The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1906-08-17
CHAPTER vII.-(continued).

vase. Hes very regular party as a
rule. But that's how things happen,
and OF course you may expect cove
to be away when most he's wanted"
My governors the cove for regu-
larity," said Gervase's friend. HE
comes home about seven o'clock in the
morning with his dress tie under one
ear, and swears at me because l won't
let him 60 to bed in his boots. He
takes his half-bottle at four or five,
breakfasts at six, dresses for the
theayter about eight, and turns up at
seven hay hem with his tie under the
other year. Then for a change he'll
cry because won't let him go to bed
with his boots on. but he can always
be relied on with regard to hours.
That's been his line of life ever since
I've been with him, and he's as strong
as bullock and as healthy as a foot.
baller in full training"
That's the queer part of It," said
Gervase. IT'S the unequal way as
things are distributed. Now my gov
ernor. he's obliged to be pretty nearly
as careful as am. A little bit of
gaiety and he'll be knocked clean on
hts perch for month Of Sundays.
Well have just one more, and then l
think It would be as well II we had a
bit Of 4 snooze"
"All right" his friend returned
You take your snoose and I'll keep
watch. MY tulip won't be home for
three hours yet, and shall be through
with him in bali an hour"
Gervase bestowed himself for slum-
Der. The morning hours passed un-
eventually. and In little while all the
three under that roof were asleep
The tulips guardian was awakened by
the sound Of a heavy and uncertain
footstep on the stair, and darted out to
the performance Of his customary
morning functions.
Billery slumbered more like death
than life to look at. and Gervase, dis
turbed by his companions departure,
arose to bathe and dress and to ar
range the rooms for his masters ar
rival. II was near noon when Alexis
appeared, perfectly attired and
groomed, but looking pale, tired and
harrassed.
why, what In heavens name is
this?" he asked, as his eye fell on
Billery.n isn't that fellow recovered
YETI"
4 suppose 1t was you, sir, that left
the gentleman here last night?" asked
Gervase
YES" said Alexis, II left him here
He was drunk, confound him, and /
put him on my bed. What's this
dreadful smell Of gas, Gervase?"
Can you smell 1t still, sir?" Gervase
inquired. we've had the windows
open hours and hours. There's been
dreadful business here, sir" and he
began to tell the story with many
windings and circumlocutions, whilst
Alexis listened apparently more in
wrath than sympathy
The drunken BRUTE" he said. 1T
was wonder he didn't kill himself"
We'll, SIR" said Gervase. "its none
20 certain that he hasn't. It was half
IN hour before the doctor was sure
that there was pulse left In him.
He's been In twice to see him, and
he's none too hopeful. The gentleman
hasn't moved q little finger since we
laid him there. and shouldn't be sur
prised, sir, II he never moved anoth-
err
Alexis walked to the side OF the
couch and looked down At the recum-
bent figure. Billery's face was all
pulled and swollen; his lips were lead
color, and his cheeks Of q greenish
gray.
4 think he is breathing trifle freer
than he was, SIR" Gervase said.
You'd ha' took him for corpse at
fve this morning. sir"
well" returned Alexis. reluctantly.
Il cant turn him out like this. You
can make room for him somewhere. l
suppose?'
He'd be as well on as anywhere in
the library" Gervase suggested, .but
he'd get the properest nursing at the
hospital
Alexis still stood looking down at
the puffed features. He stopped to
take the wrist between his thumb and
hnger. consulting his watch mean
while.
Well, WELT" he said, as he allowed |
tl1e hand to fall. This poor beggar
wAs = friend OF mine until he went to
! The dogs through drink suppose we
must look after him, Gervase. When |
10 YOU, expect the doctor back again ?"
From what he said. SIR" Gervase i
answered, he might be here at any |
minute now. That's him, expect,