Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1896-06-11
-THE-
Professors Secret.


| growled the doctor ungraciously.
"Ohi / hope not! But If that is ever
possible 1t is all the more reason why
l should sacrifice any reluctance to
meeting them in order TO show that
the escapade has no serious conse
quence."
DIR. Williams doubted the reluctance.
but he made no retort. Louise and
Amelia came down the steps to meet
them, the former with the key to the
basement door.
IF you will come this way" she
said, you will get to a fire the quick
err"
Her voice shook with the fright the
accident had given her, but Amelia
showed NJ sign of being moved by it
unless the small red spot on either
cheek and the unusually bright CLEAN
in her eyes could be so accounted for.
you are more kind than / deserve,
ladies' said Mr.. Philbrick. II assure
you l am suffering nothing but the
slight annoyance of wet clothes, whose
unpresentable appearance troubles me
more than their wetness. In my own
opinion / could go to the hotel with
perfect safety as / am. but DR.. Will
Jams so emphatically urged that there
was danger in such a course hat l
could not venture to disregard his ad-
vice"
He glanced mischievously out Of the
corners of his eyes at the doctor, who
scowled and inwardly raved at the
mans impertinence. They were en-
tering the basement.
And Prof. Drummond was so insist
emily hospitable," added Mr.. Philbrlck.
"Ah! this is good and no mistake"
and with a SILVER he went close TO the
fire.
miss Drummond,'' said DR.. Will
Jams, conscious that his face was scar
let, this is Mr.. Philbrick. Miss Willis,
Mr.. Philbrick."
II am sincerely delighted TO meet
you, ladies'" sair Mr.. Philbrick, bow
ing with e~xtravagant formality, al
though / could wish that the circum-
stances were more favorable to me-"
Then l won't say that | am glad to
know you returned Louise, whose
agitation had been quickly dispelled
by the strangers lightness of manner
and his evidently sound condition, but
/ will give you a hearty welcome, just
the same"
She held out her hand.
wait a minute" exclaimed Mr.. Phil
brick, and he held both hands over
the hot kitchen range and rubbed them
together until they We're dry.
'Now, If yous' ,a,yap,' Eerelfromhh
Now, if you please" and he held
his right hand high in mocking imita-
ton OF the style OF handshake that
prevails in fashinoable circles, look
out for me garments"
Louise took his hand in the same
manner, laughing hard, and wei she
might, for in his dripping, ~bedraggled
clothes. Mr.. Philbrick, with his lofty
manners, presented a ludicrous spec
tacle.
Now" Miss Willis, may ~ he said,
turning to Amelia with the same ges-
ture.
II am honestly glad to know YOU"
responded Amelia, with a grave smile,
as she extended her hand In the or
binary way.
Mr.. Philbrick promptly descended
from his comicality and shook hands
naturally. DR.. Williams had watched
the little scene without a smile. He
could see no fun in it; he detested
Phibrick cordially, and berated the
mans foolhardy devotion to sport that
Hiu mdue tHlS meetlnS pOSSlDic, anu
had condemned him, the doctor, 10
perform the ceremony of introduction.
Prof. Drummond came in with an
armful Of clothing.
1T will be more comfortable for you
to change here, Mr.. Philbrick," he
said, ''for there's no other fire in the
house. We're not exactly of the same
build, but these clothes will be big
enough for you at all events"
You're awfully kind" responded
Mr.. Philbrick.
The others went upstairs and strolled
into the dining room, which was used
more than any other roo in the house
on account Of the view it's windows
commanded. DR.. Williams then re-
membered for the first time how he
had called Louise by her given name
i'm the moment of excitement, when all
thought that the angler was in peril.
He wondered if she had noticed 1t,
ard il so, what she thought of it. The
doctor was rather embarrassed. the
more so as Louise seemed TO avoid
him and kept her eyes steadfastly
from meeting his. Her diffidence, If
such it was, enabled Amelia TO speak