Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1903-03-05
CHAPTER X.

| AS Arthur MayDerry turned away ne
almost stumbled against man who was
Fastening on rapidly. The man did not
pause to see the person he jostled against,
but Mayberry stood still. 1t was Jack
son Gripp.
Gripp was out of sight almost before
Mayberry recovered from his surprise
1t was odd--very strange that Athcrton
should be in that place at that time Of
the day--it was stranger to find Gripp
evidently following the ronworker.
But now another curious circumstance
attracted Mayberry's attention. A wom-
an encountered Grip at a street corner
Mayberry could see her turn to him and
reach out her hand, as il she would de-
tain him, but Grip thrust her aside
roughly and disappeared
The woman acted like one dazed. May
berry saw her put up hand to her head
helplessly, and look after the scrap deal
er. Then she approached a shop win
dow and stood like one who was collect
ing her ideas.
When Arthur Mayberry, animated by
sheer curiosity, approached and passed
this woman he thought he recognized in
her woman he had met somewhere,
where, he could not remember
| And now he was resolved to learn who
this poor creature was. Poor she un-
doubtedly was, and sickly. She had
hacking cough that sounded like a pre-
cursor of death.
The woman finally decided upon her
course; she made her way slowly to an
obscure street, and entered an unlighted
hallway. The house was occupied by
tenants, who relet rooms. Mayberry
made a note of the place, and entered
small newsstand near the house.
"Who lives in the old brick above here
the one with the porch?' he said in a
matter-of-fact manner to the proprietor.
"There's half dozen families there
} now"
II mean the responsible person."
"Oh! the old pie vender-Quigley.'
That's his wife the woman with tn.
} scar on the left templeY'
THAT I'll never tell you who she is,
: We call her the woman who minds her
: own business. I've seen her pass here q
thousand times, and | never saw her
: speak to soul. Nor nobody else has,
J reckon. They say she makes her living
picking up bit of sewing, doing house
cleaning-she don't look very stout look
ing-and l guess, from her appearance,
. she is half starved. She don't look like
as IL she'd bother the world long"
A figure passed the little shop door.
Mayberry glanced out. The figure was
. that of Mr.. Jackson Gripp. Mayberry
stepped back in the shadow of the open
door, standing where he could observe
, Mr.. Grips movements, all the while
keeping up a running conversation with
the shop keeper, who was a gossip in
l male attire.
Gripp looked up and down the street,
There were three or four workmcn APP
preaching, carrying their dinner pals in
$ their hands. Grip turned his face from
them; when they passed him he looked
e up and down the street again, then walk.
| ed suddenly, with long strides, to the
solitary house.
When Mayberry bade the proprietor
Il good evening and stepped out into the
) street, Mr.. Grip had disappeared from
: view.
u Mayberry could have taken his oath
z Gripp had entered the dark hallway. II,
II walked to the next crossing, keeping or
e eye on the old building, crossed the street
S returned on the opposite side, and looked
= up.
II There was a cheap transparent curtain
u in an upper window. The light in tn,
y room was dim, but Mayberry in tina
swift upward glance fancied he behel(
! the shadow-an exaggerated shadow-o
a mans hand appraised menacingly. Tn
hand was brought down with n sudden
W ness, just as Mayberry's eye fell on tn
u curtain, that caused him to doubt wheth
W err he had seen Alright. He stood ther
y looking up. 1t was now growing dark
and his actions would not attract atten
ton.
~ Yes-there could be no doubt now
. There was the shadow of a hand on tn
-" curtain. The hand was clenchcd. 1t wa
We lifted quickly, and as quickly descended
Then a blurred ohject-the figure of
man moving rapidly-was thrown clearl
y" against the curtain, and then the currai
became as clear as it was before. 1t n
ia manned clear.
M Mayberry was impressed with III
p" thought that the shadows he had see
revealed tragic page in real The han
,rt he had behed uplifted was Grips han
wv 1t was raised to give force to the blow
nj. aimed at the poor, sickly woman WI
,ot had accosted him on the street.
~ Mayberry stood there many minute
INV Possibly five or ten. He hoped he won
IL see Grip emerge from the hallway, b
ID the hallway gave forth no sounds.
'on last, weary of waiting Mayberry left Il
spot and went home. But all the w;
ONT he beheld the thin, white face Of Il
mr., thin-clad woman in black, with a scar
,o1 her left temple.
In Who was she? What was she to {
div respectable Jackson Grip? Why did
yss scrutinze the passers-by, and wait I'm
,nt. the coast was clear before he cntnr
Iv these poverty stricken premises?
ok These were questions Arthur Maybcr
ling p.oP"""utu 10 n'liS'o' as ne p"'oN, , Il
le." MS steps hohieWaru' OF 1t was No" 10
led after his usual hour to sup.
Go be continucd)
last -