The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1900-10-18

IaS been some dreaQ1ui error dDous
my brother John, the sooner it can be
cleared up the better for all parties; ii
was piece of business, sir--and SO
took it, and decided, on my own re-
sponsibility, to send telegram to San
Francisco. Thanks to my quickness
we may hear tonight. There appears
to be no doubt, sir, that John has been
abominably used"
When did this take placer" asked
the father.
Last night, sir, after you were
asleep" was the reply.
Its most extraordinary" said Mr..
Nicholson. do you mean to say that
you have been out all night?"
"All night, as you say. sir. have
been to the telegraph and the police
Office, and Mr.. Macewen's. Oh, / had
my hands full" said Alexander
"very irregular" said the father
you think of no one but yourself"
II do not see that l have much to
gain in bringing back my elder broth
| err" returned Alexander, shrewdly.
The answer pleased the old man; he
smiled. We'll. well, will go into this
after breakfast" said he.
I'm sorry about the table," said the
son.
''The table is small matter; think
nothing of that" said the father.
ITS another example, continued the
son, "of the awkwardness of man
having no money Of his own. If /
had a proper allowance, like other fell
lows Of my age, this would have been
quite unnecessary"
"A proper allowance repeated his
father, in tones of blighting sarcasm,
for the expression was not new to him.
Il have never grudged you money for
any proper purpose"
mo doubt, no doubt" said Alexan-
der, "but then you see you ar'n't always
on the spot to have the thing explained
to you. Last night. for instance"
"You~could have Weakened me last
night" interrupted his father.
WAS 1t not some similar affair that
first got John into mess?" asked the
son, skillfully evading the point.
But the father was not less adroit.
"And pray, sir, how did you come and
go out Of the house?" he asked.
II forgot to lock the door, 1t seems
replied Alexander.
Il have had cause to complain of that
too often" said Mr.. Nicholson. But
still do not understand. Did you keep
the servants up?"
Il propose to go into all that at
length after breakfast" returned AL
exander There Is the half hour go
ing; We must not keep Miss Mackenzie
waiting"
And greatly daring, he opened the
door.
Even Alexander, who 1t must have
been perceived, was on terms of COM
parative freedom with his parent; even
Alexander had never before dared to
cut short an interview in this high
handed fashion. But the truth Is the
very mass of his sons delinQuencies
daunted the old gentleman. He was
like the man with the cart of apples
this was beyond him! That Alex
ander should have spoiled his table,
taken his money, stayed out all night,
and then coolly acknowledged all, was
something undreamed of in the Mich
olsonian philosophy, and transcribed
comment. The return of the change,
which the old gentleman still carried
in his hand, had been feature Of i'm
posing impudence; 1t had dealt him a
staggering blow. Then there was the
reference to Johns original fight-a
subject which he always kept resolutely
curtained In his own mind; for he was
man who loved to have made no mis-
takes, and when he feared he might
have made one kept the papers sealed.
In view Of all these surprises and re-
minders. and Of his sons composed
and masterful demeanor, there began
to creep on Mr.. Nicholson sickly mis-
giving. He seemed beyond his depth;
II he Gid or said anything, he might
come to regret 1t. The young man, be-
sides, as he had pointed out himself,
was playing generous part And IL
wrong had been done-and done to
one who was, after. and in spite of all,
Nicholson-it should certainly be
righted.
All things considered, monstrous as
1t was to be cut short in his inquiries,
the old gentleman submitted, pocketed
the change, and followed his son into
the dining-room. During these few
steps he once more mentally revolted,
and once more, and this time finally,
laid down his arms: still, small voice
in his bosom having informed him au-
chemically of a piece of news; that
he was afraid Of Alexander. The
strange thing was that he was pleased
| to be afraid of him He was nrolId of