Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1898-08-25

The old i.sr's wrath was grievous to
witness as he slowly realized the full
extent Of the deception that had been
practiced upon him; indeed. Joe
than onee feared he would have an APP
oplectic stroke. But the parox..sn $
were as hort-lived as they were violent,
and Sir Derek gradually recovered his
wonted cynical, suriy, but withai, self
restrained demeanor. The excitement
OF the disclosures appeared to have Civ
Ell him q renewed lease of life ana en-
ergy. and he paced the room with "a
lirmncss OF tread marvellous 10 behold
In an o~ctogenarian.
.tSo." he mutiered. loud enough 10 be
overheard by the attentive clerk, that
hare-brained boy of mine comes by his
death under circumstances so suspi-
cious as to result in a verdict OF man
slaughter against that woman's eldest
son, and / am hoodwinked into the be-
lief that the lad shot himself accident
ally. The lawyer fellows work, or
course, aided and abetted by that
scoundrel, Hirst. But why should he
be so anxious to keep me in the dark!
Halloa, you, sir. Mr.. Norris"
Morris, Sir Derek. :. Joseph Norris,
at your service corrected the visitor.
well, Norris be il, then. suppose.
being a limb of the law, you're not
averse to earning ESQ for keeping your
own counsel and doing what you're
told without asking questions, Ell"
Certainly not, sir, within honest lin
it's"
"what you have told me has decided
me to undertake a journey which re-
gard as fraught with considerable Ian
ger. | am going TO London, and you
are TO accompany me"
That's simple and safe enough, as
far as | can see" remarked Joe. i've
got my return half in my pocket, my
fly is waiting for me outside, and all
that is needed is u ticket for yourself,
sir"
Keep your COMPOUNDED comments to
yourself. sir.' roared the baronet. See
If you can find me 9 travelling O%yercoat
In the next ROOM"
Joe speedily discovered a costly, sa-
declined coat In the recesses of a huge
wardrobe, and, being furthermore sup
piled with hat, gloves and a gold-heal-
ell cane, Sir Derek announced himself
ms ready for the road. His last care
was to extract a bulky bundle of bank
notes from a writing desk.
Here" he growled, handing Joe one.
Take this on account.
1t was for ESQ, and the little clerks
heart rose within him as he thought OF
all the uses Maggie would find for
those fifty pounds. ION account only.
Truly. his espousal of Alice's cause
was bearing early fruit.
Their rate of progress was slow, eSpe-
cially down stairs, where even Ioes
sturdy arm was pretty severely taxed,
but they reached the hall in due course,
and there they encountered Hirst.
Great Scot" CALCULATED the amazed
butler. surely, you're not a-goins
our, Sir Derek?'
Yes, / ann snapped the master.
Mind your own business, and. b
hanged to you"
AS Hirst subsequently informed MS
wife, u blow from a feather wonli
have Frustrated him upon hearing
these words. He simply looked on in
speechless bewilderment, while the
grinning footman assisted the old nan
into the fly, and was rewarded with
another sovereign from the elated little
clerk. And then Hirst watched he re-
ceding vehicle, with staring eyes, until
Ii was out of sight.
well, I'll be blowed II this amt a
pretty start, and no mistake..' he nut
tered. at length. Il wonder what's up.
That clever Mr.. Stephen seems to have
put his foot in 1t, with all his smart
ness, and the sooner he IN back TO
put things right, the better" Then his
eye fell upon the c%omplacent our NJ
anc. OF the footman, and his wounded
fec iings were soothed by the presence
of SO handy a scape-goat. What The
dickens are you loafing around here
forf" be demanded, sayagely.
Then there befel the eliminating n
dignity of all. For that ~graceless foot
man, ignoring all his former drea1 Of
his omI:potent chief. and mindful only
of his recent humiliation, deliberately
t.eaked his nose, and t~auntingly re-
conn ended him to mind mis- own
business
CH ApTER XIII.