The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1905-10-26

few knew that the house In the garden
was occupied. So IL was that he Eel.
genuine pleasure In his retreat. for IL
seemed to afford n refuge where he
could pursue his task without fear. and
where he hoped. for the present. no one
could Ind him out. To make matters
safer. he had taken the precautions 10
change his appearance. 80 that ever
the worthy innkeepCr at Exton would
have had trosblc In recognizing his
former guest.
so far Hendricks had not been sue
cessful In his efforts To trace the man
who had written the lcttcr-thc torn
envelope OF which had been treasured
ever since. IL bore a New York post
mark. md he hoped that the writer
was still In own though II might be
otherwise. AZ least he might possibly
come across one who knew where n
was TO be found. Though SO far he had
accomplished nothing. ne still had
hopes. n man OF the type he was seek
ing must In timc be found ~ he was iH
the city. Those OF his class belonged
to certain groups, and. however. myH-
terious their movements. their pres
cncc In a place was always know.
job had returned one evening worn
out with his search In the lower part
OF the city. had finished his humble
supper. which he had brought home
tn a paper bag. me had been mapping
ON his cot. when an unusual sound In
the empty rooms below him attracted
his attention. He jumped 20 his feet.
and. setting the candle on the table be-
hind him. opened the window and
pcercd out on the deserted garden. \
faint moonlight lay over the ragged
berry bushes along tho walks. and on
the pile OF wood that was n most on
splcuous decoration and rose like n
funeral pyrc In the center OF the grass
plot.
That's queer he mutiercd. drawing
IN his head. Not a person In sight.
and certainly I didn't dream that l
heard that noise"
He took another peep out OF the win
dow ana closed II softly. shaking his
head.
Must be in the housc-wondcr " n
rat could make = noise like that? Tho
bcggars do grow pretty big In these
parts. All, there II Is again-and comes
form those rooms below. l suppose
must look into this n Bit n h
sighed 20 think that perhaps ne was
not ~ enjoy his peaceful little abode
much i~ongcr-that some n had found
him out.
lie took his revolver OUT OF his
pocket. examined a. carefully to see
that II was In working order. n then,
holding IL In one hand and carrying the
taNNAAlAN Jul INV 'AAA'As 'lfAA'N NAs' NA'FA
lending TO the stairs and went down. II
was very quiet below as he paused NJ
the last step To listen. He heard a
sCurTSing sound I'm the wall. but there
was nothing 10 be- alarmed about Ga
that: 10 was n mans step he thought he
had heard In the first place. After 4
moment ne stepped onto the floor N
swung the cundl around, 10 get a good
view OF the place.
I,,ys ua IA. lIl fhIa ha Nrua anlHgpIp
conscious OF heavy breathing close be-
side him. and AT the same time the pis-
toll was suddenly snntchcd out OF his
hand.
II was done 40 quickly that for n
moment he felt stunned. then turned
about To- rrappic with his opponent:
but the candle went out, and the out
stretched hand only famed the empty
mir. He stood there unarmed. not ar
ing 20 move. lcst he should bctray his
whereabouts. and give this unseen foe
"a chance 20 locate him for a shot. so he
stood silent and was considerably sur
pTiscd to hear not the crack Of an cN-
ploding cartridge, but n cnckliug laugh.
that In thc silence OF the place sound
cd so weird that II even startled him
from his usual condition OF calm !mper-
durability.
Who are you? What are you doinE
here" he called out.
Just wait until I get this candle
guin'. and I'll make myself known"
said the man he could not see, and nj
the same time jon heard u sCraE!ng
sound as II the other was tryiuE To iiul
the candle. This hr was able TO do. for.
after "A moments hunt. the candle was
lit, aud out of the gloom a shutting fig
urr appeared. Job took the candle. out
OF his hand and held the light up To tn
mans face. II was not a handsome
face into which he pecred. The fellow
had dotted "A ragged hat that he might
show his ~eatu-es better. His hair de-
seconded In ragged wisps about hiss
hungry and "cadaverous face, h being
unshaven, seemed s%prinkled with coal
dust. His dark eyes set In deep hol-
lows. wore "A half amused expression.
while his lips were parted In n grin
that disclosed a double ROY OF yellow
and uneven teeth.
"Oh. it's you. en-" grumbled Hen
dricka.
You know me-Jebbs-do you? Al.
I thought you would" and the trangrr
broke out into a cnckling laugh again.
Here's yer pistol" said he. handing
| over the weapon. Gave We "A Jolly scare,
that's what l done"
'"Nonsense-come up stairs and say
What you have TO say" and Job. an
gered at the way he had been treated,
| led the WHY III Nv NAtRHs lhA' Nv
other. evidently conscious that IL would
not do To anger his host further, fol-
lowed him slowly.
Now. how did you come To find me-
asked Hendricks, as he set the candle
down on the table and eyed his guest
with anything but an nmiablc look.
We'll. I see you several times OF lat"
In the street. and somehow q slipped
away fore I could catch up with you
Tonight / had better luck
Hunt" Then, going To n box In n
corner OF the room. which he evidently
used for a closet. he took n bottle from
II and a plate OF bread n meat, and
set them down on the table before his
guest. Job did not attempt To speak
again. as he watched the mar fall on
the food like "a Wild animal. n II was
only when the last crumb had been de-
voured and the bottle emptied that he
venturcd la say:
why did you come I'm like a thief"
Il wasn't sure you was In. "a /
wanted To surprise you" with a grin.
when I see you come down I'm the
lark with that pistol In hand ! was
feared you'd plunk me fore I could
make myself known. n so I had To
take IL from ye. Hope youll excuse me
for that. We might have killed me by
mistake. and then an explanation