Sioux County pioneer. (Fort Yates, Sioux County, N.D.) 1914-1929, 1920-12-23
The Missing
Witness
By VICTOR RADCLIFFE

By VICTOR RADCLIFFE
AeoooooeooeeeoeooeooeoooG
(@. 1855. Western Nswspspsr lUnion.l
A sudden gust Of wind nearly swept
Victor Lloyd OF his feet. With q shiv-
er and whang the umbrella he car.
ried turned inside out and he cast It
away, wreck. The first drops Of rain
struck his face. He started to run,
making for the only house In view just
beyond bridge spanning a narrow
stream. Midway across the structure
q second vagary Of the rising breeze
raised his hat from his head, whirled
It aloft and then to the surface Of the
river and in dismay, unable to recover
It. Lloyd saw It submerged.
The suit he wore was q light one,
his shoes were low cut, a drenching
BODIED wretchedness and disaster. He
had wandered beyond the city limits.
The nearest refuge was the house he
had noticed. Bareheaded he dashed
through its. gateway, halted under a
tree for moment or two, and then
as the rain came down in real earnest,
slantingly assailing him on all Sides,
Lloyd made for covered porch. Even
there. however, the downpour pene-
trated.
+ perhaps you had better come In
side," spoke a silvery voice.. and the
screen door was pushed half open and
q sunny face invited with friendly
smile. Lloyd's hand went mechanical.
" to his head to lift the hat that was
not there. The girl could not repress
light laugh. Lloyd Joined in 1t, en-
tered hallway, followed his guide In
to neat little parlor and ruefully re-
marked:
II am bringing in some wet" and he
hesitated as to taking chair.
'Do not. mind that replied tho
young lady. II you would help mo
close the windows. The rain is beat
ing in on all Sides" and with alacrity
Lloyd sprnng to the task invited.
He was not sorry now that he had
lost his hat, for in way he had lost
his heart to the vision Of loneliness
before him. She was the most, win.
some creature he had ever met, and
treated him as though amid her lone
illness she was glad to have a visitor
to alleviate the tedium.
Their conversation was only gen.
eral, but from the same, Lloyd learned
that her father was a merchant, in the
wholesale quarter Of the city, and he
,knxl Inf -
broker In the financial district.
II have intruded too long already"
he observed after delightful half
hour. The storm has passed and the
sun is coming out"
"You have been very welcome"
spoke Inez Bolton. "But you cannot
60 back to the city hatless. will SEQ
IL I cannot find something that will
answer in the way Of headgear until
you reach home"
The young lady left the room and
returned with Z hat evidently belong.
ing to her father, but when Lloyd tried
1t on he found 1t too large. His fair
companion brushed It neatly, went to
a desk and selected what seemed to be
several circulars from q drawer, fold.
ed them and plsted them In the lining,
aud Lloyd declared that the At was
perfect. si3s 81
u will have the hat returned with
many thanks" he told Miss Bolton.
II hope we shall meet again"
II hope 20. too" she replied readily,
and Lloyd went home with pleasant
thoughts and anticipations. He got
the hat ready to return BY a messen.
ger. Removing the folded papers and
placing the hat In a box, he CHANGED
to notice that they were printed cir
culars. all alike.
aWhy, this L. queer !" exclaimed
Lloyd. M
What he held In his hand was evil
IDENTIFY circular sent to lawyers In
various cities containing q description
Of one Mark Steele. and signed BIZ
Robert Bolton. It stated that Steele
was q missing witness In I: most Inn
!! portant law case and offered q rsWard
for his recovery.
"And I know the mansaw him only
last year when was camping out IN
/ Idaho. Name and description exactly
tally. Why, here - certainly an ex.
cuse to hasten back where ! came
from and learn Il my knowledge viii
b OF any benefit 70 the father Of that
delightful little Miss Bottom e IS
Il was . Siadsome return journey
that Victor Lloyd made, because hs
i hnsNad StlYet ;lfn rAaulta .,vnnld hrin1 MIR,