The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1894-01-04
De Clancy waved his hand. Thi

De Clancy waved his hand. This
was an old habit of DE Clancey's
when anything of Importance had TO
be settled and l knew that it settled
me for the night.
MY dear boy" he replied. 'your
orlef residence in Boston has evi.
IDENTIFY made you forget the use of a
latch.key. Here, 1 give you mine,
now" and he took one from several
others on his key-ring and passed it
over TO me. "AS for the trouble"
ne continued, 'that's all nonsense.
0 know it's a pleasure for us. isn't
it, my dear?:"
l accepted the kew with a mild pro.
test, inwardly glad, however. that
luck mad done SO much for me, for it
occurred to me almost instantly that
L would sleep late in the morning
and would breakfast some time after
DE Clancy vas obi ed to leave for
business, and the prospect Of break
fasting with Mrs. DE Clancy was
very agreeable to me. Although
quiet, Mrs. DE Clancy is a charming
woman, particularly in a tete-a-tete.
She is one of those m who shine
best when there is no third person
present. l had proposed to her twice
before she married De Clancy and
never quite understood why she pre-
ferred him, but this never interfered
with u friendship. Indeed, l think
10 olVuaNS tiknI pno bo<ko,
for it.
In a moment after leaving the
restaurant we were at the Morrell-
TONS, and so busy were we laughing
and chatting that it never occurred
TO any of us as anything peculiar that
DeClancey, in the most natural way,
should unlock the door for US. 1
thought Of it attcrward, however,
in a way that did not reflect much
credit on DeClancey's intellect.
The ball was a great success as in
deed the Van Blumcr affairs always
are, and Maude was especially nice
to me. 1t is true that she rejected
me again, but her $40" was not so
imphatic as IN three former occas-
ions and l was not the least bit dis
couraged. / felt that it was only a
question Of time now, and l was Goa
tent to wait. Maud introduced NE
to a bowling swell named Castleton,
who, when we broke up at 3 in the
morning, insisted on my getting into
his coupe and being driven around
to my quarters for the night. Here
| must confess to Il little deception,
though not in any way wishing to re-
tle I on the DeCIanceyS, who are
charming in every way and the best
OF friends | have. But | told Castle
ton to take me around to the Wal
dorf, and when his coupe had van
ished around the corner | set out to
walk to Mrs. Morrellton's, for the
fact is | didn't want Maude's friend
to know that l was staying at a
clearinghouse.
AS l remarked before, l am natur-
ally delicate, and as l inserted the
key in the door of Mrs. Morrellton's
establishment L was very sleepy and
tired from the long hours of dancing,
and a peaceful smile played over my
face as | thought of the little bed
that was waiting for me upstairs. |
have had a large and extensive *
perience with latch keys, and l did
not expect this particular door to
open at once. First l inserted the
key right side up, then up-side-down.
Then l turned it both ways, first
softly, then quickly. Then l tried
the other door, found a key-hole
there, and repeated my experience.
When l grew tired of one door l
would try another. Finally l lighted
a match and looked for another key.
hole, but there was none, so l sat
down on the doorstep for a moment
to think. At this moment it became
at once apparent to me that two men
were watching me from the gloom OF
a neighbOring house and while l was
debating what had best be done l
saw the Waterman sauntering along
slowly, swinging his club. l retired
within the storm door, from which
point of observation l presently saw
the two men hold a whispered con
sultation with the guardian Of the
peace. To retreat was now imposSl-
BILE, so l boldly a advanced to the step,
and in my most scif-possessed name
| called out: 'Oficer, will you kindly
see what you can do with this key:
For some reason or other it doesn't
work"
The watchman approached, while
the two men stood in the background.
He silently tried the key, lit a match,
examined it,, and then he turned on
me. "OhO," said he. so this is
your little game, is it? Well, you
are a cool one, young Teller, you'll
have to go along wild me to the sta
tion-house."
What do you mean?" said |,
with your impertinence. Can't you
coo Pm a gentleman? The idea of