Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1899-12-07

uuired taste for p. b., you know"
"Are you looking for q rowT de
manded Arnott, savagely.
IL looks meant anything, the answer
should have been a prompt affirmative.
But, by a great effort, the aggressor
kept his temper well under controi.
and quickly changed his tone TO one OF
mild banter.
Don't be a fool" he said, quietly.
"Can't you see l was only chanhs
you?" =
81 don't like chaff where Ruby is
concerned" rejoined Arnott, consider
ably Modified.
"An right, mate rejoined Nat, then
I'll drop it. 1T isn't good enough Tor
us to dissolve partnership by a scrap
ping-match over old Ready-money n
terson's daughter. So shake ana
have another drink to prove were pals
again"
The proposal was entirely to Arnotts
taste, and harmony was quickly re-
stored.
you're quite right. Nat, he replied.
We've neither OF us anything 10 gain
by quarreling. and, although we were
once rivals"
"Yes, yes" interrupted his colnrade,
airily. Eve know all about that. She
preferred you TO me, and took a
back seat. But suppose the old maj
should still prove obdurate, what Will
your next nov be-
Cant say, exactly" was the reply.
"Ruby'S not the sort of a girl TO make
a bolt OF it with a fellow, and it's a
mean way of winning a wife, anyhow.
Yet / know she's fond of me. and l.
well. life don't seem worth living with
out her, Nat, and that's the truth"
Have some brandy, old chap" sug-
geSted Nat, with 4 grave irony wholly
lost upon the other. You're feeling a
bit down on your luck in that quarter;
that's what the matter"
Arnott'S application 10 the bottle had
already been so frequent that. though
his tempter drank but very sparingly.
il o became necessary to open the
door; and. as often happens, the more
he drank the more l~oquaciOus and sent
mental he became. Apparently quite
oblivious TO the fact that the man he
was talking 10 had been his bitter rival
with respect to the girl, he poured forth
his hopes and fears as into the ears of
u SN HlpdllliLllE tIuSI DIultlei. tldu TIC
but seen the look Of Savaeg. Jealous
hate that at times almost distorted his
listeners face. he would surely have
paused in his egotistical lo~ve-chatter.
But he did not. Brandy and his semi
maudlin passion for Ruby Patterson
had blinded him very effectually.
You asked me, just now, Nat" he
went on. confidentially. what I'd do If
my Sydney mission fails. and | said |
didn't know. But I'll tell you what I
think I'll do. Rather than lose Ruby,
l believe I'd go back upon my half
promise to my poor old dad"
what do you mean?' queried Nat.
with well-feigned Indifference.
"Why, You know | promised him. Just
before he died, hat I would, # possi-
bic. steer clear Of all his people; and.
so far as l am personally concerned.
don't wish to have anything Il do with
them. But it has occurred to me that
old Patterson would take q different
view OF my suit if l could patch I'D
some sort of a truce with my grand
father. After all. there IS a wide diff
ference between Louis Arnott, the ad.
Venturer, and Luke Arnewood of Arne-
wood Hall"
Yes" assented the other, through
his set teeth. "a wide difference, as
you say.t'
"Of course, it is on the cards that old
Basil Arnewood would have no truck
with me at ALL" continued Arnott,
whose utterance was now thick and
husky; but, on the other hand. he
might bury the Ratchet in my fathers
grave. It's just a tGss-up, 1 imagine.
what a spiteful old man like him will
90, and he can't have any personal dis
like to me, considering he has never
seen me. OF course, if he does the de-
cent thing and receives me properly. I
could return to Sydney and have Ruby
for h asking. If not, / shall be no
worse of than before, bar the expense
OF the voyage to Ireland, and that
won't break me-"
Nat puffed hard at his pipe. in ST.
lence and with knitted brows. for a
full minute. Then, apparently remem-
bering the part he had to play. he once
more shook off his ill-humor and af-
fected to regard his companions plans
as nor visionary than real.
"fH be hanged If l can tell whether
you are joking or in earnest, Loo" he
remarked. when you're a bit gone in
liquor. Come. now, own up! Is not
this all brandy-talk? You don't really
mean to go to Ireland, do your"
oh, but do, thought asserted Ar
mott, nodding his head with tipsy en-
phasis. "If Ruby's father still refuses
me (as he probably Will, it's ten to n
l shall book a passage by the first
homeward-bound mail steamer"
rs it?' echoed Nat. Ana there was
such a ring Of mingled sheer and men.
ace In his tone that even the drunken
man noticed it.
Yes" he repeated, defiantly, sit is.
What dye mean by your is it?' I SUD-
pose I'm free to go where I please
without your permission, Nat Rains
forth?"
Yes, / suppose you are" was the re-
ply. Only you see, this new scheme Of
yours is so totally at variance with
your hitherto avowed determination To
stick by this claim until you had made
your pile, that it takes one aback a bit,