The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1906-09-28

her?"
Nobody. and-nothing. Old Sir
Harry has been in India, i believe, all
his military life, and beyond a week
in London after his arrival from Cal
cutta (where, by the way, he saw no.
body this is his first appearance on the
scene"
I've got an idea that my old gov
ernor knew Il Ninden in India, but I've
been so long in England that I've for
gotten"
Even If it was the same, you would
not know the lady, for, as I've said,
she is quite young. and could only
have married the old chap within the
last couple OF years at the very least"
"Ah!-I still hold you TO be in error,
old mani" said Lane deliberately
that girl is no more Il wife than 1 am
a benedict"
We'll, after all. it doesn't matter so
very much-she is nothing to you-or
to me-"
mo, of course not, how could she be?
I don't know er-bu there's no say
ing, | may-I may"
This harping on n string was evil
dentl" having an Irritating effect on
Ray Maskell and causing him to ma
terialiZe ideas which otherwise he
would have let sleep.
And so may others!-so may I, per-
haps!" he blurted out, aggressively.
MISUNDERSTANDING his glass above
his head-'here's to the lovely mystery
of the Upper Thames-to the White
Witch of Henley!!'"
Sidney Lane. who, till the last half
dozen words We're spoken, was pre-
pared to do honor to the toast, brought
his glass down upon the table with
such force hat the stem was splint-
cred.
That he said hotly, "is surely an
insult to the lady. Such a name cam
not be applied without offence intended
and implied"
Oh, as to offense. I meant none!"
said Maskell. II merely-well-gave
~utterance to a jest"
(which on second thought, YOU must
agree was i'll timed, if nothing else"
If YOU like to have 1t so-although
every man is entitled to his own opin-
ion isn't hep
. suppose so-within limits"
"Tome!-don't let us quarrel, Lane
and spoil the good time we hope to
have--'
"Quarrel-not l. There's my hand
upon it! But I do not feel in the least
like going to bed! I am half inclined
to take a midnight spin for half an
hour. / him 1 know where my man
has stored my boat"
Then you're more mad than I gave
sou credit for being. Good night"
1t must have been nearly 10 o'clock
when Esme Vinden suddenly startled
her father out of a nap.
Dad" she cried, dad, wake up;
there are two single SOULS coming.
"Hoh-hoh!-this is getting inter-
esting." said Sir Henry, sitting up and
looking in the direction his daughter
was pointing.
"See!-the first one is not Mr.. Mas
kell!I- an sure it is not! The second
one Keeps a good distance behind-and
in the shadow of the bank. l don't
hin the first one sees him."
NO. 2 must be watching No. i, then,
/ should say," remarked the old gentle
man.
Now Nc. l puts on a spurt!" cried
lasme, eXcitedly, and the other is pull
ing out into mid stream!"
BY his time the foremost boat was
within snapshot distance of the Iris.
The sculler, who was now clearly
conscious of his pursuer's presence,
showed no sign of Stacking speed, and,
though casting an earnest look at the
house boat, would, no doubt, have kept
on his course.
But the man in the craft behind had
soon. by dint of exertions,
brought the bow of his boat right up
tlll 1T touched the stern-post of the one
in front.
Ills object was to get the inner or
most TO prevent, shouting out to the
other to keep clear.
You rascal!" roared Sir Henry from
the deck of the Iris. ''l1l find out who
you are and have o posted every
where!"
Then, a Shrek from Esme-the over
turning of the second boat and the
disappearance of it's owner in the wa
ter.
Hi! Brookes! Scull out the dingy!
The fellow mustn't drown! Why, the
chap he tried to run down has gone in
after him! Good boy! Good boy! He's
got him into his own boat! He's scull-
ing to us! Here! Gsme-go down and
see about some hot flannels and
things!"
In less than ten minutes Ray Mas
kell was lying, breathing sSertoriously
on the couch in the sitting room of the
Iris.
1t must be confessed that Esme,
womanly and tender though she was
to her finger tips, gave the most of her
attention to Sidney Lanes watery con-
dition.
Here was a man. she said to herself,
who actually risked his own life to save
that of the coward who had done his
best to drown him.
Yes, sir" said Sir Harry emphat-
ically, and when Lane had duly intro
duced himself, I'm proud to know you,
and if you We're only the same flesh
and blood as my old comrade, Archie
Lane, commanding in Poonah ten years
ago, why, I'd be the happiest maj in
all England"
DO you mean General Lane, now
commanding in Ceylon""
"Yes-yes!"
We'll. 1 am his son, if"
Ills son!-Archie's son.! God bless
you, my boy! You've just done what
your father would have done! Esme!"
But IIsme had gone up on deck again.
60 up and bring her down, Sidney
why, of course. 1 remember you now,
as a baby-baby Sid your father used
to call you! Go up and bring my Esme
down!"
But it was a longer operation than
the patience of the old soldier could
stand, SO, %stumping up the companion,
he broke in upon their tete-a-tete.
He found then-both leaning upon
the rail. Sidney pouring into her ear,
Otllello wise, some wonderful story,
maybe, of adventure by flood or field.
And this was by no means the end
of it, for, the spell being once broken,
Sidney Lane too good care that, so
far at least as he was concerned, it
should never again haunt the Iris or it's
mistress.