The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1907-11-29
CHAPTER v
TIE BLOW rAILs

THE BLOW FALLS.
Dinner. that night. was anything but
a cheerful meal; In fact. it was evident
that the house party possessed that
1atal bar to success-a spirit OF an
Iagonism. Drysdale and Grace Croy-
0on maintained a careful silence, and
MRS. Delroy was SO obviously depressed
that her husband vas alarmed.
- dom believe this stay in the coun-
try Is doing you q bit Of good. Edith"
he. observed.
She smiled wearily in answer to his
=! don't feel very we'll. tonight" she
after dinner"
Il would" he agreed. you must
save yourself all you can. 1 can't nave
you gettin3 III. o know. II I'd had
n sense. I'd have got away from that
New York whirl q month ago"
"im.not going to be ILL.," she assured
MIN: I'll be all right in Il day or two"
AS soon as the meal was over, she
n her sister disappeared upstairs
while the men lighted their cigars and
etrolled down to the boathouse to view
the preparations made by the Grahams
Tor the protection of tho necklace. The
night was very close, with n promise OF
rain unmlstakablc.
Ihey went through the %boathouse
EWilnout fndlng anyone. but on the pier
beyond old Graham was sitting. gazing
across the water and smoking an odor-
,!Ierous pipe. Between his knees he
he!dTa Winchester repeater and a re-
: volver butt stuck from a case at his
belt. MS
Delroy laughed quietly as he looked
why. you're a regular arsenal"
ne ea!d. You're taking 1t In earnest
Tor sure"
Might MS well be on tn safe side.
Sir. responded Graham tremendously
ana where's the necklace?"
sir" pte''
mo chance OF 1t getting away?.
Il tied TIL knots, sir"
All rtght-that settles 1t. You're
rot going to sit out here all night, 1
"Wlllum takes his trick at midnirht
cir. He's gone over t. TIL house t:
bring a cot an some bcddin' down t.
tn boathouse. Well take turn an turn
We'll" said Delroy. turning away.
! see l can sleep without worrying
any over the safety OF the necklaces
II there's anything you want, Graham.
IN the way of eatables or %drinkables.
don't hesitate to send to the butler for
them"
han ZEE, sir: but 1 guess Veil
yet IN turntables alone fer tn present.
Well cook our own meals on tn stove
IN tn boathouse.s
What do You want to do that for?"
we'll returned Graham slowly.
then We'll know that they amt moth
IN In them tibet hadn't ought t. be
Delroy laughed again, long and loud.
and even Drysdale smiled.
You've been reading a dime novel;"
cried Delroy, when he had got his
breath. "Dendwood Dick-I didn't
think 1t Of you. Graham!"
- don't read nothin'. sir, but TIL
ITS the Same thing" Delroy inter-
jected. A'o
But l don't believe in takin' no
rtsks-when you come after TIL neck
lace. sir. it's goin' T. be right here"
Il haven't a doub. Of It," his employ
desperate thief who'd tackle you.
You're all right. Graham. But I'd 90
into h b%oathouse IL 1t rains"
TIL sec about 1t, SIR" said raham
n refilled his pipe.
AS they passed through the boat
."Wilium' busily engaged in making up
his bed on a cot In II corner. Del
roy nodded to him and passed on with
out speaking.
It's too nice q night to spend in the
house" said Drysdale. a little abruptly,
as they mounted the steps ia the door
Il believe I'll go for a tramp. TN take
my %ratncoat. though: then I needn't
hurry back"
Il didn't know you were such a lover
OF nature. jack" observed Delroy.
Tim not: but I feel like tramping to-
night"
Delroy shrugged his shoulders. as
Drysdale entered the outer hall with
them and took down his raincoat from
the rack. Thomas, who was stationed
In the vestlbule. helpeL him on with Il.
: "Goodby." he called from the door:
don't look for mo for an hour or two"
All right, we won't worry" am
swered Dclroy:: Though for my part"
he added, as he n Tremaine went ON
Through. the hall together, II prefer a
book Isfore tho fire, There's q chiu in
the air that. ststkes through one after
q while. and Jack i. soon get enough or
1t. But Id bettcE &c up ana see how
my wife's getting along. You'll excuse
me-"
"Certainly-and stay as long as Won
like. I'm going to my room presently.
myself have some letters to write"
Delroy nodded and went on up the
stair. Tremaine sank into one OF the
chairs before the fire and watched the
tent, alert, as though he were waiting
for someone.
A door opened and closed, a light
step crossed the hall. q hand was laid
upon the chatr-back.
.Oh,"' said Miss Croydon, II thought
where is Mr.. Drysdale"
Tfemaine arose slowly.
"D~rysdale." he said. with a mean
lag look which did not escape her.
~wss unable to resist the charms OF
the evening. He has zone for a walk.
tie said lie would not be back for a
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