Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1898-07-07
The Doom Of
DeanShQrst..
d


a classic race. but he never backed all
outsider. And he could get a friend
with good expectations out of a tnan-
cial scrape more quickly than any
agent of them all.
If TO these varied gifts there should
be added an irreproaehable exterior, a
well-bred manner and studied act in
the important detail of daily current
expenditure, it will cease TO be a mat
ter OF any great surprise hat stephen
Deane should have kept so well 10 the
front in the scramble called Life.
At Z O'Clock he strolled into the Bur
lington Arcade, his mind fully made
up as TO the line he should follow with
respect TO his newly-found cousin.
Presently he encountered him, looking
somewhat flushed and excited, and
talking volubly to an over-dressed
young woman. who had taken his arm.
''Halloa!' exclaimed Derek. There
you are, Ell? Let me introduce +.
Why. hang ii all, what's the matter
with the fellow?' he concluded, staring
blankly at Stephen, who, with the
curtest possible nod of recognition, and
without a moments hesitation, had
passed them by.
IF that chappie is a friend of yours
remarked the damsel. irately, you can
tell him for me that he's a stuck-up,
bloomin' fraud"
I'll ask him what the deuce he
means by Ii, anyhow vowed Derek,
disengaging himself from her arm and
hurrying off in pursuit.
In a very few curt, plain words,
Gfanhap apIfyhfanad him ssTn no caap
walking here with a girl dressed like
that hooked on to your ARM, is utterly
bad FORM" he explained. Take my
advice and keep that sort Of thing for
the Aspasia."
For a moment Derek seemed disposed
to resent this criticism, and muttered
something about doing as he pleased.
But the stronger will of the elder man
prevailed, and he accompanied him,
submissIvely enough, to the Monico,
where they dined. !.
From that hour the youthful heir
passed wholly under the dominion of
his cousin, whom he found to be by no
means a harsh Mentor. Subject to
some sort of respect for outward APP
pearances. he was rather encouraged
than otherwise TO Ego the pace as fast
as he chose. When his funds ran short,
Stephen obligingly sent him to a
ey-lender, who, despite the fact that he
was under age, was willing to discount
his pOst-obits-for a consideration.
When he and certain other young
bloods of his acquaintance, greatly-dar-
ing in their cups, got into an alterca-
ton with the police at 3 a m, which
landed them all in a police station,
who but Stephen promptly notified by
a cabmanl FASTENED TO release his i'm
prudent kinsman from durance vile,
and contrived to keep the affair out of
court? Derek, In short, came TO regard
him as a yeritable ark of refuge in all
his scraIes and difficulties, and re-
vered him above all men.
Such was the position Of affairs late
In July, 1891, when Oscar Deane ar
rived in London from Jamaica. Eth
er he had benefited wonderfully by
the homeward voyage, or report had
exaggerated the condition of his liver.
for, albeit, obviously not in robust
health, he was by no means the wreck
his brother had expected to see.
In appearance-that is, feature for
feature-he was not unlike Stephen,
though built upon a larger scale. But
there all resemblance ended. A more
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS, straight-going.
and high-principled man than Major
Deane never held the queens commits
sion. He was merely passing through
London upon his way TO C~heltenham,
and consequently saw but little of Der
elk; nor did that little Impress him ia
yorably.
THAT boy is simply going to the
dogs" he told Stephen, i'm his blunt,
soldierly way. His father must be
mad TO allow him to run loose, at his
age, In the West-end,"
"MadT" echoed Stephen. He's as
mad as a March hare, and has refused
to get up for years past, because of
some idiotic prediction that no Deane
of Deanshurst would ever die in his
bed"
Unless and until the estates are
with n laugh. isn't that the legend?
Well, ! fancy this %youngster will make
short work of them as soon as he gets
the chance"
You take 1t very coolly. considering
you come next on the list" remarked
his brother, impatiently. ..Oh. by tile
way, Derek has screwed permission
out Of the old man to bring down a
small party, half a dozen or so, for a
few weeks shooting. next month. /
am rather curious TO see the place, and
intend to accompany him. There can
be no possible objection to your going,
too, IL you care about"
"Oh! I'd enjoy the shooting vastly
rejoined Oscar, land, like yourself, /
should like 10 see Deanshurst, bat l
don't quite like the idea of going there
without an invitation from Sir Derek
himself"
NONSENSE" retorted Stephen. THE
old crank never Invites anybody; he
leaves that to the boy. And surely we.
as his nephews. have a better right TO
be there than young Derek's pot-com-
panions."
WELL" laughed the soldier, do you
go down with Derek first, to spy out
the land and, If you write me that
alrs we'll. I'll follow. later on / must
pay my first visit TO Cheltenham, you
know"
Gall right" assented his brother.
"Tve got the cub fairly well in hand
now, and ! think I'll be able TO manage
the OLD wolf, too, when / see him..
"You always were the clever boy,
SAA - III