Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1886-05-15
CHAPTER XIX
mAunv r

OF course, so soon as alone I regretted bit
terly my at parting toward Blanche,
and spent q large portion Of the night in
imaginary interviews with her, in which I
acted more nationally inc smoothed over all
my roughness. I resolved to sec her as early
as possible next day and acknowledge to her
my error. But the doors Of our to-morrows
are not always those Of our to-days, and may
open on far different scenes and events, on
which or in which, despite all our effort or
inclination, we must either gaze or partici-
pate.
Broener arrived early that morning. I
knew that a surprise was in store for him
and wondered how he would take it. knew
that he had been disappointed at not finding
Blanche at Marysville, and least Of all ex-
pected to find her at Bull Bar. He showed
no signs Of chagrin, however. This was
characteristic of him. 1t was his philosophy
that care, vexation, trouble of any sort or
from any cause, were all foes to be fought of
and beaten off as speedily as possible. "The
actual event, F." he said, was quite enough. All
dwelling in thought upon it afterward was in
substance a recreation and repetition of 1t.
Switch the mind off on some other track and
put the trouble out of sight. It a be done
by training"
OF Blanche's presence l said nothing. He
would visit Pratt and find out for himself.
Concerning my capture and the events of
the night I told him in the briefest possible
terms. OF the manner of my release l said
simply, II got away" That left a large
field for conjecture. He saw that I preferred
to remain reticent and did not question me.
Uncertain as were our social relations toward
each other We had reached that fortunate
condition where each knew to a hairs
breadth where the other desired to stop at
/ self-revelations, and acted accordingly.
Soon after breakfast he went over to
Pratt's. Despite my misery I was half
amused at a thought thus shaping itself:
"Well. the drama progresses. l wonder
| what figure will be disclosed by the next
turn of tho kaleidoscope" I had uncon-
sciously absorbed something of Broener's
| philosophy. "No matter what happened, y
lie said, "a man who had brain enough could
always find something of interest In noting
that no two of life's pictures were exactly
alike, aud that, as regards incident, event or
| situation, every day for such a mar had some
new shade Of color"
He returned in about half an hour, sat
down awhile, pared his nails carefully, and
finally remarked: ''This world is all q fleet
ing show; but, nevertheless, a very interest
| ing one. I wonder which way the cat will
Jump next. At the same time, how monot-
| onous it would be if the cat jumped the same
way every time"
I could not help laughing in spite of all.
eyes," he said, as If in reply to a remark Of
mine, II agree with you, Holder. Out of the
nettle trouble we will find flowers of recrea.
ton, If not of resignation"
wondered for whom he meant the term
resignation" The man had sometimes two
and even three meanings for some of his sen.
fences, which it might take days, even weeks,
to make out.
"How is PrattF' l asked.
"To the ordinary Defeating mind of Bull
Bar" he replied, ''the professional pill-ped-
der, who practices the solemn scientific over
him included, be is no better. To one like
myself, a few degrees higher than they in the
plane of intelligent animal development, he
will eventually mend aud recover the small
fragment Of mind vouchsafed him by-well,
the Infinite: oh, woman, in her hours OF
ease,' etc"
A horseman rode up 10 the cabin door and
called out: ''Does John Holder live herea"
II am John Holder" I replied, coming out.
This WIS a deputy sheriff with a warrant
for my arrest on q charge Of assault with in
tent to kill Jedediah Pratt.
A6hto A1yooA up d1u oShoO u IA0 OllCeI
as q favor that 10 would make no parade OF
me as his prisoner on the Bar. I desired
above all things not to make any semi-dram.
a1lc departure IN Jnls SITUATION before
Blanche, or give her any notice of it what
ever. II have friends" l said to him, ''liv
ing near by, and l don't wish they should
see me-"
II will be responsible for Mr.. Holder, " sale
Broener.
IAN right" said the deputy. "You wan
to get away quietly, 1 know. I'll wait To-
you up yonder, where the trail turns up tn
mountain
81 will 60 with you and give bail for you
appearance" said Brooner.
"No," I said; I'm going to jail"
II wouldn't do that, " he replied. "First
there isn't the least necessity for it. Secont
it will hurt your case. Appearances go
long way here, and to go to Jail is to p,
yourself In the position before the communit
t Of man without money and without friends
"Well," I asked, ''what matters that
r long as l am innocenti"
ut matters a great deal, " be answere'
"from the point of view that law is dealt o,
here-or elsewhere. Plate sin with oro,' ye
know, and the lance Of justice harmle
4 / brA0kA Clotha Il in rara. n ni1mv,a akra