Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1906-10-25

Of life, either on land or water, save
for the distant nufled sound OF the
steady beat OF tug, working heavily
down stream
Il can't leave him here; for the
body to be discovered would spoil ev-
erything. And it wouldn't be particu-
larly nice for Philip Crowdy to be
discovered with Dandy Chater's pri-
vate possessions in his pockets. Now
what's to be done?"
The perprexing question was an
swered for him in an unexpected way.
The beat Of the tug sounded nearer
and louder, and he saw the CLEAN OF
the light which hung from it's fun
mel. Behind it, towering high in the
darkness, was great vessel, which 1t
was dragging manfully down the river.
While the man stood there, idly and
mechanically watching it, with his
dead likeness lying at his feet. there
came a sudden disturbance in the
water; great wash from the river
swamped up all about him, SO that he
turned, and ran back hurriedly a few
PAGES, out of the way Of it.
When he looked again at the spot
where he had stood the body was gone.
Some of the timbers, too, among
which it had lain were washing about
and crashing together at short dis
lance from the shore. The man ran
to the very edge of the water and
strained his eyes eagerly in search for
something else beside timbers; but
the darkness was too profound for
him to see anything clearly and al
though he ran along the muddy bank,
first to right and then to left, he could
discover nothing. He stood alone, In
that desolate place, and the dead man
was undoubtedly being hurried, with
the timbers among which he had
fallen, down the river toward the sea.
Presently the man seemed to real.
ize the full significance of what had
happened. touched the papers in his
pocket, and stood staring thoughtfully
at the ground for a long time.
There is some strange fate in this"
he muttered to himself Tonight, by
accident, l took the place Of the real
Dandy Chatter for a few hours; now
I'll take his place-not by accident,
but by design Dandy Chatter is dead
and gone! Yes, Dandy Chatter is dead
but long live Dandy
Chater!"
With these words the man turned
quickly, hurried up the alley-way into
the street, and set off as rapidly as
possible in the direction of London.
1t was SO late that all public vehi-
cles had ceased running, and the rail.
way station was closed. He did not
care to excite attention by charter
ing a cab to take him to London, and
he stood for some time in one OF
the main streets, now almost deserted,
wondering what he should do. The
appearance Of small coffee house, on
the other side Of the street, with the
announcement swinging outside that
beds were to be let there, attracted
his attention.
Can have bed here?" he asked.
The man looked him up and down
for D moment in silence, removed the
pipe he was smoking from his lips,
blew long stream of smoke into the
air, and finally CALCULATED: Gave
yer pick of the w'ole bloomin' lot, IL
yer like. It's my private opinion that
there amt anybody a-sleepln' in beds
these times, cept me, an the missis,
and the queen, an a few OF SIGH like
nobs; leastwise, they don't come my
way. Walk in, guv'nor."
Crowdy followed the man into tho
shop-a small and very dingy-looking
eating house, fitted up with boxes
along each side. The sight of the
boxes reminded him that he had had
nothing to eat for many hours; dis,
cussing the matter with the proprie-
tor he found that he could be supplied
with light meal within a short space
OF time. Accordingly he ordered 1t.
aud sat down to await It's coming.
Ito Be Continued.)