The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1896-04-09
CHAPTER IE.-(Continued.)

sing herself. Gracious could not under
stand a word. for the language was
strange. But the air caught his untutore
ear. and he mentally contrasted the low,
rich. ringing notes and the graceful music
with those pot-house strains which formed
tis experience of vocal harmony. Ora
:ious could hardly believe his eyes that
.his gay young seated caresNlngly
on the strangers knee. with one foot
1%aintily beating time to the tune. was the
same who entered the room 50 ppnslNely Il
moment ago. And when the end of the
song came she gave her companion n light
Kiss. The Granger appeared somewhat
Qollifed.
That's better" he said. patting her on
the back. More like that and We shall
be good friends again. But your mop;ns
and musing, and sitting alone won't do:
it's as bad as praying
He laughed uproariously during this
speech. bur his voice thickened al The lat
ter words with drunken indistinctaess.
md he thrust out his hand aimlessly at the
gin bottle. just then Vanity noticed that
the shutter was lying open. She started
10 her feet.
WHO opened the Window" she cried
Il did" he answered tipsily. Il
was like You. listening to the rain
Meanwhile Vanity. who had half sprung
across the room to the window, caught
sight of the retreating face of Gracious
Me.
There is a mSl looking" she shrieked
out. "A man watching us. Be quick.
We are lost"
The shutters fell wide open and she
raised her hand. and Gracious, even in
the terror of his flight. saw the tall man
start from his chair and snatch up the gin
bottle. Gracious. making madly for the
garden gate in the thick darkness. went
head foremost into a gooseberry bush.
Rnd had not recovered his legs before he
saw the gigantic figure of the drunken
man wildly gesticulating around him. Lit
tie Gracious loaped up, and ran from one
bush to another in the extremity Of fear.
the tail man flying after him. The chase
was short. the bottle fell on his head with
a crash, and he dropped on the ground in
sensible.
hen the spy recovered his senses he
found himself stretched on a sofa in Il
room which he soon recognized as the par
Tor into which he had peeped. Beside
nm sat fdiiItN. bul llt ldtdl SIFdletT as
gone. Gracious started and groaned.
How are you now" asked Vanity in
q low voice.
Better. miss, thank you," he replied,
as submissively as if he had been in
hospital.
lyon had better have a cup of tea be-
fore You leave" said Vanity. Then you
shall see how YOU are. and dare say you
can walk home. Do you live far from
here"
Not very. miss; a good bit, though
replied Gracious. He had wit enough to
admit as little as possible.
Vanity brought him a cup of strong
tea. and a plate Of bread and butter.
which he devoured with great rapidity;
and, after Il second cup. he declared he
felt we'll enough to walk home.
What brought you here" asked Van
ity. Gracious saw that she trembled.
THE singing. miss he replied. Il
heard it from the road. and came into the
garden to listen. Is a man to be chivied
up and down for that, and have his brains
Knocked out Of him with a bottle:'
Listen. my good fellow" said Vanity,
laying her hand on his arm. and seeming
more at ease. THAT gentleman you saw
was a friend Of my father. who had been
spending the evening with us. He is
very eXcitable at all times; and tonight
being tired l suppose, he drank a little
freely, and did not quite know what he
was about. He mistook you for a burg
lar. lie felt very sorry when he saw
how much YOU We're hurt. He had Il
hurry away to catch the midnight train
but he left these for YOU"
She held out in her hand three soyer
eigns.
"One thing you have to PROMISE" Van
ity said. You must not say a word abou
what happened here 10 any one. Do 20,
promise me that? and will you be careful
to keep your word: If you do, the none
is yours"
The wretch steadied his villainous fac
ulties for one lie more. Il shall neyel
speak of it while | l~ive-never.'' he re
piled.
Vanity gave him the money. He lef
the house, and she closed the door upol
him. The next morning. when the WON
an with whom he lodged was bathing hi
head, she remarked with great surpris,
that it had been bound up with a lady
pocket handkerchief of fine quality. Whel
she was II away, Gracious looked a
the handkerchief and. noticing that il
tne corner there was marked IS. Barnitt,
ie put it carefully aside. as somethin,
hat might turn out valuable.
CHAPTER n.
The next afternoon Nancy Steele step
ped into my shop.
Il have something very particular t.
,elI YOU, DOCTOR" she said. There is NJ
use in keeping up any affectation, for rea