Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1900-07-14


There was pause. The three men
smoked quietly until lump of coal,
tired of the silence. fell noisily in the
CRATE The proprietor of the hotel
knocke at the door and handed in
with great respect, the extra special
of an evening paper and retired
"What have you been doing in AZ
RIGA, Mayne?-
Il shouldn't Think" replied Mayne,
absently, that Miss Cholmondeley is
more than 23-'
Walmer repeated the question with
asperity, and Mayne bestirred HIM
self in order to give a lucid answer.
wonder you don't settle down
Mayne,'' said Gascoigne.
who with ?"
-Heavensi" cried Gascoigne. start
ing up and pacing the room; cant
man settle down by himself? What
a character you are, Magnet Look
at me, for instance. I've got my lit
tie place down in Surrey, with an
old housekeeper and couple of SER
wants, and am as happy" said Gas
the days are long"
They are long, L expect"
Il don't find them So" declared
Gascoigne, obstinately-
But you said just now before din
ner-"
Don't argue SO, Mayne." begged
Gagoine with testiness. hat was
always your falling" He turned to the
man who was looking into the fire.
place.
Are you still living at Gray's Inn,
Walmer?"
Walmer did not answer for a few
moments.
Yes said Walmer, presently. IF
you can call it living. Sometimes in
my chambers there 1 am not quite
sure whether / am alive or dead
| You want company, Walmer?
-. cit would be more cheerful" ac-
knowledged Walmer, ''if there were
some one else in the place. Some
one, 1 mean, to be about the rooms
and to-er-play and sing bit"
THAT was where Jumbles always
had the pull of u.s. remarked Mayne.
In johannesburg. with few real
women about the place. I used to
think sometimes of the way his sister
used to play up stairs when we four
were smoking in the dining room.
and how one by one we used to pitch
our cigars away and stroll upstairs
to listen. Do you remember that lit
tie German song she used to give
us?"
The three men hummed the air
awkwardly-as men do with whom
singing is not a strong point.
81 used to sing, it myself said
Mayne. ''out at that fearful place,
and somehow it used to do me good
81 often wondered" remarked Cas-
coigne. what the real cause was of
all the South African trouble. 1 sup
pose Kruger has no for music.
Walmer, what are you thinking
about?"
"Only about the case I have in
hand just now replied the man of
law at the fire place. L think, if you
don't mind, I'd like to write note
while 1 think of it,"
81 want to scribble a note, too"
said Gascoigne, awkwardly.
"Since it appears to be the correct
thing to do" said Mayne. Il may al
so as well write one"
Presently each had finished his
task, and having stamped the envel-
ope, stood with shy air
''Tn post them for YOU" said Wal
mer, generously. The other two men
themselves of his offer. "Then
said Walmer, with authority, "we'll
let Fritz do it, And thatexcellent
man was again summoned and in
trusted with the duty of committing
the letters to the pillar box.
There seemed some restraint in
the conversation after the dinner
|
nized this they burst into tumultu-
, GUS, erratic talk. all speaking at once
with great energy. and they told
each other anecdotes which they had
told before. left out points of these
anecdotes. and laughed uproarously
and then told more, with equal want
of success. They took the second
cigars, and Mayne snatched up the
special and glanced down the col
umns.
Thunder" he cried. starting uI
violently. He still held the paper
and, being now nearer to the light
re-read something
whats wror g?''
Everything" cried Mayne, 'Looi
at this
"Read it out said Gascoigne, com
posedly.
Don't suppose it's anything rea
exciting" remarked Walmer.
. th-Cholmondeley, read
Mayne. The newspaper trelnbled
. On the 10th instant. Lieutenant
Boswort.- of the Eighteenth Hus
sars. to Miss Elsa Cholmondeley' ;
. The swinging golden boy we1t
slower and then stopped. The three
men glanced at each other nervously
/ and Mayne dropped the journal tt
the floor.
"That clocks stopped" said Wal
mer.
thine we were going" remarked
G.scoigne, unsteadily. Il want t.
catch a fairly early train from
Waterloo
81 may as well go back to my no
tel 1 suppose" said Mayne, despond
emily.
Each of the men spoke a priyat,