Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-12-14

You must hold yourself in readiness to
move out You can command your own.
prices, and you do better work than any
three of us.
Don't tell me how tempting it is. I'll
stay here to look after Dick for while.
He's as cheerful as a bear with q sore head,
but think he likes 10 have me about
him."
The Nilghai said something uncompli-
mentary on soft-headed fools who throw
away their careers for other fools. Torpen-
how flushed angrily. The constant strain
of attendance on Dick had worn his nerves
thin.
"There remains third fate," said the
Keneu, thoughtfu}ly. Consider this, and
be not larger tools than is necessary. Dick
is-or rather was-an able-bodied man OF
moderate attractions and a certain amount
of audacity."
"Ohor' said the Nilghai, who remem-
bered an affair at Cairo. 81 begin to see.
Torp, I'Ta sorry"
Torpenhow nodded forgiveness. "You
were more sorry when he cut you out,
though. Go on, Keneu."
'I've often thought, when I've seen men
die out In the desert, that if the news could
be sent through the world, and the means of
transport were quick enough, there would
De one woman at least at eacn mau oeu-
side"
There would be some mighty quaint
revelations. Let us be grateful things are
as they are," said the Nilghai.
Let us rather reverently consider whether
Torp's three-coraere ministrations are eS-
actly what Dick needs just now. What do
you think yourself, Torp?"
81 know they aren't. But what can do?"
LAY the matter before the board. We
are all Dicks friends here. You've been
most in his life."
"But L picked it up when he was off his
head"
''The greater chance of its being true. I
thought we should arrive. Who is she?"
Then Torperhow told a tale in plain
words, as special correspondent who knows
how to make a verbal precis should tell it.
The men listened without interruption.
SIS it possible that man can come back
across the wears to his calfiove?" said the
Keneu. "Is it possible? %
81 give the facts. He says nothing about
it now, but he sits iumbling three letters
from her when he thinks I'm not looking.
What am to do?"
"Speak to him, said the Nilghai.
"Oh, yesi Write to her-I don't know
her full name. remember,-and ask her to
accept him out of pity. 1 believe you once
told Dick you were sorry for him, Nilghai.
You remember what happened, eh? Go
into the bedroom and suggest full confess
sion and an appeal to this Maisie girl, who
ever she is / honestly believe he'd try to
kill you; and the blindness has made him
rather muscular"
"Torpenhow's course is perfectly clear"
| said the Keneu. "He will 90 to Vitry-sur-
Marine, which is on the Bezieres-Landes
Railway-single track from Tourgas. The
| Prussians shelled it out in 20 because there
was poplar on the top of hill 1 800 yards
from the church spire. There's a squadron
of cavalry quartered there-or ought to be.
Where this studio Torp spoke about may be
1 cannot tell. That is Torp's business. I
have given him his route. He will dispas-
| sionately explain the situation to the girl,
anG she will come back to Dick,-the more
| eSpecially because, to use Dicks words
There is nothing out her - obstinacy
to keep them apart"
And they have e42O year between 'em.
| Dick never lost his head for figures, even in
in his delirium. You haven't the shadow
of an excuse for not going, said the Nilghai.
Torpenhow looked very uncomfortable.
"But it's absurd and impossible. I can't
| drag her back bv the hair.
! Our Dusiness-the business for which we
| draw our money-is to do absurd and i'm
possible thlngs-generally with no reason
whatever except TO amuse the public Here
| We have a reason. The rest doesn't matter.
| shall share these rooms with the Niighai till
Torpenhow returns. There will be batch
| of unbridle1 specials coming to town in
| little while, and these will serve as their
headquarters. Another reason for sending
| Torpenbow away. Thus Provid. &C.. helps
those who helps others, and"-h q. the
| Kenep abandoned his measured speech
I'VE can't have you tied by the leg to
Dick when the trouble begins. It's your
only chance OF getting away; and Dick will
be grateful
"He will-worse lockl 1 can but 60 snd
try. 1 can't conceive woman in her senses
refusing Dick"
Talk that out with the girl. 1 have
seen you wheedle an angry Madieh wom-
l an into giving you dates. This won't be a
tithe as difficult. You had better no. be
here tomorrow afternoon, because the Nil
ghai and l will be in possession. 1t is an
order. Obey
"Dick," said Torpenhow next morning,
''can L do anything for you?"
mo! Leave me alone. How often must
remind you I'm blind?"
Nothing tina: 1 could go for to fetch, for
to carry, for to bring?"
"No. Take those internal creaking boots
of yours away"
Poor chap!" said Torpenhow to himself.
81 must have been sitting on his nerves
lately. He wants lighter step'' Then,
aloud, "Very we'll. Since YOU'RE so indie.
pendent, I'm going off ior four or five DAYS
Say goodby at least. The housekeeper will
look after you, and Keneu has my rooms .
Dicks face tell. "You won't be longer
than week at the outside? know I'm
touched in the temper, but can't get on
without you"
Cant you? You'll have to do without
me in little time. and you'll be glad I'm
gone"
To be continued merit ,ceek.