Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1906-03-13

| 4 ~ ~ vA. ShREN returned one
M warm May afternoon by the
EWM O'Clock boat, which was
80 sometimes day late and
sometimes few hours early, the lat
Ter contingency arising, as in the pres
ent instance, when the owner was
aboard. Nelson drove him from the
wharf to the bank, where he conferred
briefly in an undertone with Eugene
Madrillon, after which Eugene sent a
note containing three words to Tap
bingham Marsh. Marsh tore up the
note and sauntered over to the club.
where he found General Trumble and
Jefferson Bareaud.
He has come" said Tappingham,
pleased to find the pair the only occu-
pants of the place. HE saw NIadril-
Ion, and there's session tonight"
"Praise the Lord!" exclaimed the
stout general, rising to his feet. 'I'll
see old Chenoweth at once. My fingers
have the Itch
"And mine, too" said Bareaud. "I'd
begun to think we'd never have a go
with him again.
you must see that Crailey comes.
We want full table. Drag him if you
can't get him any other way"
"He won't need urging" said Jeffer-
son.
But he cut us last time"
"He won't cut tonight. What hour?"
"Nine," answered Tappingham. Its
to be full sitting, remember"
Don't fear for u.s." laughed Trum-
BILE.
"Now for Crailey," Jefferson added.
"After so long vacation you couldn't
keep him away If you chained him to
the courthouse pillars. He'd tear 'em
in two!"
| But Jefferson did not encounter the
alacrity of acceptance he expected from
Crailey when he found him half an
hour later at the hotel. Indeed, at first
Mr.. Gray not only refused outright, but
seriously urged the same course upon
Jefferson. Moreover, his remonstrance
was offered in such good faith that
Bareaud, in the act Of swallowing one
of his large doses of qulnine, paused
with only half the powder down his
throat, gazing, nonplused, at his pro-
spective brother-in-law.
"My immortal SOUL" he gasped. "Is
: this Crailey Gray? What's the trou-
ble?'
| Nothing" replied Gray quietly.
"Only don't go; you've lost enough"
"Well, you're a beautiful one!" JEFF
! ferson exclaimed, with an incredulous
laugh. You're a master hand. You
to talk about losing enough"
II know. KNOW" Crailey began,
shaking his head, but
'You've promised Fanchon never to
go again, and you're afraid Miss Betty
will see or hear us and tell her you
were there"
II don't know Miss Carewe."
"Then you needn't fear. Besides,
she'll be out when we come and asleep
when we go. She will never know
we've been in the house,"
"Ihat has nothing to do with It,"
said Crailey impatiently, and he was
| the more earnest because he remember
ed the dangerous geography of the Ca
rewe house, which made 1t impossible
for any one to leave the cupola room
except by the long hall which passed
certain doors. II will not go, and,
what's more, l promised Fanchon I'd
try to keep you out of it hereafter
Lord, but we're virtuousy' laughed
the incredulous Jefferson. "I'll come
for you at quarter to g."
II will not 60, tell you"
Jefferson roared. eyes. you will.
You couldn't keep from 1t If you tried!"
And he took himself off, laughing vio-
lently, again promising to call for Graf
ley on his way to the tryst and leaving
him still warmly protesting that 1t
would be great folly for either Of
them to go.
Crailey looked after the lads long,
thin figure with an expression as near
anger as he ever wore. Hell Co." he
said to himself.
"And-ah, well-Tll have to risk it!
I'll go with him, but only to try to
bring him away early-that is, as early
as it's safe to be sure that they are
asleep downstairs. And won't play.
No, I'll not play; I'll not play"
He Went out Of the hotel by side
door. Some distance up the street
Bareaud was still to be seen, lounging
homeward In the pleasant afternoon
sunshine. He stopped on a corner and
serenely poured another quinine pow
der into himself and threw the paper to
couple Of pigs that looked up from
the gutter maliciously.
"Confound him" said Crailey, laugh
ing ruefully. "He makes me mis-
sionary-for I'll keep my word to Fan
chon in that, at least! I'll look after
Jefferson tonight. All, might as well
be old Tom Vanrevel indeed!
Meanwhile Mr.. Carewe had taken
possession of his own again. His
daughter ran to the door to nleet him.
She was trembling little and, blush
Ing and smiling, held out both her
hands to him. so that Mrs. Tanberry
vowed this was the loveliest creature in
the world, and the kindest.
MI Carewe bowed slightly, as to an
acquaintance, and disregarded the ex-
tended hands.
At that the blush faded from Miss
Hetty's cheeks. she trembled no more,
and a salutation as icy as her fathers
was returned to him. He bent his heavy
brows upon her and shot black glance
her way, being, of course, Immediately
enraged by her reflection of his own
manner, but he did not speak to her.
Nor did he once address her during
the evening meal, preferring to honor
MIRO nj /,