The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1907-08-02

covered with crimson shades.
It was all very warm and inviting
He looked round 1t with satisfaction
for a moment.
Then suddenly. as he stood on tho
hearthrug, he put his plump, white
hand with the heavy seal ring upon II
up to his throat. The apple moved
up and down conclusively, and for q
single moment the whole being OF the
man was filled with overmasterine
fear Of the future and horror and loath'
ing of himself.
The spasm passed as quickly as II
came. The drug he had taken assert
ed it's grip upon the twitching nerves;
the man whose whole life was discreet
adventure, who was a soldier Of social
fortune. who daily faced perils, be-
came once more himself.
THAI is to say, to put 1t In two
words, his better angel, who had held
possession of him for a moment, fed
sorrowfully away, while the especial
spirit deputed to look after the other
side of him happened to chance in
his direction and, remembering he had
often found a hospitable reception
from Mr.. Eustace C%harliewood, looked
in, found his old quarters duly swept
and garnisLe ed, and settled down.
C~harliewood's rooms were on the
ground floor. In a minute or two-it
was about 4 quarter to eight-he heard
some n upon the steps outside in
Jermyn street, and heard the electric
bell whirr down below in the kitchen.
He rushed out into t. e hall. 1t gen.
orally took William some time to
mount from the lower regions. which
were deep in the bowels Of tho earth,
n no doubt Mr.. Charliewood kindly
desired to spare the butler the trouble
Of opening the door.
So, at least, William thought as he
climbed the kitchen stairs and came
out into the hall to ind MI. Charlie.
wood already helping his guest on
with his coat and showing him into
the dining room.
William did not know that there
were any special reasons in Mr.. Char
liewood's mind for not having his
guests name announced and possibly
remembered by the servant.
Well, my dear Rathbone, how are
you?" C~harliewood said, and no face
could have been kinder or more in.
viting and pleasant to see than the
face of the host. lawfully good OF
you to come and take me like this, but
l thought we should be more COM
Portable here than at the club. There
are one or two things l want to talk
over. I'll do you as we'll as | can, but
can't answer for anything. You must
take OF luck"
Gerald Rathbone looked round the
charming ROOF and laughed - a full
blooded, happy laugh.
Il wish you could see my chambers
in the Temple, he said. But you fei-
lows who live up this end do your
selves so jolly WE'LL"
:" suppose n does overdo 1t" Char
liewood answered, lin the way OF little
comforts and things. It's a mistake,
no doubt; but one gets used to what
one was brought up to, and so one
just goes on, dependent upon things
that a sensible man could easily do
without. Now, sit down and have a
sherry and bitters; dinner Will be up
in a minute. And try one OF these
cigarettes. It's a bad plan to smoke
before dinner. I know, as a rule, Dut
these little things just go with the
sherry and bitters, and they are spe-
cial. l get them over from Rio; they're
made of black Brazilian tobacco. AS
you see, they're only half as long as
your finger, and, instead OF being
wrapped in filthy, poisonous rice pa
per, they're covered with maize-leaf."
Rathbone sank into the luxurious
chair which his host pointed out to
him, took the sherry in its heavily-cut
glass, and lit one Of the cigarettes. He
stretc ed out his feet toward the fire
and enjoyed a moment OF Intense
physical ease. The flames and the
shaded electric lights shone upon his
fine and happy face, twinkled upon
the stud in his shirt-front, and showed
him for what he was at that moment
a young gentleman intensely enjoying
everything that life had to give.
ITO Be C%ontlnued.)
rhe First Oil Well.