Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1916-11-15
CHAPTER vI-(contnued>.

NOW the lanitorS wife who occupied
an apartment somewhat overcl divided,
had sarreptitiousiy borrowed the use of
lhis closet the week before, in order 10
hang therein her sunday gowns. whose
front breadth was covered With grease
spots, thickly overlaid With French
chalk The French chalk had done its
work and removed the grease spots.
and now lay thickly on the floor
Of the closet. but the imprisoned bride
groom did net know that. and he sat
down quite naturally to rest from his
unusual eXertionS. and to reflect on
what could be done next. The immedi-
ate present passed rapidly in review.
lie could not AFFORD more than 10 min
utes to get out of this hole. He ought
TO be on the way to the church at once.
There was no knowing what nonsense
Celia might get into her head if he de-
Aayed. he had known her since her
ch~ifutood. and she had always scorned
him. The hold he had upon her now
was like a rope OF sand, but only he
knew that. Ii he could but knock that
old door down! III he only hadn't hung
up his coat in the closet. If the man
who built the house only hadn't put
such a fool catch on the door,! When
ne got out he would take time to chop
1t Off! II only he had a little more
room. and a little more air! 1t was
stlfllng! Great beads of pe%rspiration
went rolling dow his hot forehead. and
MS wet collar made a cool band about
MS neck. he wondered if he had an
style with him.. II he only could get
out of this accused place! Where were
all the people? Why was everything
90 still? W.-ld they never come and
let him out?
He reflected that he had told the JAM
baggage for two or three weeks per-
naps. but he expected to go away on a
trip this very evening. The janitor
would no think 1t strange II he did
not appear. How would 1t be to stay
here and die? Horrible thought!
He jumped up from the floor and
his howlings n gyrations once
more. but soon desisted, and sat down
70 be entertained by u panorama Of his
past life. which Is always unpleasantly
m evidence at such times. Fin and
ciear IN the rknes OF the closet stood
Oy which he had contrived to be at last
WlEnin reach Of a coveted fortune.
occasionally would come the frantic |
thalght that just through this little
.m!isfap OF a foolish clothespress catch
he. might even yet lose 1t. The fraud
and trickery by which he had an heir
ess In his power did not trouble him
70 much as the thought of losing her.
~ least of losing the fortune. he must
nave that fortune. for he was deep in
dept. and-but h he would refuse to
think. and get up to batter at his pris-
ON door again.
-Four hours his prison walls enclosed
htm. with inky blackness all around
save for q faint glimmer of light, which
marked the we'll Tilted base of the door
IS the night outside drew on. He had
lighted the gas wnen he began dressing |
Tor the room had already been filled
with shadows. and now, ii began to
seem as if that streak of flickering gas
( elght was the only thing that saved him !
from losing his mind.
&, somewhere from out Of the dim shad-
w a face evolved itself and gazed Mt
I'm. q haggard face with piercing hol-
low eyes and despair written upon it.
at reproaci,ed him with a sin lie thought
long forgotten. He shrank back in hor-
TOE ana the cold perspiration stood out
upon his forehead. for the eyes were
the eyes Of the man whose name he
had forged upon a note involving trust
money 10 years before; and the man. a
Qulet. Kindly, unsuspecting creature had
ou!ered the penalty In q prison cell un.
III his death soroe five years ago.
sometimes at night in the first years !
AFTER his crime. that face had haunted |
Atln. appearing at odd intervals when
- wa plotting some particularly shady
meAnS OF adding to his income. until he
resolved to turn over a new leaf.
g actually gave up one or two
pcs sel s nas,1 Is being too interruptions to
fo..ing feeling Of being virtueus. Rnt
= twas long SINCE h face had come.
he had settled It In his mind that the
lsrgory was merely a patch OF wild
Oats which he had sown in his youth.
eo@etning to be regretted. but not too
himself he had grown to feel that Il
Wa more the worlds fault for not civ.
ln1 he wanted than HIS own for