The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1909-07-22

IS about the place. and half the straps
In the harness
Amos took the lantern and poked into
the barn ~cautiosuly. In an old stall,
tied cruelty to the manger and the side
rails SO he could neither sit nor lie,
stood a powerfully built man swathed
like q mummy in ropes and straps.
Amos raised his lantern and looked him
over much as ne would the ma~n-eater
in n 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, I s'pose / could" He
continued his examination, cooking the
lantern this way and that critically.
Here, loosen this rope IN 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 a O 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, RUDE He lowered his
voice confidentially. n spoke in oily
OAAOs - w RGhAI " .tW
Five hundred what2'
Plunkers-greenbacks-dollars Five
hundred dollars"
"You bet / 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 I can get 'em
off, and I'll pay you five hundred doll
lars"
"Give me your note. or send a reg
istered letter."
mo, the moneys in your hands, v
cry dollar of 1t, before you unite a
single rope"
Shot Then you must have It 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, / hain't got IL with me-"
II kinder 'sposedf you hadn't"
But 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 cal loads of calves, but I amt green
clean through"
Here, walt. TIL tell yeh what I'll
do. You unhitch me so I can walk
you needn't unite my hands, and Til
show you where II is. Then, when
you've got 1t, you can unite me and I'll
skip. Seer" T
What sort of place is it hid in?"
tits a cave and not a great ways
SIS 1t cash? Legal tender? Green
backs? Gold bricks?"
IT'S 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 IL you don't. Now you mention
1t ! do need five hundred pretty bad,
but / guess you'd better stay right here.
I've, heard tell about that cave, and I
reckon I'll try II. I'm kinder 'fraid
you'd ketch cold goin' in there with
your hands tied" Amos climbed delib-
erately back over the rail.
Say, I'll double 1t. Come on Rube.
You won't find 1t II you do go in there.
Can't nobody but me find It."
"Oh, don't worry. TIL find 1t all right.
I'm awful good on finding things; you
hain't got no idea. Say, IL one leg gets
to achin' 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 q moment.
How does she seem to be?''
"She amt conscious yet. Not much
hope"
Say, les you and me go into that
cave. That Teller in the barn says It's
chuckfuil Of money and postage
stamps"
"Ail right: we may catch that other
man. Wait till 1 get that revolver"
At that instant a harsh voice rang
them, causing both men to jump con-
vulsively.
Halt there! Throw UP your hands.
Up with EN-, or I'll shoot. Automati-
cally they obeyed.
Jim Farthing, I arrest you in the
name of the law" The sheriff stepped
quickly forward Inc slipped on the
puffed into the circle OF light.
You here. Amos? with him? Why,
what does this mean?"
Il come down with Ms FarthinR. 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
Loney Heller that run over the ridge
with the boys. She hid 'em in a cave
down here in the Run. There was some
men in it, and they shot her."
Gave? You're raving crazy. Amos
The Squire came near and looked
curiously up into his face.
ITS Gods truth. The doctors In
there now, and the one that shot Loney
is here in the barn, tied. IL you don't
believe 1t. you come and look at him.
They followed him into the barn. The
| man stood sullen and defiant and made
no reply to the Sheriff's questions.
(Contiaued Next Weskl
A WoEnan's Way.