The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1903-05-15
Stairs Of
Sar1d....

~ may nave haQ 1t from Frale him.
sell. or procured 1t from his heirs
Eerrupt me in the most interesting
part of my story?'
Ellison skunk, rather than walked,
s back to his chair, into which he sank
with sigh.
81 THE father was in a predicament.
5Ede saw the fortune taking wings.
ut was just at this j%uncture that his
Former friend, Frale. appeared on
the scene with the request that he
Z should take charge of his infant
@E~daugater, as he had an appointment
with the government. Ellison was
Z fliend as on this occasion. The pa
pers drawn up, he adopted the infant
as his own. There was an important
CLAUSE that the father might claim
his daughter when he was free, in
twenty or more, or whenever his
sentence was served. Ellison agreed
readily to this. for there were many
things that might happen to a man
IN ~prison-jail fever or other mall
ladies'; he might ever happily be
when he attempted to escape.
1.-The latter would have pleased Ell
saison most. Then, with money. 1t was
possible to trace and destroy the pa
pers showing the adoption; in short.
this philanthropic man, who had
taken in the child of a criminal, had
every chance of coming out ahead
pn his benevolent game"
III Now that Ellison was acquainted
with the chief parts Of the story, he
SFecoyered his eQuanimity and COM
posure quickly. AS he believed he
had to deal with q cunning bIackmail-
FER, who had somehow come into pos
session OF the secret Of his life, and
as he had plenty Of money, it would
not be a hard matter to buy him off.
~ - Wal - cof5 IIarl~51I- o- -.
his beard, for he guessed what
Thought was passing through the
tbanker's mind. Mrs. Ellison re-
covered, and found her child living
and well. That is how Frale's daughter
1.-THE yagabond's brat-became an heir
less, and the fortune of the family was
Mixed to remain forever in James ELI
SONS possession"
Ellison did not answer at once, but
BWinging round in his chair, took a
Sfcheckbook out Of his desk, dipped his
pein in the ink and said: How much
inaoney do you want7"
sN He received only a laugh for an
aAansWer. %
"I said. How much money do you
ssWant?,." (irritated).
We'll. I want something, but I
don't want money. You seem to have
had experience with Matchmaking
ssehemes. you fly to your checkbook
- ..
Ellison closed the book, and flung II
iNIl his desk angrily. -
1t is hard to keep my temper with
i5fyou. Now state your wants."
think we are beginning to I'M
Iaderstand each other" said Hen
eend, we shall be very good friends.
1No doubt"
The facts are these: 1 am inter
ested In the fortune of this young
|tschool teacher, who has been held on
the charge of being accessory to the
EEragedy. Now. the young man is in
EsYou seem to be omniscient," re-
ffni4ed Ellison, with a palpable sheer.
Never mind that. It Is absurd
tie think that he could b. guilty.
Nov. you will oblige me, and 1 am
I can count OF your help to set
Eaf1im free
The banker could hardly conceal his
ssspleasdFe. at the turn things had now
taken. Evidently he had to deal with
ma who was not going to be I'M
S~xeaseaable.
~ am sure that I ave always had
~ liking for the young man." he said.
wa the means Of his coming here,
and supported the school out of
Emy purse. Now, ever if you had
asked me, I should have lost no
Etilae in doing all I could for him."
He said this with an air of frankness,
the other eyed him for a moment
with a certain distrust.
G"You are a relation of Barnett's? '
asked Ellison, uneasy under that I'M
gcompronlising glance.
EMO, never saw the fellow but orce
In my life. But I nave made up my
mind that he is innocent and I want
him free. You have money-use it.
Hello! What's the matter now?" for
the banker had been staring out Of the
window, and Their stepped forward and
made a quick gesture as If to some one
Ia the garden.
Hendricks had slipped forward, and
peered out behind his back. He was
just In time to see a man dodge behind
a tree. The one glance was enough for
him to see that the fellow was very
ragged and unkempt, then he was gone
He returned noiselessly to his place
Just as Ellison turned. The latter found
his unlimited guest seated with his face
resting on his hand, evidently in deer
nGneditaton.
you may have been surprised at my
frushtng to the window in such an alb
srupt way" explained the banker. "You
we are overrun with neighbors'
children, who come in and steal flow
from the garden. Now, I shouldn't
mind that, if they wouldn't trample
down the beds and ruin everything. I
.sa them at it again just now, and was
moved to anger. You see?"
Yes, I see" replied the worthy Hen
Ndricks, regarding the other out of the
corner of his eye. To himself he said:
is the use of this elaborate lie,
snnless there Is something serious In
THAT mans sudden appearance which
he does not care about others knowing.
IA cunning knave this-surely."
CHAPTER vi.
1--WE SHALL BOTH GO DOWN TO-
GETHER-"
@4By the way said Hendricks, after
III moments pause, in which each man
regarded the other, where is
tEsur daughter now?"
1tsSsEh; what's that?" The question
to surprise the banker. Hen
tricks frowned, and his red fingers beat
HaYtattoo on the arm of the chair while
ne ooked the other firmly in the face,