Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1902-04-17

lights again and rapidly made himself
a sparkling soda, to which he added a
little whisky. He looked almost low
ingly at the cleaning Cellini tankard,
at the pools OF light on the fair dam
ask. Was II possible that he was not
going to lose all this, after all?
The Moorish clock in the study droned
the half-hour.
David gulped down his whisky and
crept shakily to the front door, with a
feeling on him that he was doing some
thing stealthily. The bolts and chains
ratified under his trembling fingers. Out
side the whole world seemed to be sleep
ing. Uader the wide canopy OF stars
some black object picked u with shin
ing points lay on the white marble
breadth Of the top step. A gun-metal
cigar case set In tiny diamonds.
The novelist fastened the front door
and staggered to the study. A pretty.
artistic thing such as David had fully
intended TO purchase for himself. he
had seen one exactly like 1t in a jewell
er's window in North street. He had
pointed IL out TO his mother. Why, 1t
was the very onei No doubt about 1t
whatever. David had had the Ease in
his hands. and had reluctantly declined
the purchase.
He pressed the spring, and the case
lay open before him. Inside were pa
pers: soft, cracking papers: h case
was crammed with them. They Were
white and clear, and twenty-five of
them in all. Twenty-Five Bank of Eng
land notes for e10 each-a250!
Are you there?" he whispered, as II
fearful of listeners. II have found your
parcel"
Containing the notes. So far. so
good. Yes, you are right; 1t is the same
cigar case you admired so much in
Lockhart's the other day. Well. we
have given you an instance of our bona
fides. But ESQ is of no use to you at
present. Beckstein's people would not
accept ii on account-they can make
more none by selling you up as the
poetic phrase oes. 1t is in your hands
to procure h other ESQ before you
sleep. You can take II as a gift, or. il
you are too proud TO do that, you may
regard 1t as a loan. In which case you
a bestcw the money on such charities
as commend themselves to you. Now.
are you going to place yourself entirely
In my hands?"
Steel hesitated no longer. Under the
circumstances, few men would. as he
had a definite assurance that there was
nothing dishonorable to be done. A lit
tie courage, a little danger, perhaps.
and he could hold up his head before
the world; he could return to his desk
tomorrow with the passion-f1owers
over his head and the scent groves
sweet to his nostrils. And the mater
could dream happily. for there would be
no sadness or sorrow in the morning.
Il will do exactly what you tell me-"
he said.
Spoken like a man." the voice cried.
Nobody will know you have left the
house-you can be home in an hour.
You viii not be missed. Come, time is
getting short, and I have my risks as
well as others. Go at once TO Old Steine.
Stand on the path close TO the shadow
of King George w., and wait there.
Somebody will say Come and you will
follow. Good-night!"
Steel would have said more, but the
tinkle OF his own bell told him that the
stranger had rung off. He laid his CT
gar case ON the writing table, slipped
his cigarette case into his pocket, salts
fled himself that he had his latch-key,
and put on a dark overcoat. Overhead
the dear old mater was sleeping peace
fully. He closed the front door careful
ly behind him and strobe r~esolutely In
to the darkness.