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

The old irsE's wrath was %grfevous TO
witness as he slowly realized the full
extent Of the deception that had been
practiced upon him; indeed, Joe
than once feared he would have an APP
oplectic stroke. But the parox:. III
were as hort-lived as they were violent,
and Sir Derek gradually recovered his
wonted cynical, surly, but withal. self
restrained demeanor. The excitement
of the disclosures appeared to have Civ
Ell him a renewed lease OF life ana en-
ergy. and he paced the room with Il
firmncss of tread marvellous to behold
in an octogenarian.
So he muttered, loud enough 10 be
overheard by the attentive clerk, that
hare-brained boy of mine comes by his
death under circumstances SC suspl-
cious as to result in a verdict OF man
slaughter against that woman's eldest
son, and / Inn hoodwinked into the be-
lief that the lad shot himself accident
ally. The lawyer fellows work. of
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.. Morris"
Norris. Sir Derek. Joseph Norris,
at your service" corrected the visitor.
"Well. Norris be it, then. l 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, ehT
Certainly not, sir, within honest linn
It's"
s'What you have told me has decided
me to undertake a journey which | re-
gard as fraught with considerable Dan
ger. / am going to London, and you
are 10 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
by 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 a travelling oyercoat
i'm the next ROOM
Joe speedily discovered a costly, sa-
ble-lined coat in the recesses of a huge
wardrobe, and, being furthermore sup
piled with hat, gloves n a gold-heai-
ed cane, Sir Derek announced himself
as 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
vas bearing early fruit.
Their rate of progress was SLOW, eSpe-
cially down stairs. where even Ioe's
sturdy arm was pretty severely taxed,
but they reached the hall in due course,
and there they encountered Hirst.
Great Scott CALCULATED the amazed
butler. surely, you're not a-going
our. Sir Derekg'
'Yes, / am snapped the master.
mind your own business, and. 80. be
hanged TO you
AS Hirst subsequently informed MS
wife. a blow from a feather wonld
have Frustrated him upon hearing
these words. He simply looked ON in
s~peechless 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 the re-
ceding vehicle, with staring eyes, until
il was out of sight.
"Well, I'll be blowed If this amt a
pretty start, and no mistake." he NUT
tered. at length. II wonder whats up!
That clever Mr.. stephen seems to have
put his foot in it, with all his smart
ness, and the soone he comes back 10
put things right, the better" Then his
eye fell upon the complacent counc. n
ance of the footman, and his wounded
fec iingr were soothed by the presence
of SO randy a scaDe-goat. What the
dickens are you loafing around here
for?" be demanded. savagely.
Then there befel the eliminating n
dignity OF all. For that ~graeeless foot
man, ignoring all his former drea1 of
his omn:potent chief, and mindful only
of his recent humiliation, deliberately
I . eaked his nose, and tauntingly re-
comr ended him to mind mis- own
business