The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1906-07-19
THE
BrangWyn Mystery

" ~StA " VI hN'o Nt'''hb
said Bob, STOPPING to pick a stalk OF
grass to clean his pipe and flushing a
little, perhaps with the exertion. Il
think you know her-a Miss Lillian
Lee" He was dying TO talk about her,
even to a rival.
"Oh, yes" the other answered. Il
have had the honor to know Miss Lee
for more than half a lifetime. Come
along, Billery. What an unconscion'
able old slow-coach you are!"
"YOu don't carry my flesh, Alexis"
said Billery, STOPPING over the stile to
set down a black bag he carried, and
you haven't arrived at my years" He
climbed p~onderously into the road
and stood to mop his brow.
Your years, Methuselah," said the
other. He's fifteen months older
than | am, and he's always asking
consideration for his years"
"Ah!" replied Billery. Il drudge in
an Office when | am finding anything
to drudge at. You boat, you ride, you
golf, you play cricket and football
frivolous occupations for your time OF
life, but all tending TO the conserva-
tion Of the figure and the wind. Be
sides, I've had this COMPOUNDED bag to
carry"
Shut up" said Bob You've run
to seed through applying too much
liquid to the soil" Billery took this
, bludgeOn stroke unmOyed.
MY chief wanted about half a ton
of documents from the office. OF
course, I'm the man for a job like
that. | suppose he thinks that exer-
else does me good. SO long, you fell
lows. Sha'n't see you again, | sup
pose?"
He made off with the bag, the 9TH
ers calling their farewells after him.
81 say, Brangwyn," said Bob Mol,
10y, thrusting an arm through his COM
panion's, I'm Jolly glad to see you.
Belle and | were talking about we only
this morning. | suppose ye know
your cousins coming to live here?"
"Billery told me so. We met by
accident at Waterloo and travelled
down together"
You don't see much Of each other?"
asked the boy.
mo. We have barely met for years.
We don't get on very well together. II
happens so sometimes in families"
* say, Brangwyn." said Bob again,
how long did you say you's known
Miss Lee?"
Il knew her" answered Brangwyn,
when she was a child"
81 never saw her until this morn
ing" said Bah. I've knocked about
a lot. I've been on two commissions,
and I've seer 'em all-French. Span
ish, and Italian and Greek, and Cinga-
lese and Jap~anese-by lingo! but it's
my machure opinion that a well-bred
Englishwoman bangs the lot
That's your mature opinion, Is it,
Bob?" said Alexis. Well, I'm not in
clined to quarrel with It,"
And If | were Paris" Bob declared,
81 know where I'd bestow the apple"
Bob" said Alexis, smiling up at
him, for the boy was slightly the tall
er of the two, you're a man of taste,
and the first chance we have we'll
drink a toast together"
Right you are" Bob answered. 81
say, Brangwyn, l think there ought to
be a recognized code Of honor amongst
gentlemen about a thing like this"
"a thing like what. Bob?" Brangwyn
asked.
why, what I mean Is this" said
Bob. IF there's to be a rivalry be-
tween two fellows It ought to be an
open one. Don't you think so? It's
only fair to let you know that I mean
to enter for the running. Miss Lees
not engaged, | know, for my sister
Belle told me so this morning Just be-
fore she called"
Bob returned Alexis, pausing and
facing him with an enigmatic counte.
nance, In which a mock seriousness
tried in vair to hide the dancing
laughter in his eyes, II am sorry to
dash your hopes so early. But the
fates are against you. Miss Lee is en-.
gagged, and | a speak with authority,
because she Is engaged to me-"
Bob's c~ountenance fell ruefully, but
he made q fight against his natural
emotions.
You're a lucky beggar," he said.
II might have known that something
would happen. It always has In my
experience. I won't say I wish We Joy
for that's superfuous. You've got the
! pick of the basket. and II ye're not q
happy man, We ought to be-"
Better luck next time. Bob. You
a hardly hope to command the fleet
before you're thirty. and 1t won't be
worth while to think of marriage until
then"
"Ah! go away with your chaff," Bob
answered. I'm In no mood for II
Belle oughtn't to have put me in q
hole like this"
1T isn't your sisters fault, I assure
you" said Brangwyn. THE news Ia
barely twelve hours old, and I happen
to know that Miss Molloy was intend,
ed to be the first to hear It."
Then 70 knew" said Bob, "tha,
Miss Lee would be here this morn.