The Charles Mix new era. (Wagner, Charles Mix County, S.D.) 1???-1911, 1907-10-25
& rENIrfORL COOPER

creased 10 such . iegree that the d.
mayed honsekeeper .cnt 4 frnant boy, who
bad shut up himself with them during
the combat, TO the IOcusts. Ia quest Of q
~corEpanion to cheer her soIitude. Crmr.
nlone. could be spared. and. loaded with
eatables and cordiais by the kind~hearted
Miss Peyton, the black had been dispatch
nj o n this daty. The dying man was
past the use Of medicines, and his chief
anxiety s~~fned to centsr In Z meeting
WIKI his child.
lis he alises" asked Birch. sremulous
~. AZ be snfered the house. and seeming
ly afraid to receive the nsw
Surely" said Katy. rising hastily, he
must live It'd day. or ill the tide il down"
Disresarding all but the fact that his
father still lived. the peddIer stole gently
Into the room of his dying parent. The
tis which bound the father snd son was
Of no ordinary kir.i. La tbs wide world
they were all to cach other. Al one blow
competence and kindred had been swept
from iaeni. and from that day to the
present hour. persecution aud distress
had followed their wandering sseps. APP
preaching the bedside. Harvey leaned his
body forward, and, ia q voice nearly ciok-
ed BY his feelings. he whispered near the
ear Of the sick:
Father, do yon know me:
The parent slowly opened bis eyes, and
\ smile Of satisfaction passed over his
pallid features. leaving behind 1t the i'm
preston Of death, more awful by the con
traHt. The peddler applied n restorative
to the rarehed iiGs Of the sick man. and
fer a few minutes rev visor seemed inn
parted 10 his frame. He spoke. bur slow
~, and with difficulty.
My SON" said the father. in a hollow
voice. God Ia az mercifai as he IL Just
II ! threw the cup OF salvation from my
lips when q youfii, he graciousIy offers 1t
~ me in mine age. lie has cbassised to
paris, and ! 90 to join the spirits of our
lost family. In n little while, my child.
yon will be alone. ! know yon too well
not 10 loresee gon will be a pilgrim
through life. The bruised reed ma en-
dure. bat IL will never rise. Yon have
that within you, Harvey. that will guide
you Alright perseyere, as you ha ve begun,
for the duties of life are never to be neg
le~etcd--and'-A noise in the adjoining
room interrupted the dying man. and the
impatient peddlrr FASTENED 70 learn the
cause, followed by Katy and the black.
The first glance Of his eye on the figure
In the doorway told the trader but too
we'll his crrand. and the fate that probably
awaited himself. The intruder was a man
still young In years. but his lincaments
bespoke a mind long agitated BY evil.
passions. His dress was of the m.anest
materials. and 80 ragged and unseemly
ns 10 give him the appearance Of studied
poverty. His hair was prematurely whit
e,ied, and his sunken. lowering eye avoid
ed the bold. forward look of innocence.
This man was q ~weil-known leader Of one
OF those gangs of maranders who insest-
ed the county with n sembiance of pat
riotism. and who were guilty OF every
grade OF ~ofense, from simple theft up to
murder. Behind him stood several other
figures clad in a similar manner. but
more than the indifference of brutal in
s~ensibili.y. They were all well armed.
Harvey knew resistance 70 be in vain. In
the twinkling of an eye both he and
Caesar we're stripped of their decent gar
ments, and made to exchange clothes with
two of the filthiest Of the band. They
were then placed In separate corners of
the room. aud. under the muzzles OF the
mnskcts. required faithfully to answer
such in~tcrrogatorics MS were put To them.
Where il your pack?" was the irst
| question to the pcddler.
Hear me-" said Birch, trembling with
agitation lin the next room is my father.
now in the ~agonies OF death let me 90 TO
him. receive his blessing. and close his
| eyes. and YOU shall have a~ll--all. ALL"
Answer me as | put the question, or
this musket shall send you to keep the
old driveller company: where is your
| pack?"
Birch told. and a man was dispatched
Ia quest Of the booty he soon returned,
throwing the bundle on the floor. swear
ing 1t Wal ~ light ~ feathers.
"Ay." cried the leader, there must be
sold somewhere. Give us your gold, Mr..
Birch: We know you have It: you will
not take continental, not you."
"You break your faith" said Harvey.
'Givc us your gold" exclaimed the 9TH
er, ~furiously. pricking the peddler with
his hayonet until the blood followed his
pushes 10 streams. AT this instant 4
slight movement was heard in the adjoin-
ing room, and Harvey cried. imploringly !:
Let me--let me 60 to my father, and
you shall have ALL"
II swear you shall 60 them" said the
Simmer.
-Here. take the trash" cried Birch. ~
he threw aside the purse. which he had
contrived 10 conceal Notwithstanding the
change Ia his garments. "Father! hush
father! l come-l come" he darted by
hiA keeper, and Was the next moment
pinned to the wall BY . hayonet. Fortu-
nately hia quick motion had caused him to
escape the thrust aimed At his life. and
II was By his clothes only that he wal
confined.
NO. Mr.. Birch" aid the Skinner. I'VE
know you too well for n slippery rascal.
to trust you cut Of niKht-your gold. your
gold4 Where il your hoard. Without II
You will never re your father"
'Remove the stone underneath the WON
an" cried the peddlcr. eagerly. and you
win find that which will make you rich.
End mr. = h%TKar."
And then you will BE- despi~aMe." aid
| Inc hongakeefrr bitterly. ~ ,sddler