The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1905-09-14

hut I do excite myself. n you call
II. over this intrusion"
NO Intrusion at all. I have come To
talk on a subject that Will interest you
deeply. I knocked OF the door. and.
not getting any answer. I came n"
Then you can take yourself OF rs
you came" exclaimed the other. un-
~Rppcased. Il told the household that I
would not zee any M II In no time TO
receive visitors"
No. no. OF course not. People should
respect n grief 80 deep as yours.' re-
piled the stranger. s~oothingly.
Ellison looked at the man suspicious
~ To see IL there was any lurking sar-
casm In that remark. but the unwel-
come visitors face was calm and placid.
Well. now h a you are here" said
the banker. roughly. perhaps you will
tell me who you are. and why l am In
debted for this visit"
The other. without waiting TO be In
vited. sat down I'm n comfortable chair.
and crossed his legs like n man who II
making himself ut home.
"wha you have TO say make brief"
growled the banker. frowning at the
little mans presumption.
Il will reduce my story to nv few
words as possible" meekly. ." have
come To speak To you on behalf Of a
80 ~ " ~ Ia@hN sts-
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 I'm his seat.
1T must be n YER old story that you
have 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. Il yas exactly To rehcarse some
bits OF ancient history that l came To
see you. James Ellison" returned the
visitor. ut the same time nxing his
bright eyes on the other's face.
For "A their g~iances met. but
II was not h visitor who retired FIRST
from the contest OF staring each other
out OF countcnance. Ellison looked
down at the floor. twiddling his thumbs
n twisting uneasily In his chair.
There was something In the n of
his unlimited guest that made him
think. after all. it might be best TO heal
him out. and have done with him.
You had a certain interesting trans
action with this Frale near
years ago." began the stranger.
Certainly. but what OF those old
times? In the first place. the man we
are speaking about IL dead" and In
saying this he seemed To feel u certain
satisfaction.
How do you know he In dead?"
Eth. what's that this time staring
NJ the little man as IL he would read
the secrets OF his heart.
Il say. how do you know he n dead7
Did you ever m any great pains 10
Ind out?"
Il heard n on pretty good authority"
sullenly. Then. his voice rising. Il wish
o would be kind enough TO come To
the point. and not be beating around
the bush In this dlstressful manner"
1T don't distress me a Bit" and the
little man smiled. well. since you
n pleases you to have IL 30. Frale Is
dead. though would not be willing to
swear to such a statement"
GO on"
"Frale. these many years ago. became
involved In a robbery. a factory IL was,
and the foreman happened unfortu-
nately To be killed. Frale was supposed
to be guilty: He at the time
To escape. He came to you
"rOh, why tell me everything that I
know already" said the banker testify.
II thought perhaps you had for
gotten. But / am coming to the
point. The object In Frale's escape
was TO find n home for his baby
daughter. II seems that he had been
reduced to robbery because he was
a ruined man. and 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
on the little mans face as he told
his story In n calm and dispassionate
way.
Now We are coming to the most
interesting period I'm the lives OF
these tow meE. whose paths lay 70
wide apart" He drew n long breath.
as IL to add emphasis to what he was
going to say. Ellison had married
a short time before n rich woman,
but her fortune was In her own
hands. and II she died childless. IL
was all 90 so To her relations. All.
I thought you would be interested
sooner or later" for while he was
saying this. Ellison had leaned over.
and his heavy breathing could be
distinctly heard I'm the silence OF the
room. Ellison at nee sat VI In his
chair with a jerk and assumed an
air OF indifference. IF there nj a
child that survived. then the money
was to remain In the fathers hands
I'm trust. IL was just about the time
OF Frale's trouble hat 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 week)