Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1909-07-23

is about the place, and half the straps
in the harness."
Amos tool the lantern and poked into
the barn c~autiosuly. In an old stall.
tied cruelty to the manger and the sids
rails so he could neither sit nor lie,
stood a powerfully built man swathed
like a mummy in ropes and straps.
Amos raised his lantern n looked him
over much as he would the man-eater
In a circus.
Say. for Gods sake. Rube, can't you
let up a little on some of these straps?
My arms are all dead"
Wal naow, / s'pose 1 could" He
continued his examination, cooking the
lantern this way and that critically.
Here. loosen this rope on the right.
won't yeh? It's pulled tighter n hell.
Say. won't yeh?"
"Wal naow, that depends" Amos
continued his investigation like a judge
at a county fair scoring the fat pig.
The man had once been very good look
ing. He had a square, full face and a
large mustache, but there were marks
of dissipation in the eyes. and there
were brutality and weakness about the
mouth and jaw. His reddish hair was
rumpled, giving him a desperate look.
Look here. Rube." He lowered his
voice confidentially, and spoke I'm oily
tone. Want to earn five hundred"
Five hundred what?"
Observation-Disclosures Five
hundred dollars"
You bet 1 do. I'd stand on my head
In a tar barrel for half the money"
Then here's your chance. You ease
up on the ropes here so / can get 'em
off. and I'll pay you five hundred dol
lars"
Give me your note, or send a reg
istered letter."
mo, the moneys in your hands. ev-
cry dollar Of 1t. before you unite a
single rope"
"sho! Then you must have 1t in
your pocket. Guess, seem you are
pretty well tied, I'll sorter help my
self. It's hard work TO unite knots
He climbed over the rail into the stall
and put down his lantern.
"Oh. 1 hain't got it with me-"
Il kinder 'sposed you hadn't"
But l can tell yeh where it's hid,
not far from here"
Pretty slick naow. amt yeh?"
Honest now, that's straight. There's
Ave hundred. and it's yours the minute
o unite these ropes"
Say, mister, Pm green-greener n
10 car loads Of calves, but / amt green
clean through"
Here, wait. I'll tell yeh what I'll
do. You unhitch me so 1 can walk
you needn't unite my hands, and I'll
show you where 1t is. Then, when
you've got IT, you can unite me and I'll
skip. See?"
What sort of place is it hid in?'
or" ~
rs 1t cash? Legal tender? Green
backs? Gold bricks? ?"
Its part cash and part postage
stamps, that's just as good. Come
quick now; unite these side ropes. Such
chances don't come only once in a life
time"
WAL naow, you kinder interest me.
darned If you don't. Now you mention
1t l do need five hundred pretty bad,
but | guess you'd better stay right here.
I've heard tell about that cave. and 7
reckon I'll try it. I'm kinder 'fraid
you'd ketch cold goin' in there with
your hands tied" Amos climbed DELHI
erately back over the rail.
Say, I'll double ii. Come on Rube.
You won't find 1T IL you do go in there.
Can't nobody but me find it,"
oh, don't worry. I'll FIND Ii all right.
I'm awful good IN finding things; you
hain't got no idea. Say, If one leg gets
to achin' too bad, why you Jest stand
a while on the other" A squirt of curses
from the man. but Amos did not
pause.
AhSlC was ilO OIlc III SIRHt.
He took up the brush and began to
again at the colt. but Jim appeared
after a moment,
How does she seem to be 20"
she amt conscious yet. Not much
Say, les you and me go into thai
That Teller in the barn says it's
chuckfuN of money n postage
stamps"
"All right; we may catch that other
man. Walt till 1 get that revolver"
AT that instant a harsh voice rang
suddenly out of the darkness behind
them, causing both men to jump con-
vulsively.
Halt there! Throw up your hands.
Up with 'em, or I'll shoot. Automati-
cally they obeyed.
of the law" The sheriff stepped
quickly forward and slipped on the
Then Squire Hartswick
puffed into the circle OF light.
You here, Amos? with him? Why,
does this mean?"
Il come down with Ms Farthing, and
found out some thing sence I've
been here. too. Here. Sheriff, I demand
investigation right off," Amos
eagerly forward. That was
Loney Heller that run over the ridge
with the boys. She hid 'em In a cave
here in the Run. There was some
men In 1t, n they shot her."
Cave? You're raving crazy, Amos"
The Squire came near and looked
~curiously up into his face.
IT'S Gods truth. The doctors In
there now, and the n that shot Loney
is here In the barn, tied. II you don't
believe IL, you come and look at him."
They followed him into the barn. The
stood sullen and defiant and made
no reply to the Sheriff's questions.
(Contiaued Mex. Week.l