The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1906-12-27

Ilbtlt DttltI III uilCbb Consequence 80
lit a cigar, and put the matter phiio-
sophically before himself,
MEN have been hung, I know, on
slighter evidence than that which con-
meets me with the dead girl. Yet, after
all'-he derived very considerable sat
isfaction from the remembrance OF
this point am not Dandy Chatter,
and never was. If | al only as read
lily persuade people that | am not my
twin brother as I have persuaded them
that | am, I've nothing to fear"
Knowing the impossibility Of doing
anything alone, by reason of ignorance
OF the neighborhood, he rang the bell
and requested that Harry might be
sent to him. In a few moments the
servant who had answered the sum-
mons returned, and, standing just
within the door, announced that Har-
ry was not to be found.
what do you mean?" asked Philip.
Look about for him, man; he must
be somewhere about the place"
Begging your pardon, sir" replied
the man, "'e as been seen leavin' the
grounds a little while since"
Very well, it doesn't matter" said
Philip, c~arelessly. Send him to me
when he returns"
The man withdrew, leaving Philip
Chatter in an uneasy frame OF mind. He
saw at once that, great as this lads de-
votion might be to Dandy Chatter, he
had already, In a moment OF passion,
defied his master. He was scarcely
more than a boy, and in that boys
hands hung the life Of Philip Chatter.
That he was to have gone out, In this
fashion, without word, was a circum-
stance suspicious enough at any time;
that he should have done so now was
alarming In the extreme to the man
who dreaded every moment to hear I'M
accustomed sounds in the house, which
should denote that the secret of the
wood was a secret no longer, and that
men had come to take him.
"T can't stay here, / shall go mad
IL | do" said Philip to himself. After
all, there may be only a few hours OF
liberay left for me-perhaps only a
few minutes. Come, what shall | do
with the timer"
A certain recklessnes was upon the
mantle ~recklessness will make a
man laugh sometimes in the certain
approach Of death. With that feeling.
too. came a softer one; in that hour OF
difficulty and danger he turned, as 1t
were, toward the woman who had
kissed him-the woman who had whis-
pered that she loved him. In his bitter
loneliness, as as been said, his
thoughts had turned to her more often
than was good for his peace of mind;
and now a longing greater than he
could master came upon him TO touch
her hand-perhaps, by great good for
tune, her lips-once again.
who knows-it may be for the last
time!" he said. There has not been
SO much OF tenderness or beauty In
my life that I can afford to throw 1t
churlishly aside when 1t is given to
freely to me. Madge, my sweet girl,
this vagabcnd, thieving, numbering
masquerading lover Of yours Is com
ing to see YOU"
With that lighter, better mood upon
him he sought for the piece Of paper
on which the plan had been drawn,
and traced the palhs by which he
should reach the cottage. He found.
as he had anticipated, that 1t was with.
in some 200 or 800 yards Of his own
lodge gates.
But before he reached the terrace he
heard an exclamation, and from out
the shadow of some trees a figure
came swiftly toward him. For a mo-
ment he hesitated, and half drew
back: bnt the figure came nearer. and
he saw that 1t was Madge Barnshaw,
In his great relief, and In his gladness
at that time to see her friendly face
and her eyes giving him welcome, he
took her silently in his arms and
kissed her.
Dear Dandy" she said--and her
voice was very low and soft-"how ]
have longed to see you!"
No more, dear heart, than l TO see
you he replied. but II have been
very busy; so many things have occu
| pied my attention-so many things
have needed toto be done. Why
what a poor lover you must think mel
Indeed, no." she said. "Only
feared such a foolish thought,
know .... feared that something
might be wrong with you; feared that
you might be in danger. Dandy"-she
was twisting a button on his coat
round and round in her fingers, and
her eyes were bent down so that he
could not see them-"you remember
once a long talk we had about-abou'
your cousin, Mr.. Ogledon, don't your
He did not, of course, remember 1t
for an obvious reason; but. as he was
desirous Of hearing as much as posi-
BILE about that gentleman. he an
swered automatically.
We'll; what about him?"
"Dandy-dear old bel don't want
you to think that I am uncharitable, OF
that this Is q mere woman's within
You remember that you were very
angry with me when last ! spoke about
him; 0 said"
II promise that you shall not make
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