Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1910-04-29
CHAPTER vIII-(Continued.)

Sdlu.
This admirable person." the old mar
went on, happily striking on the sub
ject again, desired information that
was not disposed TO give, Mr.. Common,
remembering your many kindnesses,
particularly in respect to one Mr.. Vim
MIS-"
Yes, go on urged Conner, and the
face of Vinnis was tense.
II fear there are times when my usu-
ally active mind takes on a sluggish
ness which is foreign to my character
my normal characteristic George was
again the pedant-"when the unobser-
want stranger might be deceived into
regarding me as a negligible quantity.
The admirable young man so far treat
ed me as such as to remark to his COM
panion that there was a rope-yes, dis
tinctly a rope-for the said Mr.. Vim
mis-"
The face Of Vinnis was livid.
And" asked Conner, what happen
ed next? There were two Of them, Were
there?"
The old man nodded gravely; he nod
ded a number Of times, as though the
exercise pleased him.
THE other young man-not the anna
BILE one but another-upon finding that
/ could not rent or hire the rooms-as
indeed l could not, Mr.. COnnor, with
out you permission-engaged me in
conversation-very loudly he spoke, too
ON the relative values of cabbage n
carrot as food for herbaceous mann
mails. Where the amiable gentleman
was at hat moment | cannot say"
II can guess" thought Connor.
Il can remember the occasion WELL"
old George continued, because that
night l was alarmed and startled by
strange noises from the empty rooms
upstairs, which I very naturally and
properly concluded were caused"
He stopped, and glancing fearfully
about the room, went on in a lower
tone.
by certain spirits he whispered
mysteriously and pointed and leered
first at n and then another of the
occupants of the room.
There was something very eerie in
the performance of the strange old
man with the queerly working face,
and more than one hardened criminal
present shivered a little.
Conner broke the silence that fell on
the room.
$50 that's how 1t was done, eh? One
held you in conversation while the
other got upstairs and hid himself?
Well, boys, you've heard the old man.
What dye say?"
Vinnis shifted in his seat and turned
his great Unconditional face to where
the old man stood, still fumbling with
his hat and muttering to himself be-
meath his breath; in some strange re-
gion whittier his poor wandering mind
had taken him he was holding a con-
versation with an imaginary person.
Conner could see his eyebrows work.
ing, and caught scraps of sentences,
now in some strange dead tongue, now
in the stilted English of the school
master.
1T was vinnis who spoke for the as
company.
"The old man knows a darned sight
too much" he said in his level tone.
I'm for"
He did not finish his sentence. Con-
nor took a swift survey of the men.
IF there is any man here" he said
slowly, who wants to wake up at I
in the morning and meet a gem
who will strap his hands be-
hind him and a person who will pray
over him-if there's any man here that
wants a short walk after breakfast be-
tween two lines of warders TO a little
shed where a brand new rope is hang
ing from the roof, he's at liberty to
do what he likes with old George, but
not in this house."
He fixed his eyes on Vinnis.
And IL there's any man here" he
on, who's already In the shadow
of the rope, so that one or two MUIR
ders mor won't make much differ
ence one way or the other. he can do
as he Xix es-outside this house.
Vinnis shrank back.
There's nothing against me-" he
growled.
THE rope" muttered the old man
''Vinnis for the rope" he chuckled to
himself. II fear they counted too i'm
upon the fact that am not al
quite myself-Vinnis-
The mar he spoke OF sprang to his
feet with q snarl like a trapped beast.
"Sit down-you."
Bat Sands, with his red head close
cropped, thrust his chair In the direc-
ton OF the infuriated Vinnis.
What Connor says is true-we're
going to croak the old man. and
we're not going to croak ourselves. If
hang. 1t will be something worth
for. AS to the old man, he's
soft, an that's all you Ear say. He's
got to be kept Close
A rap at the door cut him short.
WIGS that nc whispered.
Conner tiptoed to the locked door.
Who's there?" he demanded.
A familiar voice treasured him, and
he opened the door and held a CONVEX
sation in a low voice with somebody
= l1tTG > a HIGH WIZ WHILE W SGG
he said In explanation. Lock
the door after I leace, Bat" and he
went out quickly.
Not a word was spoken, but each
after his own fashion of reasoning
drew some conclusion from Connor's
hasty departure.
"A full m~eetin'," croaked a voice
from the back OF the room Were all
asked here by Conner Is II a plant?'
That was Bats thought too.
Ne" he said; there's nothin'
against us. Why. Angel let US off last
week because there wasn't evidence.
Connor's straight"
II don't trust him. by God!" said
Il trust nobody" said Bat ~doggedly,
but Connor's straight
There was a rap on the door.
who's there?"
.AIl right!'' said the mufhed voice.
Bat unlocked the door, and Common
I'm.
What he had seen or what he had
heard had brought about a marvellous
change in his appearance-his cheeks
were a duh red. n his eyes blazed
with triumph.
Boys he said, and they caught the
thrill In his voice. I've got
the biggest thing for you-a million