Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1906-10-19

passed into my inner sanctum, whero tn
safe stood.
Whats it in2" asked the President.
United States bonds, and bills o
New York and London" / replied.
Good" said he. Let me look"
l unlocked the safe and took out tn
securities. He examined them carefully
placing each after due scrutiny in a smal
handbag, in which he had brought dow
the bonds l was to receive. I stood by
holding a shaded candle. It this mo
ment a voice cried from the door:
If you move you're dead men
l started and looked up. The Presi
lent looked up without starting. Their
was dear old Jones, descending from hi
upper chamber, where he and Mrs. Jone'
resided. He was clad only In his night
shirt, and was l~eveling a formidable Sur
full at the august head Of his excelicncy
"Ah, Mr.. jones'" said the latter, lit:
a fine morning"
The President - cried Jones: "ant
Mr.. Martin Why, what on earth, gen
tlemen-?"
The President gently waved one hand
toward me, as if to say, Mr.. Martin viii
explain and went on placing his securi'
ties In the bag. In the face of this crisis
my hesitation left me.
Mr.. Martin received a cable from Eu-
rope, JONES'" said the President, in
structing him to advance a sum OF money
to me-"
"Cable?' said Jones. where is it?"
1--WE must have left it at the Golden
House. I saw 1t was on the table just
before we started. Though l presume
Mr.. Jones has no right"
None at ALL" I said briskly.
yet, as a matter of concession. Mr.
Martin will no doubt show it to him to-
morrow
Strictly as a matter Of concession per
haps I will. though I am bound to say
that I am surprised at your manner, Mr..
Jones'"
Jones looked sadly puzzled.
Its all irregular, sir" said he.
Hardly more SO than your costume ~
said the President, pleasantly.
Jones being thus made aware of the
havoc the draught was playing with his
airy covering, hastily closed the door,
and said to me appealingly:
Its all right, sir, / supposeT'
Perfectly right" said I.
But highly confidential" added the
President. And you will put me under
a personal obligation, Mr.. Jones, INC at
the same time fulfill your duty to your
if you preserve silence till the
transaction is officially announced. A
man who serves me does not regret it."
Here he was making the most of an
other opportunity-Jones this time.
Enough of this" 1 said. Il will go
over the matter in the morning."
His excellency walked up to Jones and
looked lard at him.
"Silent men prosper best, and live long
est, Mr.. Jones"
Jones looked into his steely eyes, and
suddenly fell all of a tremble.
The President was satisfied. He alb
pushed him out of the room, and
we heard his stumbling steps going up
the staircase. His excellency turned to
and said with apparent annoyance
You leave a great deal to me, Mr..
Martin"
He had certainly done more than tell
Jones it was a fine morning. But I was
too much troubled to thank him 1 was
thinking Of the cable. The President d.
vined my thoughts, and said:
II must prepare that cable"
EYES," I replied; that would reas-
sure him. But I haven't had much prac-
tice in that sort of thing, and / don't
quite know"
The President scrubbed a few words on
a bit Of paper, and said:
Take that to the postof6ce, and they'll
give you the proper form l will fill it
up"
Certainly soma things go easily if the
head Of the State is your fellow criminal.
And now, Mr.. Martin, it grows late.
1 have my securities; you lave your
bonds. We have won over Jones. All
goes we'll. Aureataland is saved. You
have made YOU fortune, for there lie
your $85,0OO. And, in fine, I am much
obliged to you. I will not trouble you
to attend me or my return. Goodnight,
Mr.. Martin"
He went out, and I threw myself down
in my Office chair, and sat gazing at the
bonds he had left me. l wondered wheth-
er he had merely made a tool of me
whether l could trust him whether I had
done well to rely On his promises. And
yet there lay my reward and I soon
arose, put the government bonds and the
$4,000 in securities in the safe, locked
up everything, and went home to my lodg-
ings. AS l went in it was broad day
light, for the clock had gone FIVE, and l
met Father Jacques s~allying forth. He
had already breakfas.ed, and was on his
way to administer early consolation to
the flower women in the Piazza. He
stopped me with a grieved look, and said
"Ah. my friend. these are untimely
hours"
saw / was laboring under an unjust
suspicion.
II have only just come from the bank.
1 had to dine at the Golden House and
afterward returned to finish up a bit of
work"
"Ah, that is WE'LL" he cried. ut is
then the industrious and not the idle ap-
prentice I meet?' referring to a series OF
famous prints with which my room was
decorated. a gift from my father on my
departure.
nodded and passed on, saying to my
self: Very Industrious. indeed. Not
many men have done such a nights work
as I have
And that is how my fortune became
bound up with those of the Aureataland
national debt.
CHAPTER ".
After the incidents above recorded,
things went on quietly enough for some
months. had a serious talk with Jones.