The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1905-10-19
Stairs Of
Sand....

NthAaN - -.
looking fellow you seem to take into
your confidence. He said that I was
an ex-convict-or. rather. an escaped
convict. and a great deaf more prob
ably &c lend truth To his story"
Several times Ellison opened his
lips TO speak. n not n word came from
them.
THAT was what you wanted TO tell
me. was Il not. and yet somehow the
words stuck? Well. that IL all there
In to u. You should thank me for
having relieved your mind"
Ellison was nonplussed at the cool
ness cf the statement Surely the
whole story must have been a lie. or
this man would not have carried II or
with such n brave air.
Il ask you how your daughter is?"
said Job.
'she Is well. thank YOU" replied the
other fecbly. and he dropped into n
chair from sheer fatigue. confident that
he had played his best card and lost.
II am glad to hear II. for h must
have suffered greatly through this ter
rible affair. Once the young man ie
free. and he will be free. won't he.
EiliSong"
"oh. I suppose so.'' carelessiy.
You don't seem to take much In
terest In the case. ms esteemed and
AftoNhA ANltANs anu ~ ~ UtOtiltlN NUt
black eye OF the little man flashed.
Perhaps IL might be necessary for
me to refresh your memory and stir
up a bit OF enthusiasm. You remem-
Der that when ! met you first I stated
that l was In possession OF "A paper
showing that you had adopted the
daughter OF Martin Frale In order To
keep the fortune In he family. In n
or the death OF your wife"
ssKa0-Nna 90 and ErlItanVR watRUaA hlsa-
self and began 10 take a keen Interest
I'm the conversation.
II have that paper. which today
might deprive you OF every sent you
now call your own. So / am, not with
out reason demanding that what I
ask you TO do shall be done
Ellison WINGED at what seemed TO
him such an insolcnt speech, but pres
emily he rallied. and said, with a laugh:
IAN that YOU tell me Is very inter
esting-like n page from n OF Monte
pins novels. ! should very much like
To see this document OF which you
speak" md he leaned over the table.
his face all eagerness. while job. Mt
that moment. seemed suddenly over
come with a cough. hat caused him to
turn his head. After he had settled the
paroxysm he turned around. facing the
banker. and said. pleasantly: And
30 YOU shall-so you shall. OF course.
/ have no reason TO make n demnnd on
you unless ] have the papers TO back
my statement up"
Eilison's eyes frightened. for. looking
asst his visitors head. he saw n door
open n few inches M the further end Of
the ROOM. and part OF n face appear.
He made some signs. and while Job was
fumbling In h pockets OF his vest. n
man entered noiselessly and stepped be-
hind the curtains OF n closet. against
which the table was placed where the
two were seated.
Ellison. keeping his eyes steadily fixed
OIL the little man. Jaw that he was still
trying 20 get at the paper. which he
had evidently concealed with extraor-
binary precautions.
He finally extracted what he was
looking for. and. opening the document.
which seemed to be old and time
stained. stood up. and. leaning over the
table. opened IL. holding IL In one hand.
while with the other. extended. he
seemed TO be guarding his possession.
Here is the document In the case
he said: you may look. but you must
nj touch. waving Ellison bach. See
should takc u In your hands
Ellison read the paper over. which.
from the signatures n the wording.
ler no doubt OF It's g-enulneneSs.
He sat back In his chair, and sighed.
saying. after a pause:
Yes, there is no doubt that you hold
me In the hollow OF your hand with
the document that ! signed with Martin
Frale nearly II years Come closer
n listen. l want you to hear some
thing that perhaps should be whispered.
for n hotel Is all ears. az one might
say"
Job leaned forward To hear what this
revelation was. leaving the precious
document OF the table. He had hardly
moved when n hand reached out from
behind the portiere over the closet.
took the paper quickly. substituting
another IN Its place. n then a man
emerged from his hiding. and slipped
out OF the room without being heard
by the others. deep In whispered con
versation. II was only after he had
gone hat Ellison suddenly rose. and
changing h calm tone In which he had
been speaking. brought his hst down
on the table with n bang.
IT'S no use, Mr.. what's-your-name.
your attempting TO bully me. I don't
believe In h existence Of the cop os
the agreement"
But you saw Il before your eyes?'
II never say anything OF the kind
II laid II out before you. Here Il
Is" and. reaching over. he picked UP
the paper that had been placed there
and opened Il. while Ellison seemed TO
enjoy his surprise.
THAT terrifying document! Where
In itg' he exclaimed. displaying n Wild
hilarity as Job opened the paper ne
had picked up and showed that IL was
blank.
Now. thrn." harshly. what do you
mean To yo. you scoundrel9 You
threaten me with your pieces OF blank
paper"
Job had retreated To the door. He
showed evidences OF fear at the others
vehemence.
1T was not n blank piece OF paper
that I showed you. Mr.. Ellison: IL was
merely n copy OF the original. which
your confederate gathered In. and
which he II privileged TO keep" and
then. with a laugh. he opened the door
quickly and went nut.
CHAPTER Nil.