Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1898-08-25
The Doom Of
DeanShQrst.
j
CHAPTER xII-tcontInued.,

squire time AT MS disposal, Dut WiInln
three days he had made his inquiries,
and had. simultaneously, made up his
mind. He would try moral suasion
first. III this failed, then they must
show al their teeth and fight for bare
revenge. 1t was wonderful the amount
OF good will the little man put into tire
case. Perhaps n feeling that 1t was
his very 0wIi-in contradistinction 10
his daily work with Crasher & Hook.
nm-had something to do with it.
He had ascertained that Stephen
Deanc was not in town, Somewhere
down In Hampshire. was the opinion
OF that usually omniscient individual
the hall porter of his club. ''Thai
means Dcanshurst." muttered Joe Nor.
ris, land I'll be hanged IL / don't run
down there myself IN Saturday" SAT-,
urday was always an early day at
Crasher * HOokum's, n veritable oasis
In the desert of legal existence. This
plan be conflded to his wife, but not to
their guest.
Il don't think I'd say anything about
1t 10 her, Maggie" he remarked. "You
see. nothing may come of Ii, and we
don't want to buoy the poor girl up
with false hopes. do we? But. all the
same, | rather fancy I'll make Mr..
DcaLe sit up, my dear, especially when
l threaten to tell Sir Derek."
Everything her husband did. or pro-
posed to do, was good In the sight of
MS wife. That Joe, her Joe. could. by
any possibility, make a mistake, had
not yet occurred to her.
OF course you will!' she assented. ca
gerly. And, what's more, / would tell
Sir Derek, IL | were you! He ought to
be ashamed of himself to have such a
nephew, that be ought.'
The old gentleman can't help that,
my dear" demonstrated Joe; "but I've
no doubt he'll be very angry, should it
be Decessary to tell him The truth, and
that he viii insist upon PREPARATION be-
Ing made"
Preparation, indeede' echoed Mag
gle, Indignantly. "What PREPARATION can
be made for deceiving the poor .nmb
so shamefullyi'
True. Maggie" rejolned her more
practical husband: .but we can try
aud make the best OF a bad job, can't
we?'
Maggie's answer took the form of n
nearly kiss. Right, again, joe" she
added. You're always right"
And so 1t came to pass that Joe Nor
ris was a passenger to Winchester by
the l:20 train on Saturday. and from
that ancient city chartered a fy TO
Deanshurst. During the drive he
picked up a lot of local gossip concern
Ing the old baronet and his queer ways
do you mean to tell me that he
GfarG i'm bod CffnnIp ~, ..xnpVt ~ a. Il,
gendary old cursor" he asked, laugh
ing.
AYE, that does he." replied the driv-
er, "and mebbe he amt so far wrong,
naythur, seem as how no Deane amt
died In his bed for goin' ON two hund.
red years"
well, that does seem strange adj
mitted Joe, IF it's true"
"Oh, it's true enough. as everybody
knows" confirmed the Jehu. ''They do
say, though. as how the old squire hev
latterly taken to prowlin' bout the
house. He'll fall down stairs one o.
these days an break his neck. see
IL he don't"
zoe Norris smiled, with true Cockney
pity for rustic superstition. forgetting.
probably that he had himself many a
time stepped into a muddy street to
avoid walking under a ladder. Never
theless, he vastly enjoyed his drive,
and felt In excellent spirits for his ar
ticipated interview with Stephen by
the time they reached Deanshurst
BG: there a disappointment awaited
him. Mr.. Stephen Dean chad not re-
turned from London, nor $50 far as n
somewhat untidy-looking footman, who
answered his queries, seemed to know
was he even expected.
But perhaps you'd like to see Mr..
Hirstg' suggested the man. Hell
know, most likely. and, il you'll step
inside, I'll send him to YOU"
Joe Norris had not the faintest idea
who Mr.. Hi.st might be, but. upon the
o~ff-chance or learning something of
Stephens whereabouts, he babe the
fiyman await his return. and entered
tfr deserted-looking mansion. Present
~ the footman r~eappeared, and, beck
oning Joe to follow. led him to a small,
cosy room. fitted up something like an
office. A stout. beady-eyed man Of fifty,
respectfully dressed AMI somewhat
pompous, was sorting some papers as
he entered.
"Your name and business" inquired
the stout man. briefly.
Joseph Norris" was the reply. II
am q lawyer, and | have business OF
Importance with Mr.. stephen Deane."
Not herew snapped the other. l
don't know where he Is. unless he's in
London. Anything l can do? My
name lis Hirst. I'm Sir Derek Deane's
steward. and l know something of Mr..
Stephens affairs"
Norton was. both from iatuition ana
experience. a very good judge of char
acter; and he OWNED at once that the
nan before him was a rogue.
"Oh, indeed.' he said, with n defer
entail little bow. II fear, however. I
can scarcely communicate my instruc-
tions to anyone except Mr.. Stephen
himself"
"Ah.' grunted ont Hirst. "Ihen they
are of a very private nature. eb?
Something lie dent expect or knows
anything about yet, pcrhapsy
"Oh. yes, lie docs!'' corrected Joe.
sIsufF he doesn't deem II as important
or as urgent as II really Is. ! fancy"
Like enough" growled Hirst. He
aIn't n OF the timid scrt, and II
wonIl take more to scare him thar any