Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1903-05-16
Stairs of
|Sar1d....

ia AAAONA ~
title Of Job Hendricks" was the un-
perturbed reply. "As TO how | came
to know this bit of family history
l may have had, IL from Frale him.
self, or procured It from his heirs
and assignees. But why do you In
terrupt me in the most interesting
part OF my storyP"
back to his chair, into which he sank
with q sigh.
THE father was in a predicament.
He raw the fortune taking wings.
It was just at this juncture that his
former friend, Frale, appeared on
the scene with the request that he
should take charge OF his infant
daughter, as he had an appointment
with the government. Ellison was
never so glad to see his shabby ex-
friend as On this occasion. The pa
pers drawn up, he adopted h infant
as his own. There was an important
clause that the father might claim
his daughter when he was free, In
twenty years or more, or 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 NAL
shot when he attempted to escape.
The latter would have pleased Ell
lison 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
In his benevolent game"
Now that Ellison was acquainted
with the chief parts Of the story, he
recovered his equanimity and COM
posure quickly. AS he believed he
had to deal with a cunning blackmail-
er, who had somehow come into pos
session Of the secret of his life, and
as he had plenty OF money, 1t would
not be a hard matter to buy him off.
WELL" said Hendricks, smiling In
his beard, for he guessed what
thought was passing through the
covered, and found her child living
and well. That Is how Frale's daughter
the v%agabond's brat-became an heir
ess, and the fortune OF the family was
fixed to remain forever In James Eli
sons possession"
Ellison did not ans wer at once, but
swinging round in his chair, took a
checkbook out Of his desk, dipped his
pein in the ink and said: How much
money do o want?"
He received only q laugh for an
answer.
II said, How much money do you
WANT" (irritated).
''Well, 1 want something, but /
don't want money. You seem to have
had experience with matchmaking
schemes, you fly to your checkbook
in such O hurry"
Ellison closed the book, and flung 1t
in his desk angrily.
ut is hard to keep my temper with
", AwAuy 70 yyn,Y. yrya ants ~
IT think we are beginning to un-
derstand each other" said Hen
bricks, blandly. mo doubt, in the
end, we shall be very good friends.
mo doubt"
1.-THE facts are these: I am inter-
ested In the fortune of this young
school teacher, who has been held on
the charge Of being accessory to the
tragedy. Now, the young man is in
nocent."
"You seem to be omnisclent," re-
piled Ellison, with n palpable sneer.
Never mind that. It Is absurd
to think that he could be guilty.
Now, you will obllge me, and 1 am
sure 1 can count on your help to set
him free"
The banker could hardly conceal his
pleasure at the turn things had now
taken. Evidently ne had to deal with
q nan who was not going to be un-
reasonable,
Il am sure that / have always had
a liking for the young man." he said.
Il was the means OF his coming here,
and I supported the school III Of
my own purse. Now, even If you had
not asked me, I should have lost no
time in doing all l could for him."
He said this with an air Of ~frankness,
but the other eyed him for q moment
with a certain distrust.
You are q relation Of Barnetts?'
asked Ellison, uneasy under that I'M
compromising glance.
no, never saw the fellow but once
in my life. But l have made up my
mind that he Is innocent and l 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 then stepped forward and
made a quick gesture as II to some one
in 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 hat the fellow was very
ragged and upkempt, then he was gone.
He returned nolselessly to his place
just as Ellison turned. The latter found
his unlimited guest seated with his face
resting on his hand, evidently In deep
meditation.
You may have-been surprised at my
rushing TO the window in such an abb
rupt way" explained the banker. You
sec, we are overrun with ~neighbors'
children, who come in and steal flow
ers from the garden. Now, / shouldn't
mind that. IL they wouldn't trample
down the beds and ruin everything. /
saw them at 1t again just now, and was
moved to anger. You see?"
Yes, / See" replied the worthy Hen
bricks, regarding the other put of the
corner OF his eye. To himself he said:
What is the use Of this elaborate lie,
unless there is something serious in
that mans sudden appearance which
he does not care about others knowing.
a cnnning knaYe this-surelY."