready to fly at each other S
threats.
Job watched him without any
threatening movement, for II seemed
hardly probable that one who was in
such a weak condition could do him
any harm. lie expected to see him
collapse at any moment. But Ellison
seemed to become more steady on his
feet after n pause, n then, suddenly
taking hold Of his revolver, fired into
the air.
At this unexpected happening, Hen
bricks had let the lamp fall, and it
clattered down on the foo", and at
once went out with a sputter. The two
men were alone there in the dark, but
Hendricks knew that 1t would not be
for long. At the sound of hat pistol