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

she will ever learn whose daughter she
really is. I know that you a mean
her no harm. and that she is safe. But
L should like TO see her for reasons 1t
is not necessary for me to state"
Very well. After the terrible at
fair of the other night, I thought 1t best
to have her removed to the home OF her
old nurse"
and where might tha be?" and the
question came as If Hendricks was deal
ing in court with a recalcitrant witness.
"The nurse is housekeeper for the one
lawyer that this town affords, named
Jared Henslow."
"Henslow? 2" the other repeated, rub
bling his forehead.
What, you know himP"
How should I know him? But the
name Is familiar. I once knew a man OF
that name"
well, she is there"
Hendricks rose and stood for a mo-
ment looking down on the floor with a
strange expression on his face.
For this last information I thank
you--as the friend of Martin Frale, Ok
course. l have no doubt that she has
led a happy life all these years"
"She has been brought up as the
daughter of q rich man should be" re-
piled Ellison, Electrically. Ihen, re-
Numbering that he was not addressing
an ordinary visitor, continued: i am
quite sure that, If MaBtin Frale was Nv
ing, he would never have regretted hav-
ing trusted his daughter to my care.
What, after all, does 1t matter IL some
trickery was used In the matter TO re-
tain the fortune in the family, instead
of allowing 1t to be scattered AMONG q
dozen perhaps worthless relatives of
my wife. Martin Frale's daughter must
have gone to an asylum as a child, and
never known what happiness meant, but
for this strange circumstance in her
life. She has been carefully reared, has
enjoyed everything that money could
purchase. Could Martin Frale, were he
living today, wish her differently OFT!
Would he attempt to drag her down
to his w level again? Would he take
her from the luxury in which she had
been bred, to a different life-one OF
possible misery"
LAS the spokesman of Martin Frale,
1 believe that he would do nothing or
his kind" said Hendricks, in a low
voice. "She would hardly love her old
father with the brand Of shame upon
him-the father she never knew. She
would not be a to care to change
her lot for the sake Of carrying pos
sible comfort to the declining years OF
an old convict"
Job Hendricks at this juncture
seemed to be particularly interested
in q picture on the library walls, for
he turned his back on his companion
and said, after a pause: "Ah, you are
well provided for here. / should like to
feel that / was going to be so comfort
ably lodged for the rest Of my life"
you are not in very prosperous cir
cumstances, then, Hendricks?" Ven
tured Ellison, who thought he saw the
way now to offer q bride which his
guest had rejected with such scorn q
short time before.
Job Hendricks turned about and
pumped down in a chair again.
IT dare say l am as prosperous as
I deserve" he said. MY wants are few
and 1 am getting on In years. A man
don't ned much when he has reached
my age"
"still, there are comforts that might
make life easier"
II know what you are thinking about,
but oblige me by not approaching the
subject again."
The banker was silent.
'Thell me-" said Hendricks. after a
pause, are there no clews that would
point to the fact that some other per-
son must have committed the crime,
rather than young Barnett?"
Nothing as yet" replied Ellison. as
if weary Of the subject. 0 course,
as / told you, I am interested In setting
the young mar free, and so at the first
opportunity I sent to New York to
bring down an expert detective to take
charge Of the case. The police are do
ing something, Of course, but l thought
I might do a little Independently"
And what Is the result?"
Nothing as yet. He only arrived yes
terday afternoon, n has spent the
time since in interrogating the SER
wants"
"Well, I should not wonder If I
took a hand In the matter myself If
all else failed"
What. your"
Eyes, why not?" replied Hendricks,
calmly. II am interested, as I tell you,
in this young mans affairs, n
anxious to get him free. Sometimes,
you know, an amateur Is able to do
more than the argus-eyed professional,
for III brings originality and fresh ideas
to peal uopn the subject. These moss
covered bureaucrats go Flooding along
In the same rut year by year"
Then you have engaged in such
business b~efore?" and Ellison, who had
never ceased to wonder what ann
of man he had to deal with, cast a
searching look at his companion.
Perhaps" and Hendricks smiled.
Come, why should you want to know
so much about a poor stranger? IL
Martin Frale was standing before you,
/ suppose you could sift him heart n
sou In O moment
'I don't see why you keep referring
70 that unfortunate man. said ELLISON,
with q grimace. Let the past bury
her dead. He was an ignorant man., a
poor, miserable fellow, who Is well out
Of the way. He did n good thing, and
that was to trust his daughter to my
care, for which he received q good sum
In return. You may be q friend Of his.
and so naturally refer to him now and
then, but you will oblige me by not
mentioning him again"
Certainly" in a low voice, and yet
you ought to have a certain feeling for
him, since you have adopted n Of his
blood"
Thine has changed all that; she
would never be taken, after these years
of culture, as one Of the VOLTS breed"
You are disposed to be compliment
airy. You might speak we'll Of a man
whom you were once not afraid to ac-
knowledge as a friend" said Hen
bricks.
"If we both started in the mire, and
I was fortunate enough to rise from 1t,
is there any reason why 1 should not
have a longing to forget the past and
everything connected with it?"
"a noble, a commendable DESIRE" re-
piled the other. II will wish you good
day." and he moved to the door. Il
think you will do all o can to help
Barnett know you WILL" and before
the other could frame an answer, he
had opened the door and gone out.
Ellison sat watching the door in a
dazed sort of condition, as If he half
expected him to appear again, but Hen
bricks did not appear. Then, after a
moments hesitation, he rushed u into
the hall, crossed 1t, and, passing
through a narrow passage and then a
dressing room, reached the windows
that opened on The park in front of the
house.
He saw Hendricks pass out through
the front door and walk with lazy air