Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1898-08-04

a loss for words to express what might
be expected to follow.
"Why. he'll precious soon find out
the truth about everything, and won't
| he be savage at being kept in the dark
all this time: It'll be a case of good
by to Deanslnurst for me and YOU. sir,
at very short notice; mark my words
BE good enough TO leave me out in
your forecasts" said the lawyer. stiff
ly. II ran give my uncle excellent rea-
sons for all that | have done and left
undone. As for yourself. let me advise
YOU to keep cool, obey my instructions,
and refrain from irritating Sir Derek
by thwarting his harmless whims.'
That's easily said" grulnbled Hirst,
.'but when il TO dressin' and un-
dressin' him whenever the fancy takes
hinf. day or night. there amt no fun
in it,"
Perhaps not returned Stephen.
drily But you have practically moth
ing else to do-you and your wife
than to wait upon Il master. and your
own interests depend upon your doing
so without angering him. This is just
a passing within. natural enough in a
half-imbecile. very old man.
All. That may be SO. SIR rejoined
Hirst, finding comfort in this sugges-
ton. But il he takes Ii into his head
to potter about the house, a-talkin' with
the servants, and 80 on
Keep them out of his way, and don't
let him out Of your sight" interrupted
Stephen. impatiently. "Or tell him
there is typhoid amongst them and that
he Is safest in his own rooms. There!
Don't worry me any more. l have
more serious matters to think about
Meaning the upshot of the Majors
trial. sir? Well, that was the judges
doing, not my cousin Joe's fault.
Fifty pound to one he gets of, joe
says /, soon as ever | knew he was
likely 10 be on the jury. Done! says
he. He told me afterward they We're
nearly all for an acquittal. till he
talked them over. Anyhow, you can't
say but what he earned the money,
Mr.. Stephen"
The lawyer strobe up to him and
gripped him almost savagely by the
arm. See here, Hirst," he said. in
low, threatening ones. "Your bah
bling tongue will be your ruin If you
don't keep it in check. l neither know
nor want to know anything about your
blackguard relatives; and would adj
wise you 10 forget your stupid wager.
Now. go"
cool amt the word muttercd Mr..
Hirst. as he shrank off. haif-scared by
Stephens menacing air. He'd swear
through Il stack of Bibles, he knew
nothin' bout my squaring Joe. though
he gave me the brass to do it with.
The missus is right. He's a deep 'un-
as deep as they make EN-. Cute idEi.
that. about the fever. Ill try it on the
first time old Grumpy attempts to
shove his nose into the corridor"
Oscar Deane had quilted Winchester
for London the day after the trial. as
nearly crushed in spirit as Il higb-prin-
cipled gentleman, suffering under Il
sense CT cruel wrong, well can be.
And to his brother he had made no Sc
cret Of his intentions as 10 the future.
He would at once resign his commits
sion and start life afresh. in one or
other Of the colonies. under an as
sumed name. Now, this was a decision
vastly TO Stephens liking, capable. in
deed, of but one modification by way
Of improvement.
/ understand your feelings. old fel-
low" he remarked, with a well-feigned
ring of sympathy in his voice. You
feel sore over that ubiquitous verdict.
and want to get clear away for a time
Most men would. / think, like to 10
the same thing. under similar circum-
stances. / know / should. But, can
didly. / don't see much force In your
emigration scheme. You'd be moped
to death in the bush or the backwoods,
and that's precisely wha. you ought TO
avoid"
That's quite true" assented Oscar;
land, for choice I'd rather have a
crack at big game In Central Africa
than grow wheat or breed sheep. But
.beggars can't be choosers.' l shall
have barely enough TO start me in a
very small way. and have the future
to provide for"
"Nonsense!' retorted Stephen. A
Sir Derek's heir, you can raise ample
for all reasonable expenses of living
upon post-obits. You seem to ignore
the facts that he is upwards of eighty
years old, and that you come next in
succession"
"Yes, owing to Derek's DEATH said
Oscar, bitterly. '.of which | have been
convicted as the cause! i tell you,
Stephen. that. until this cruel stain up
on my honor is removed, l shall profit
nothing by that poor lads untimely
death. TO this end / have sworn be-
fore God, and. with His help, l shall
keep my OATH
Stephen stared at his brother as
though doubling his own ears.t but
there was that in the soldiers face ana
tone which forbade all doubt as TO his
sincerity. Oscar resolved to renounce
the succession! 1t seemed almost in
credible. but it was plainly, obviously
true: and a great load seemed lifted
from the plotter's scheming brain. No
need now TO compass HIS brothers
death, even In thought.
II think you take a very extreme
view OF the matter" he remarked. in
his most impressive manner; but of
that you are yourself the best Judge.
Now. without unduly bringing myself
forward. IL seems to me that yonr de-
cision. IL carried into effect, will place
me in n somewhat awkward position
when the old baronet dies. According
to your plan Of action. Oscar Deane
will be, in common parlancc, dead TO