Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1900-08-02
wl

or simpering dolts. As for me-" quoth
Halbert. cynically, give me the first
every time. You can trust to an ad-
ventures to have a little gray matter
at least in her Uranium" He was talk
ing to his secretary, young Allen, a
callow youth, almost effeminate, but
nevertheless brainy, too brainy, as Hal
bert expressed 1t. for his size and
weight. Allen had gotten used TO
these sinister observations concern
ing womankind, and rarely ever of
fered any comment either to agree or
TO refute the Others statements. These
two individuals were a study for n
another. The hour In which Allen ac-
cepted the position OF private secre-
tary. a short time before, they found
a pleasant communion OF tastes and
ideas and a peculiar inexplicable sym
pathy Of feeling that seemed to have
puzzled both.
Halbert was a confirmed bachelor;
he boasted OF never having proposed to
any woman; he was afraid of them;
in his estimation they were all schem-
ing politicians and ready TO marry him
or any man at a moments notice.
Keep the women away from me"
snarled Halbert at times when driven
by force TO a crush. I'D rather smoke
or sleep" And the little secretary
with his strong, boyish ardor kept them
far AVA and comforted Halbert with
his companionable silence.
The one measure In Aliens makeup
was his reluctance to smoke. He could
never get him to indulge even In a
cigaret. And in the matter OF drink
ing. though Allen could mix a punch
or a cocktail with commendable art, he
brought them untasted to Halbert as a
kind of offering to that exalted wretch,
you should have beer a woman. by
gad," Halbert said once to him. "A
thousand pardons, Allen. but you would
have made a fine girl. You've got
grace and tact enough for 1t, you
know. Why, believe me, Allen, II there
were women like you today, with the
brain and all. | believe I'd marry one
OF them" Allen actually blushed and
retreated in confusion. Halbert liked
this display CT apparent shyness, and
his affection for the boy grew. He
liked to slap him on the back and he
said he felt lonesome when the chap
was away. II tell you what, Allen,
don't know whether to adopt you as
my son, considering the fact that /
shall have n OF my own, or
whether to let things slide on as for
merly and just 4ouble your salary"
Things slid on as formerly until Hal
bert announced a hunting trip to Abys-
sinia. He had actually completed plans
for both and was sketching out in his
Imagination the delicious c~omraderie
OF two in a tent in the wilds OF Africa
when Allen announced his intention to
resign.
"You ungrateful beggar. you can't
resign Halbert shouted. why, my
boy, | can't go without you. What's
the matter?"
1.-The fact of the matter is, SIR" AL
len replied, respectfully, II don't want
to go with you."
It was a blow, and 1t landed between
Halbert's eyes. He loved Allen, IL he
ever loved any being on earth, and this
was the first time that he ever had
been thwarted. Not given to sentiment
or pleading, he nursed his agony ST.
lentiy-for Aliens abruptness stung
him with all the agony of unfilial in
gratitude, or u~nrequited love, of treach-
cry In a friend-everything. 1t panied
HaIbert as he had never been panied
before. That afternoon he ordered HE
horse for a long ride and went out de-
jectedly with a load on his shoulders
He wanted to puzzle out the situation
He had never to plead with any one
before in his life for what he wanted
and he hated TO plead now. 1t might
seem unmanly, he feared. He went out
without calling to Allen, and he did
not return for dinner.
The secretary In the meantime felt
an unhappy sinking Of his heart as
the hours dragged by and Halbert did
not return. 1t was his custom at least
to return to dress for the evening, es-
pecially II he meant to dine out, and
his continued absence made Allen un.
easy. He Gid not know whether Hal
bert cared about his refusal to accom-
pany him, but he knew that he himself
cared, yet he felt that he could not
acquaint his friend with the real rea-
son until he had actually o
At 9 o'clock Halbert came back-not
exactly on a stretcher, but leaning on
the arm of his valet. He had had a
bad fall somewhere on the riverside
drive. and had turned his elbow badly
-~sprained 1t. In fact. They had ac-
tually subjected him to the annoyance
of carrying him to a hospital because
he had been too dazed to demonstrate.
and when his mind was eventually
clear he demanded removal to his own
oon1s.
Hs valet settled him comfortably
90 q glvan and had left the room when
ffsIbert sznk into a slight slumber. In
xxx