Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1909-08-20

CHAPTER XXI.

INIT of storm In the air ana CLOUDS Tode
swiftly overhead. The voices Of the train
men and the throb of the locomotive, rest
ing for its long climb moun:ainward,
broke strangely upon the silence. "A
great figure mufled in a long ulster came
down the platform toward the vestlbuie
from which the trio had descended.
"Hello," called Raridnn, cheerily,
there's only one like that! Good morn
ing, Bishop"
"Good morning. gentlemen" said Bish-
op Delafield, peering into their faces. Inc
waiting porter took his bags from him.
HAS the boy been found YETI"
NO"
II should have gone on home tonight
IL I had known that. But what are you
doing herey'
Raridan told him in a few words. They
were following a slight clue, and were
going over to the old Poindexter place, in
the hope of finding Grant Porter there.
Saxton was holding a colloquy with the
driver Of the station hack who had come
in quest of passengers, and he hurried Off
with the man to get a blackboard.
The conductor signaled with his Ian
tern to go ahead, and the engine answer
ed with n doleful peal of the bell. The
porter had gathered up the bishops things
and waited for him to step aboard.
Never m.nd," the bishop said to him ;
~ won't go tonight" The train was al
ready moving and the bishop turned to
Raridan and Wheaton. III wait and
see what comes of this"
every well,' said Raridan. "We won't
need our bags. We can leave them with
the station agent"
Wheaton stepped forward eagerly, glad
to have something to do; he had not slept
and was grateful for the cover of dark
ness which shut him out from the others.
When Wheaton went into the station,
the agent eyed him curiously as he looked
up from his telegraphing and nodded his
promise to care for the bags. He remem-
bere1 Saxton and Wheaton and supposed
that !tGy were going to Poindexter's on
ranch business. Saxton drove up to the
platform with the blackboard.
All ready" he said, and the three men
climbed in, the bishop and Wheaton in
the back scat and Raridan by Saxton,
,Jho drove.
The road proved to be in better condi-
ton than Savton had expected, and he
kept the ponies at their work with his
whip. The rumble of the wagon rose
above the mems voices, and they ceased
trying to talk. The bishop rode with his
head bowed on his breast, asleep; he had
learned che trick of taking sleep when
and where he could.
Wheaton felt the numbing Of his hands
and feet in the cold night air and wei
coined the discomfort, as a man long used
TO u particular sensation of pain well
comes a new one that proves a counter
irritant. He reviewed again the grounds
on which he might have excused himself
from taking this trip. Nothing, be ar
gued, could be more absurd than this ad-
venture on an errand which might much
better have been left to professional de-
t~ectives. But it seemed a far cry back
to his desk at the bank, and to the tasks
there which he really enjoyed. In a few
hours the daily routine would be in pro-
Rress. the familiar scene of the open
ing passed before him-the clerks taking
their places: the slamming of the big
books upon the desks a. they were
brought from the vault the jingle of coin
in the cages as the tellers assorted it and
made ready for the days business. He
saw himself at his desk, the executive Of
fcel Of the most substantial institution
in Clarkson, his signature carrying the
banks pledge, his position one of dignity
and authority.
But he was on William Porter's SER
| vice; he pictured himself walking into
the bank from a fruitless quest, but one
which would attract attention to himself,
II they found the boy and released him
safely, he would share the thanks and
praise which would be the reward of the
r~escuing party. He had no idea that
Snyder would be captured and he even
planned to help him escape il he could
do so.
They went forward slowly. The clouds
were more compactly m%Arshaled now, and
the stars were fewer. Suddenly Saxton
brought the ponies to a stand and pointed
to q dark pile that doomed ahead OF
them. The Poindexter house stood forth
somber in the thin starlight.
Saxton gave the reins to Raridan and
jumped out. You stay here and I'll
reconnoiter 4 Bit" he said. He walked
swiftly toward the great barn which lay
between him and the house. There wa.
no sign of life in the place. He crep.
through the barb-wire fence into the cor
raj. He had brought with him a key to
a rear door, and he started around the
house to try it and to make sure that
the house was not occupied.
At the corner toward the river, glass
suddenly crunched under his feet. The
windows were deeply embrasured all over
the house, and he could not determine
where the glass had fallen from. The
windows were all intact when he left, he
was sure. He drew OF his glove and tip
toed to the nearest panes, ran his fingers
over the smooth glass, and instantly
touched q broken edge. As he was feel
ing the frame to discover the size Of the
opening, the low whinny of q horse came
distinctly from within.
He stood perfectly quiet, listening, and
in a moment heard the stamp of a hoof
ON the wooden floor Of the hall. He
backed on toward the drive way, which
swept around in front Of the house, and
waited. but all remained as silent and
as darks as before. He ran back through
the corral to the other men, who stood
talking beside the bbianketed ponies. I
There's something or somebody in the
house." he said. He told them Of the
broken window and OF the sounds he had
heard. 'sWhoever's there q no business
there and we may ~ well . Z him out.
You two watch the CORNERS of the house."
NJ continued. indicating Raridan and
Wheaton .sand you, Bishop, a stand
% herr, II yous win, and watch for signs
@oe light In thesuppef windows. The big
front doers are barred - the inside. and
ayskey opeaa only the hack dporsg
The door opened easily. and John step
- into ~ aowse hall. The ptace wa