The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1903-05-08
But 7 DO excite myself, as you can

suit 40 excite myself, as you cal
1t, over this intrusion"
mo intrusion at all. / have come Il
talk on a subject that will interest yor
deeply. l Knocked On the door, and
not getting any answer, I came I'M
lhen you can take yourself off as
you came" exclaimed the other, un.
appeased. Il told the household that
Wouid not see n one. 1t is no time to
receive visitors"
No, no, Of course not. PEOPLE Should
respect a grief SO deep as yours" re
pied the stranger, soothingly.
ELLISON looked at the man suspicious.
~ 10 see II there was any lurking sar-
casm In that remark, bu the unwel-
come visitors face was calm and placid
wei, now that you are here" said
the banker, roughly, perhaps you will
tell me who you are, and why 1 am in
debted for this visit
The other, without waiting to be in
Vlted, sat down in a comfortable chair,
M crossed his legs like a man who is
making himself at home.
What you have to say make BRIEF.
little mans presumption.
Il will reduce my story to as few
words as possible" meekly. II have
come to speak to you on behalf of a
friend-one you knew in the past; his
name was Martin Frale.'
Ellison jumped to his feet, his hands
clasped n his lips moving. A mo-
ment only these evidences Of emotion
lasted, and then he laughed %nervously
and dropped back in his seat.
1t must be a very old sx-cry that you
nave to tell me-" he said; some bits OF
ancient history. Did you force your
way in for that? Tell mel" recovering
his arrogant manner
Yes; 1t was exactly to rehearse some
h1fE nT q nHtant hiNfnrv fbnt 7 -
see you, James Ellison" returned the
visitor, at the same time fixing his
bright yes on the others face.
For a moment their glances met, but
1T was not the visitor who retired first
from the contest Of staring each other
out of countenance. Ellison looked
down at the floor, twiddling his thumbs
and twisting uneasily in his chair,
There was something in the manner of
his unlimited guest that made him
think, after all, it might be best to hear
him out, and have done with him.
You had a certain interesting trans
action with this Frale near seventeen
years ago." began the stranger.
Certainly, but what of those old
times? In the first place, the man we
are speaking a5cut-!s dead" and in
saying this he seemed to feel a certain
satisfaction.
How do you know he is dead?"
"Eh, what's that?" this time staring
at the little man as If he would read
the secrets of his heart.
y say, how do you know he is dead?
Did you ever tax my great pains to
find out7"
II heard 1t on pretty good authority"
sullenly. Then, his voice rising, IT wish
you would be kind enough to come to
the point, and not be beating around
the bush in this distressfal manner"
sT ~~pA 4-.~ Il ~.
little man smiled. We'll. since you
wish it, we will come to the point. II
it pleases you to have it SO, Frale is
dead, though I would not be willing to
swear to such a statement"
Go on" u.
'Frale, these many years ago, became
involved in a robbery. A factory it was,
nately to be killed. Frale was supposed
to be guilty. He managed at the time
to escape. He came to you
"Oh, why tell me everything that ]
know already" said the banker testify.
II thought perhaps o had for
gotten. But l am coming to the
point. The object in Frale's escape
daughter. 1t seems that he had been
reduced to robbery because he was
a ruined man, n his wife had need
Of surgical aid, which he could not pro.
cure for her"
Ellison tried not to appear inter-
ested, but he did not venture to warn
the other again not to repeat mat
tiers Of ancient history.
Indeed, he could not keep his eyes
off the little mans face as he told
his story in a calm and dispassionate
way.
"Now we are coming to the most
Interesting period in the lives Of
these tow men, whose paths lay SC
wide apart" He drew a long breath,
as If to add emphasis to what he was
going to say. ELLISON had married
a short time before a rich woman,
but her fortune was in her own
hands, and if she died childless, 1t
was all to go to her relations. All,
I thought you would be interested
saying this, Ellison had leaned over,
and his heavy breathing could be
distinctly heard in the silence Of the
room. Ellison at once sat up in his
chair with a jerk and assumed an
air of Indifference. IF there was a
child that survived, then the money
was to remain in the fathers hands
in trust. 1t was just about the time
of Frale's trouble that the Ellison
baby died, while the mother was In
a dangerous Illness"
The last words, innocent enough
in themselves, seemed to excite the
banker bayond control, for he rose,
and going over, laid his hand on his
visitors arm.
Continued Next Weekly
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