The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1909-07-22

is about the place, and half the straps
in the harness."
Amos took the lantern and poked into
the barn c~autiosuly. In an old stan.
tied cruelty to the mango and the side
rails so he could neither sit nor lie.
stood a powerfully built man swathed
X a mummy in ropes n straps.
Amos raised his lantern and looked him
over much as he would h man-eater
in a circus.
Say. for Gods sake. RUDE, can't you
let up a little on some of these straps!
My arms are all dead"
Wal naow, I s'pose I could he
continued his examination. cooking the
lantern this way and hat critically.
Here, loosen this rope on the right,
wont 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 air scoring the fat pig.
The man had once been very good look
ing. He had q square, full face n a
large mustache, but there were marks
Of dissipation in the eyes, and there
We're brutality n weakness about the
mouth and jaw. His reddish hair was
rumpled, giving him a desperate look.
Look here, Rube." He lowered his
voice c~onidentially. and spoke In oily
tone. WAN to carr five hundred?'
Five hundred what?"
Observation-Disclosures Five
hundred dollars"
You bet I do. I'd stand on my head
in a tar barrel for half the money
s"Then here's your chance. You ease
UP on the ropes here so I can get EN-
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
you pocket. Guess. seem you are
pretty we'll tied. Til sorter help my
self. It's hard work to unite knots"
He climbed over the rail into the stall
n put down his lantern.
"Oh, I hain't got it with me-"
81 kinder 'sposed o hadn't"
But I can tell yeh where it's hid,
not far from here"
Pretty slick naow, amt yeh?"
Honest now, that's straight. There's
five hundred, and it's yours the minute
you unite these ropes"
Say. mister, I'm green-greener N
10 car loads of calves. but I 1 amt green
clean through"
Here, wait. I'll tell yeh what I'll
do. You unhitch me SO I can walk
! you needn't unite my hands, and I'll
show you where 1t is. Then, when
you've got 1t, you can unite me and I'll
skip. Seer"
What sort of place is 1T hid in?"
TITS a cave and not a great ways
off"
rs it cash? Legal tender? Green
backs? Gold bricks?"
tits part ash and part postage
stamps, that's just as good. Come
quick now; unite these side ropes. Such
h ~ Io-pt " - TO-
time"
wal naow, o kinder interest me.
darned if you don't. Now you mention
1t / do need five hundred pretty bad,
but l guess you'd better stay right here.
I've heard tell about that cave, and I
you'd ketch cold goin' in there with
your hands tied" Amos climbed DELHI
erately back over the rail-.
Say, III ouble it. Come on Rube.
You won't find 1T if you do go in there.
Can't nobody out me find it."
ooh, don't worry. I'll find it all right.
I'm awful good On finding things: you
hafn't got no idea. Say. II one leg gets
to achfn' too bad. why you jest stand
a while on the other" A squirt Of curses
came from the man, but Amos did not
pause.
There was no one In sight.
He took UP the brush and began to
rub again at the colt, but Jim appeared
after a moment.
How does she seem to be?.'
s h amt conscious yet. MOI much
hope"
Say. les you and me go into that
cave. That Teller In the barn says it's
chuckfull Of money and postage
stamps"
All right; we may catch that other
nan Wait till 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.
Jim Farthing. I arrest you In the
name of the law" The sheriff stepped
quickly forward and slipped on the
handouts. Then Squire Hartswick
pufed into the circle OF light.
"You here. Amos7 with him? Why.
what does this mean?"
I come down with Ms Farthing, and
I've found out some thing sence I'VE
been here, too. Here, Sheriff, I demand
an investigation right off," Amos
pressed eagerly forward. That was
with the boys. She hid 'em in a cave
down here in the Run. There was some
men in it. and 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 one that shot Loney
Is here in h barn. tied. II you don't
believe 1t, you come and look at him.
They followed him into the barn, The
man stood sulien and defiant and made
no reply to the Sheriff's questions.
(Contiaued Nsxs Wsskl
--
Warars. Nav