Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1898-09-08

pause. as though to steady his voice,
have you replicdy'
Yes" replied Oscar. 81 have just
wired that | am going back with you
on the Teuton!c. Why, what on
earth is the matter with you? Surely
the news of the poor old mans coIdi-
ton cannot come upon you as much of
a shockY'
shock repeated Stephen. with a
forced little laugh. "Of course not.
But my nerves are a bit overstrung
just now, and anything in the way of a
surprise seems to jar them somehow.
Stroll back to the hotel. old chap. will
youf l Dave a message to- leave j.lg;h
around the n here
Oscar nodded assent. and Stephen
FASTENED to the cable Office. He tele-
graphed for latest news to Hirst, and
prepaid reply. Then he went in pur-
suit OF Oscar, and overlook him close
to their hotel. Never had his hand
seemed so hard to play as now. He
felt that he could not openly combat
Oscars decision, in the face OF his
mothers telegram, without clearly ex-
posing his w utter selfishness. Had
he not throughout professed to regard
his brothers departure from England
as both foolish and uncalled for? True,
he had contrived. at the same time, 10
egg him on, in his quiet. suggestive
way, but the time was past for sug-
gestions now. The Teutonic was TO
sail next day. and Oscar would doubt
less forthwith secure Il passage, If he
had not done so already.
They lunclled. as usual. together, and
Mrs. Deane's telegram naturally fur
nislcd the conversation. With a won
derful appearance of caring very little
one way or the other, Stephen pro
fessed to doubt the accuracy OF the ne
port.
"When n comes TO think Ii over"
he remarked. airily. "the old fellow has.
to outward appearances, been dying
for years past. and may continue in
the same moribund condition for years
to coine-especially IL there be any
truth In the family tradition. | dare
sny the mater has been misled by some
silly rnmor, or else Here he paused,
to indulge in a quiet hugh.
COR else. whatT' queried Oscar.
We'll. she may be trying on n little
ruse to lure you back. old chap. lila!
hal la"
Oscar failed to see the point Of this
humorous suggestion. II do not be-
lieye her capable of such deceit" he
said, gravely, though, of course, as
you say, she may have been mislei as
to Sir Derek's condition. I sincerely
hope she has"
For probably the first time in his life,
stephen felt inclined to doubt his
brothers good faith. Oscar was going
back upon the strength OF a report that
pressed a hope that the report might
not be true! 1t sounded hypocritical.
And yet, villain though he was him
self, stephen could not bring himself
to believe his brother a ~hypocrite. even
In thought. Was there some other in.
Huence at work, stronger than his
mothers message?
a nance reference OF the hotel clerk
to Oscars two kilograms gave him the
clue to the mystery Of his sudden
change OF front. That Drawers girl
was the real decoy; aud Ii Oscar fell
INTO her hands again, the upshot was
not hard to foresee. Sir Oscar and
Lady Deane of Deanshurst, half-a-doz-
en- children, and he, Stephen, Mr..
Deane (of the Temple) to the end of his
days! To verify his conviction he con-
trived to abstract the other telegram
from Oscars overCoat.
Come back.-Clare, +" he muttcred.
with a bitter oath, as he replaced the
ielltale missiye. AYE, go back TO
your Glare, and leave me to more over
the waste paper you signed as a power
of-attorneyr'
Late that evening Hirst's reply ar
rived. Dying it ran; left side par
alyzed. Come quick, or too Late
HirSt."
Curse the foolt' was his SAVAGE
comment. How can | get back faster
than the mail boat! Paralysis. Ell?
Yes. that means death. and speedy
death mt his age. Shall ! show this to
Oscar? Best not. He might think Ii
strange that l should correspond with
Hirst, and | don't wish him to think
anything do strange.A.. just now
For two days the Teutonie o
tered strong head winds and an I'M
pleasantly heavy sea, which kept most
OF the passengers Including Stephen.
who was a bad sailor down below.
Then the leviathan ran into smoother
water, and it became possible to walk
the deck in comfort.
Oscar, upon whose spirits the home
ward voyage seemed to exercise n
lost cheering influence. and who was.
moreover, quite at home at sea. made
1t his especial care to look after his
less neutrality-suspicious. brother. and
the two were. consequently, well-nigh
in~separable. But. just In proportion
as Oscars spirits had risen, SO had
Stephens u down: and many passen-
gers commented upon the contrast be-
tween the cheerfulness OF the one and
the moroseness of the other.
Upon the afternoon Of the third day
out, the steamer was proceeding, at
barely half-speed, through n dense sea
fog. to the irritating accomplishments
of steam whistles and siren. 1t was
barely possible to distinguish an object
half way across the deck; and the COM
bination OF binding mist. soldering
damp, and ear-splittlng noise had
driven most Of the passengers to the
reading or smoking rooms.
Suddenly there was the heart-stir-
ring cry, Man oyerboardr"