The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1905-09-07
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''oh, he denies that he had anything
20 10 with the poor lady. though ac-
knowledgin' tina they had words. n
that she had ordered him on the
grounds. on his way out he heard this
cry I'm the night. and. runnin' back.
found her lead or dyin' ON the ground.
and what sort Of n reputation den
he bear I'm the neighborhoodT'
"Oh. fu~st-ratc. 10 far aa that goes.
though he never patrenized me none.
with n rather rueful tone In his voice.
"Righ smart. he seemed to be. but. ye
zee. the mother allus was against him.
Hadn't been for her. he might have got
The gal. Ellison. ye see, was friendly
like To the last"
well. from what you tell me I feel
sure that the young man had nothing
lo do with the crime" said the stranger.
decidedly. Perhaps IL IN he work OF
some miscreant. who O advantage
Of his being I'm the ground that night
To kill her. I never heard of a young
man taking uch n step because the
mother happened TO oppose his suit. II
In not common sense. Well, i u be
going now and he rose and laid n
piece OF money on the table. "Oh. never
mind the change as the landlord was
counting II out. 1t a worth some
thing TO hear such n dramatic story"
Il hope you'il come again. sir"
"You might see me this evening. but
I can't tell. l suppose you could put
me up for a day or two.
There's n room | think might be
vacant tonight" then. To himself. "and
eve others, ~ you wanted them"
VERY well. here's a dollar TO hold a
room for me. II I'm not here by \
o'clock. you can rent H." and he tossed a
silver dollar on h table.
you can find your way back here. l
hope. SIR" rs the stranger was nearing
the door.
mot the least doubt of IL" then. AZ
Il n sudden thought struck him:
Where do you suppose they have
held this unfortunate young man-vil-
iage jail?"
There Amt such a thing. Had one
once. but. as 10 lay empty for years. IL
was rented 10 a Teller what raises hens.
I think Barnett IL KEEP In the constablc's
house-little gray stone cottage near
n meetin'.'
Thank you: good day" and the lit
tie man disappeared through the door
way. Mr.. Bowersox followed his guest
outdoors and watched him 30 down the
road at a swinging gait until he disap-
peared from view.
If I was TO make n rough guess,
II sh'ud say that was one a. the
young mans folks. but. 10 he iS. he
took the young feller's prcdicament
mighty ca'm-llkc. Wen. what does
IL matter to me. anyway? l wisht
I had n hundred like him. that's all"
and he went back to his dozc by the
bar to dream OF the prosperity that
would come TO him IL his customers
were all like the man in he snuny
brown suit. Meanwhile the object of
his complimentary thoughts was
swinging along at a 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 ut the right mo-
ment.' was the thought running
through his mind AZ 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 n nice corner, but n she loves him.
we shall get him out OF it,
He stepped aside TO allow n car
rage TO pass. n handsome turnout
with gold-mountsd harness and
sumptuous fttlngs. A rather hand
some. military-looking ma with n
gray mustache. lolled back on the
cushions. He was dressed with quiet
elegance. and pulled lazily on his
cigar.
The little man eyed him for a
moment ~scarchingly. and then gave
vent to n hoarse laugh, which the
man In the carriage u have
heard, II the swift horses had not
by tina time carried him out OF ear
shot. The little man. after looking
at the vehicle for n moment, shook
his head and passed on his way.
Bears his years well, hang him.
he muttered. And thus Is virtue re-
warded." and he laughed again.
How glad he viii be to see me. I
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 n group OF the t~ownspcople.
talking excitedly. The center Of the
gathering was "A very stout man, In
n species OF uniform OF dark blue,
much faded. and who seemed To be
the center OF interest.
what you folks blamin' me for?'
he was e~xpostulating as h little
man I'm brown drew near Il had
TO do my duty az / seen II. The
young man won't be none the wuss
for "A little rest away from the push.
IL he's inherent, why, he'll get free
soon enough. IL 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 saRely. 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,
IL was comfortably furnished. and bu,
for the fact that he was "A prisoner. he
had nothing OF Importance to com
plain OF. What he regretted was the
thought hat he must soon leave his
comfortable quarters and be transferred
to the county jail, where he was sure
not to fare 80 well. IL would have made
his confinement less burdensome. too,
II he could have gotten some news oi
Grace, but not "a word had come To him
since that awful night. She was pros
trated when the intelligence OF his ar
rest reached her. Since then he had
heard nothing. The voices wrnngling
in front Of the house drew him To the
window. which vas only lightly barred
with wood. He had hoped that he Nigh,
catch some OF the conversation, and
learn. perhaps. what was being said
OF his case.
AS he stood there. Tn an attitude of
attention. he suddenly heard a loud
Hist" that seemed To come from "A
DDint very near AT hand.