Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1898-09-08
CHAPTER XVI.
'.sInn Overboard!"

"a
Neither of the brothers felt disposed
TO regard the trip IN the light of n holt
day, ard, before the week had expired.
they found the time hanging somewhat
heavily on their hands. Stephens bust
ness had, he explained, been conclud-
cd. with fairly satisfactory results; he
had secured his passage home by the
Tuetonic: and Oscar. after seeing him
off, would be free to proceed to Canada.
stephen was keenly ON the alert to
detect any signs of wavering on his
brothers part; but the latter seemed
more determined than ever to carry out
his plan. and never referred TO Eng
land in his conversation. 1t was as
though he had schooled himself into
centering his thoughts upon the future
to the complete exclusion Of the past.
This was rs ii should be, and Stenhen
felt easy In his Ihind-the more SO as
Luke Brann seemed so far to have
eyaded capture.
The day before the Teutonic was due
TO sail. two kilograms were handed to
Oscar by the hotel clerk. Both were
addressed simply to oscar Deane, New
York, and the clerk explained that the
cable company had t~elephoned half the
best hotels before locating him.
The first he opened was from his
mother, and ran as follows: "Baronet
reported dying. Implore you return
Immediately"
The other was more laconic: "Comr
back.-CIare.''
Stephen Glanced to be out at the mo-
ment, and Oscar had, consequently an
opportunity of arriving Mt an unassjst-
ed conclusion as to the course he
should take. He must reply, of course.
but. how?
The 1act that Sir Derek was believed
10 be dying carried no weight wifi,
him at all. In the ordinary course OF
nature. so very aged an invalid NUS
soon pass away. And IL seemed ridicu.
Iously Inconsistent TO ask him TO aban-
Q his plans and return upon such
grounds; nay, his mother was practi-
cally calling upon him to stultify him
self completely.
But Clare Danyers also babe him
come back: she did not implore she
did not even ask: she simply used the
Imperative. n commanded him 10 re-
turn. Perhaps, had he seen her again
before he left, she would have ordered
him to remain instead of merely aGyis-
ing him, as she had done i'm Kensing.
ton Gardens. And he? Well, he
knew In his heart that. had she SO or
dered him, he must have obeyed her:
he could not have Looked into her eyes
and refused. Could he refuse her now.
albeit the command consisted Of but
two words scrubbed upon a telegram
form?
God help met he muttered. his will
Oscillating wildly between the pridc
which impelIed him onward and the
love which urged Elm back. "Had She
remained silent I could have borne my
punishment in silence. also. But
cannot give her up when she bids me
return to herr
1t then occurred to Oscar that. as
both his mother and Glare were any
iously awaiting replies, no time should
be lost In dispatching them. He sim
ply notified Mrs Deane that he was re-
turning with stephen oD the Teutonic,
due at Liverpool that day week.
Clare's was longer: "Miss Glare Dan
vers, Post Restante, Nice. Am obey
ing you and returning per Teutonic to-
morrow. My sole hope now is that l
have rightly interpreted your two
words. Gcd guard you.-Oscar."
Upon his way back from the cable
company's Office he met Stephen and
handed him their mothers telegram,
without comment. Stephen read it.
fushed suddenly, and as suddenly