The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1901-01-19
a GIRL z GRIT
By MAJOR ARTHUR GRlFFITHs.
80 IopyrighthflVU1l by r. F. Fenno 3 Ca

=, LOO, mad become %furiously
take him at his word and walk straight
Y OF the house. But custom is strong,
Inc spirit of subordination, of obedi-
ence, h soldierly sense OF duty, when
once imbibed, are not to be shaken of
ina second. When I regained my desk
and saw the papers there. l remem-
5ered that I was bound in honor to full
MI my obligations. My chief had, no
doubt, gone too far, but that did not
release me-. Before l took any further
steps I must first complete my work.
There was not much wanting to fin
isn my report on the Canadian frontier,
and l did it out of hand. Then I sent
II I to the chief and prepared to tackle
to be a scheme, marked strictly conf
DENTAL" for a combined attack upon
New York by sea and land. (Our politi-
cal relations at that particular mo-
ment were greatly strained. There
We're rumors of grave disagreement, IL
nothing worse.) But now 1 noticed the
word speak" and I knew that l must
take verbal instructions before l set
to work. l must fac my irrascible
CHIEF again, and 1 had no great fancy
FOR 1t. However, 1t must come sooner or
= Nv - " AS" ckoS ~ n
sheet of foolscap and went in.
The general was at his standing desk
Che seldom sat DOWN pouring over my
other report, but he looked round as /
entered and nodded pleasantly. Bright
sunshine had already succeeded the al
ways fugitive storms In his hasty tenn
permanent.
This will do first rate, Wood. There
are only two points that need amplifi-
cation and we went over the items
together.
Then 1 asked him about the other
matter, and soon heard all 1 wanted to
know. l can set down nothing of this
here, for h whole affair was very Sc
and particular-of vital interest to
two great countries-and Sir Charles
impressed upon me very earnestly that
the paper and plans must on no ac-
count pass out of my possession.
You may have to work on the
scheme at your own diggings, for it
must go in by the end OF this week.
pray be most careful. Lock up the
papers in your dispatch box at night
and keep the thing entirely private"
1T is just possible that you may
wish to give the job to someone else,
general. as I shall hardly be here to
complete it," I said, rather stiffiy., and
with that I handed him the sheet of
foolscap which contained my r~esigna-
ton.
Why, Wood. hang 1T all, you don't
mean this surely?" cried Sir Charles.
aghast. You can't have taken Of
Tense at what l said this morning? l
was a trifle put out. perhaps. but I
eve meankit seriously. No, no take
this beastly thing back or let me tear
1T up 4. This will never do. Forgive and
forget, my boy. There's my hand on
1t. l beg your pardon and / know
You won't be late again."
! hastened to explain hat my resig-
nation was in no way the result Of
pique, and that ] was on the point of
sending in my papers to retire from
the service altogether.
The simple fact is that I have come
into money. SRA good bit Of money"
I explained.
How much, If it is a fair question?
I ask because you may have a good
enough income, q depi!ish fine income,
II yet 1t would be wiser for you to
stay here. The discipline of any reg
ular routine work is good for :nde-
pendent men Believe me. you'd soon
sicken of being entirely your own mas
ter, take to drink. or cards, or petit
What Is 1.-TWO. three, four thousand
a year,"
ut is far more than that, Sir
Charles, l answered. II believe I am
a millionaire two or three times over.
Will you please read this?" and I
handed him my lawyers letter.
"Whew!" He whistled several bars
of a popular street melody very much
out of tune), folded up the letter, hand
ed it back, and then, looking me
straight in the face, said, with slow,
kindly emphasis:
BY George, Wood, ! pity you"
1t was not quite what / expected
from this experienced, lo%ng-headed
man of the world, and he read my dis
appointment in my face.
Doesn't please you, Ell? You think
yourself the most fortunate chap alive?
But you're all wrong. Vast riches are
a n~uisance-they are worse"
He threw up both his hands and be-
gan to slowly pace up and down the
room.
"A nuisance! A tyranny. indead.
They will weigh you down and worry
you perpetually. Lord, Lord, the care
of all this money, the use of 1t, the
defense of 1t! The whole world, Wood,
is made up Of w classes-those who
have money, and those who want to
take it from them. You will soon have
a much poorer opinion of human ma
III ,s HlLAE AiC ESOltllttudiH Sly I'll 1SlNe,
give Blu. let's talk about yourself.
What do you mean to do?"
Honestly. Sir Charles, I hardly
know. I am still too much bewildered
and taken aback by what happened.
Will you advise me, sir?"
ITS not SO easy, my lad. 1t depends
much upon Yourself-upon your
principles, your tastes and predilec-
tions. OF our you will marry, and
y, n 49, x.-f.x,, 49,
fancy lies. I know her well-Frida
that little mink. Miss
Frida will lead YOU a fine dance"
But, Sir Charles, l have v
spoken to her. 1 have no reason to
suppose that. If ] did, she would ac-
cept me-.
TRY her." said the general dryly.
You have three millions and odd-.new
and strangely eloquent reasons for
her of your. worth"
She is not that sort at all, Sir
Charles"
Then Eve wasn't her ancestor. I've
her from q child. She's pretty
enough. I'll admit, but, by he living
I'd rather o married her than
I. ByGeorge, she's a handful! At n
rate. she will give you plenty to do.
Miss Frida will set the money to NOV
and you, too. So much the better,
perhaps.
Then Q advise me to leave the
service, sir?"
"Of course You must leave" he
roared with sudden fury. What? A
captain in the army with u hundred
and fifty thousand a year! It's outgof
the question. But don't be in too great
hurry, Wood. Suppose this windfaIl
proves a fraud. where are you? You
have leave-although I don't know
how I a spare o with all this go
leave was a weak point with Sir
"But, he went on, IF you must, you
must, but not for a day or two, please.
And, Wood. my dear chap, don't neg
this New York business. / am re-
lying so much on you for it. You've
been out there and know all The ropes"
So / stuck to the papers for the rest
Of the afternoon, and when / left de-
the messenger to send them on
a dispatch o to Charges street.
CHAPTER III.
Warning.
AN American gentleman has been