Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1898-02-17
CHAPTER VIII.

CHAPTER VIII.
I'm the Uonee-Room of the Colder
Horn.
The Golden Horn was an old-fash.
Toned hostelry-iargcA solitary and
dreary. In its time II had been n
place Of note, for 1t stood on whatghad
been one of the great coach routes:
but, years ago, the route had been di-
verted. and now very little, w Of the
rural traffic OF the district, found it's
way past the doors Of the inn. The
greater part OF the house was unp1rTl-
pied. and the very sight of the de-
serted court yard, and the rows OF chr
taniless windows staring down into
the road, some of the panes broken,
and all OF them dim with the dust of
years. vas enough to deter people
from staying there. The only guests
who slept in the worm-eaten wooden
bedsteads were anglers. who found
the inn convenient for a good trout
stream which joined the Till Il few
miles farther down.
Mrs G0Sling, the ~laHdlady, vas o.
good woman lEsd a great gossip. bat a
poor housekecper, visitors We're never
plentiful. and as il was now the end
III A4fC iS<Art4y Wv "a Ekuu w 4ANk III
the eoffee-rooin. one gloomy autumn
dry, 4 young mags with fishing rod and
basket. who hard evidently walked
over from the station at Pelhurst
Cross. She assured him that che sport
in the Towett was frst4rate, aud that
IL it did rain that afternoon. the water
was sure % be in grand condition. next,
day.
But tire visitor, who was none ether
than Frank Lester. seemed to be tired
with his Journey and disincfined forj
conversation. He asked one OF twoy
questions about tise number vf visitors1
she had in cine season. and particular
iy whether q gentleman of the name osj
Joyce was staying there.
Mrs. Costing asked him whether tb cl
gentleman was big and stout. with a
scar on his cheek: and she Rmer9-|
bered afterwards that tine sttang "
fiushed a nttfe as he answered Yes
The weather was so bad that FraRE
felt sure that Joyce wou&d stay at
home. He was, therefore,. quite am
prepared when. Late in tfsf afternoon.
the door OF the cOffee-ro0Tn in which
he was sitting was flung violently
open. and an immense nnsn. clad IN a
macintosh. strobe into the room.
Pushing the chairs this way and
that, the newcomer mS,fe his way to
the fireplace. and rang the bell with a.
jerk.
"A bad day for travelling" remarked
Tester. frorG his place by on8 Of the
windows.
Joyce made no response. ,nt pulled
the bell again Fraak bit his lip anil
was silent.
.'Send the landfady here roaEed
Joyce to the scared country girl who
answered the bef1. Mrs. Costing came
in. and. recognizing Joyce, made a
stiT, old-fashfoned reverence, half
bow. half-curtscy.
Why hayea't you a fiee on" he de-
mandel. in the same overbearing tone
he had used to the maid.
"We don't generally have fires so
early ia tho season: but l can have
one lit ut nee il you wish It."
81 do wish It. And n you knew your
business better. o wouldn't leave
Your customers to ask such q thing on
a day like this"
The iandlady beat a retreat without
replying to the impertinence.
"Beastiy weather. this" Joyce NUT
tered. hale to himself and half to Les
ttEt M ITO Slnlhtu ONtf tO out VI dlt
other windows, and, with his hands
deep In his trousers pockets, stared
out at the rain.
Frank did not feel inclined to an
swer. but remembering what he had
come there for. he forced himself to
MALE some kind OF o. reply.
1t is next To impossible for two men.
be they never so little inclined for
conversation. to sit together In the
public room of an hotel through a
long. wet evening without talk OF some
kind: and these two men wanted to
know each other. yet each Of them
found a difficulty In beginning.
They did not dine together, though
Frank invited Joyce to join him. In the
hope that food and wine would soften
hin a little. He refused civilly, but In
a sulky tone. and. saying that he al
ways dined In the middle Of the day,
ordered supper for himself.
Frank. totally unaware Of the fact
that Joyce knew who he was, made
several efforts to- open a conversation
and Joyce watched these efforts grim,
ly. enjoying the young mans awk.
ward attempts to make himself agree.
able.
AS he sat observing the son of his
Old enemy from under his heavy eve
brows.. he told himself that even liz he
had not known who the young man
was. he would have hated him. The
very things that would have prcfu.
diced most men In Franks faror-the