The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1905-09-07

4 ttt
For n moment the two men regarded
each other. Barnett. for the life OF
him. could not remember ever having
seen hat grixzled face before.
II don't know you" he said at length.
thinking hat the man In the tree might
be n newspaper reporter. or n curious
minded fellow who was bent on getting
a look at such n dangerous character.
mo. I know you ont know me-" re-
piled the other. calmly. never taking
his eyes on the young school teachers
face.
what do you WANT"
To do you "A service
But. ~ you don't know mo. what pos
sible interest" began Barnett. n
yet there was an ,hrnestncss about the
man In the tree that ixed his attcn-
ton.
You are In "a close corner young
man" said the stranger.
Did you come here To- tell me ihat?"
mo. ] am going Ia save YOU. " !
can and am pretty sure h - can.
But I can save myself
II sincerely wish you could. my boy.
hut Il may 30 "a long and tedious oper-
alton. and think ! may he able To oil
the wheels az Justice"
Barnett stared at the stranger. won-
dering what sort of n man he had TO
deal with. and why a man he never
raw should take such an Interest In his
case.
who arc you?" he asked bluntiy.
AS I said before. ! am "A man sim
ply who is ready and able. ] think. TO
do you n good turn. What my name Is
don't matter just now. You know that
there Is quite n pile OF cirCumstautial
evidence against your
Yes. SO u seems"
with a foundation tn build III they
may erect n pyramid that WIZ crush
you"
You think so?'' for there was an
earneStness about the range that did
o fail Ia make an impression ON the
school teacher.
Now. justice seldom miscarries to-
the extent OF hanging an Innocent man,
but you may have a good deal OF
trouble before YOU clear yourself OF the
charge"
Barnett's face became grave. He
was beginning tn realize that what the
stranger told N must be- true, and
that his position was fraught with
peril.
There: didn't come here To- dcprcSs
you. but rather I cheer YOU up. my
boy-to point out thnt YOU must not
treat the matter carelessly. / wanted.
too. q make your acquaintance
Was the man madp Barnett, won
dered. but HI dismissed the idea as
absurd, for the stranger spoke scnsibly
enough. and his eyes were clear and
bright. Well. he was not SO burdcned
with friends that he could afford TO re-
fuss the friendly offices ~ even "A
stranger. Perhaps the man was n
type OF those eccentrics that spring up
often when a crime In committed, aud
lend sympathy and funds to the cause
they have espoused.
The fellow might do some good since
he spoke 80 confidently: at least. he
could do no harm. Let this eccentric
: person have his Will. III IL him.
You don't seem to much OF "a pris-
oner. with nothing but those wooden
bars between you and liberty remark
ed the stranger. ~ good wrench, and
out they would come"
AS far as 1 am concerned. they shall
Z remain as they are" said Barnett. Il
, have many privileges here that ]
should lose " 1 tried To escape so !
shall just let matters run along az they
are. confident that, as ! am innocent,
| / need have no fear
And what OF herr"
Thc young man east an inqulSitOriaI
look at him.
/ What do o mean?'
5 Il mean Gracc-Miss Ellison. l should
say. she knows. OF course, what ha'
! taken place"
You know her. them" feeling q fresh
: interest In the unknown.
, mo. | don't know her. but Il IL pos.
| sIble that / may see her. n there IL any
message that l can carry To her coming
from you"
{ Man. II you do that. ! am YOU
. friend for life'" exclaimed the yOunI
school teacher. Just wait and | viii
jot down n few words and he turned
/. hastily away from the window.
! Make haste" called the other IN q
; loud whisper.
: Barnett. filled with "a desire TO SCI
|. down the thoughts hat had been mp
; permost In his mind since the tragedy
, had no trouble In making a start on hi
! letter. TO be- quick and concise wal
: another thing. Though his pen dashe,
, over the paper. a warning Hist" wa
: a notice to draw the epistle To a close
, He folded IL. and. without stopping {,
set down the address. went back to tn,
|, window and passed IL To the strange
by tying IL To the end OF a poke
J which happened 20 b. standing by Tn,
fireplace.
You will be sure and deliver it," n
: said. earnestly. wondering IL he wa
T. doing right In trusting the note To I
man he had seen for the first time II
. ihs life.
: Deliver e.? To be sure / will. unless
should happen TO have an acCidcu
. that would lay me up. Hush! O.
back! There Is some one coming" h,
whispered. wRrningly. n then sudden
: liz dropped out OF the tree and disap
!, peared among some bushes on the othe
. side of the garden.
~ queer character. that" muttere,
: Barnett. as he watched the small maj
disappear. and noted that he was yer!
. agile for "A man Of his years. We'll. h,
: managed To cheer me up. and ! relishe,
= his visit. How did he manage To ge
: into that tree in broad daylight with
: out being seen. I wonder? Evidently
; II not the first time hat he has hat
: occasion TO make a surrcptitiOns call
: I should not be sorry 10 see the old Eel
low again.
, The subject OF these remarks IN,
: wrigsled his way through the denscl!
; growing bushes, just as the Nillag,
: constable came around from the iron
|. OF the house with a party ~ friends
! Job Hendricks, FOR such was the nam,
= the stranger had given To the lnnkccpcr
= ppcrinE over the top Of the hedge
. grinned and waggcd his gray head
: "Ah. there's an ideal keeper OF 4 pris
, oncr 1 wish there had been one OF hi
kind way back In the past. IL Nigh
have changed everything"