Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1903-05-02

SAhaS
% do with the poor lady, though &C
tn~owledgin' that they had words, and
hat she had ordered him off the
grounds. On his way out he heard this
Try in the night, and, runnin' back,
,ound her dead or dyin' on the ground"
And what sort Of a reputation des
lie bear in the neighborhood?"
"Oh, fust-rate, 30 far as that goes,
:hough he never ~patronized me none,"
With a rather rueful n In his voice.
'Righ smart, he seemed to be. But, we
Zee, the mother allus was against him.
Hadn't been for her. he might have got
he gal. Ellison. We see, was friendly
ike to h last"
We'll. from what you tell me l feel
Jure hat the young man had nothing
20 do with the crime" said the stranger,
decidedly. Perhaps 1t Is the work of
Iome miscreant, who ook advantage
If his being in the ground that night
10 kill her. / eve heard OF a young
nan taking such a step because the
mother happened to oppose his suit. 1t
Is not common sense. Well, l must be
going now" and he rose and laid a
piece of money On the table. "Oh, never
mind the change" as the landlord was
counting 1t out TT was worth some
thing to hear such a dramatic story"
II hope you'll come again, sir"
you might see me this evening, but
I can't tell. / suppose you could put
me up for a day or two"
There's one room / think might be
vacant tonight" then, to himself, and
seven others, If you wanted them"
Very well, here's a dollar to hold a
room for me. II I'm not here by 8
o'clock. o can rent It," and he tossed a
silver dollar on the table.
You can find your way back here, l
hope, SIR" as the stranger was nearing
the door,.
mot the least doubt Of IT." then, as
II a sudden thought struck him:
where do you suppose they nave
held this unfortunate young man-vil-
Lage jail?"
There amt such a thing. Had one
once, but, as 1t lay empty for years, 1T
was rented to a Teller what raises hens.
[ think Barnett is KEEP in the constable's
house-little gray stone cottage near
the meetin'."
Thank you; good day." and the lit
tie man disappeared through the door
way. Mr.. Bowersox followed his guest
outdoors and watched him go down the
road at a swinging gait until he disap-
peared from view.
IF I was to make q rough guess,
I sh'ud say that was one O. the
young mans folks, but, If he is, he
took the young feller's p~redicament
mighty ca'm-like. Well, what does
1t matter to me, anyway I wisht
/ had O hundred like him, that's all"
and he went back to his doze by the
bar to dream of the prosperity that
would come to him II his customers
were all like the man In the snuffy
brown suit. Meanwhile the object Of
his complimentary thoughts was
swinging along at q brisk pace.
Though small, in walking his great
strength Of muscle was manifest.
There was nothing light or graceful
In his movements, but he strobe on
with the clumsy power OF a bull.
You landed here at the right mo-
ment," was the thought running
through his mind as he made his way
along, keeping a furitive outlook for
the meeting house.
IF this chap Is worthy of the girl,
he shall have her, but first we must
see about getting him free. He GER
tainly succeeded In placing himself
In q nice corner, but II she loves him,
we shall get him out Of It."
He ste Fped aside to allow a car
riage to pass. a handsome turnout
with gold-mounted harness and
some, miItary-1ooking man, with a
gray mustache, lolled back on the
cushions. He was dressed with quiet
elegance, and puffed lazily on his
cigar.
The little man eyed him for a
moment searchingly, and then gave
ven to a hoarse laugh, which the
mar in the carriage must have
heard, If the swift horses had not
by that time carried him out Of ear
shot. The little man, after looking
~ 49, xvnhinla Fnr FonT1Onnf Chnnk
his head and passed on his way.
Bears his years we'll, hang him."
he muttered. And thus is virtue re-
warded," and he laughed again.
How glad he will be to see me. l
have n favor to ask, and / don't think
he will refuse to grant It," He had
no trouble in finding the place he
wanted, for around the little building
was a group Of the t~ownspeople,
talking excitedly. The center OF the
gathering was a very stout man, in
81 species of uniform of dark blue,
much faded, and who seemed to be
the center Of interest.
What o folks blamin' me for?"
he was expostulating as the little
mar in brown drew lei Il had
to do my duty as I seen 1t. The
young man won't be none the Wuss
for a little rest away from the push.
II he's inherent, why, he'll get free
soon enough. 1t amt often as JUS
tice makes a mistake. But don't
you alls be too ALTERED sure that he
is inherent" wagging his grotesque
head sagely. The town sympathies
were evidently with the young man,
and the village constable was the
object OF unkind remarks.
The subject of the discussion was
Just at this time reading in the room
that had been allotted to him as n cell.
It was comfortably furnished, and but
for the fact that he was a prisoner, he
had nothing Of Importance to com
plain OF. What he regretted was the
thought that he must o o leave his
comfortable quarters and be transferred
to the county Jail, where he was sure
not 10 fare so we'll. 1t would have made
his confinement less burdenSome, too,
If he could have gotten some news Of
Grace, but not a word had come to him
since hat awful night. She was pros
trated when the intelligence of his ar
rest reached her. Since then he had
heard nothing. The voices wrangling
in front OF the house drew him TO the
window, which was only lightly barred
with wood. He had hoped that he might
catch some of the conversation, and
learn, perhaps, what was being said
of his case.
AS he stood there, in an attitude of
attention, he suddenly heard q loud
Hist" that seemed to come from a
point very rear at hand
CHAPTER III.
THE BLIND BEGGAR.
Barnett peered around, but could see