Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1907-02-16
DUKE OF
DEVIL
MAY-CARE
BY HARRIS DICKSON
CHAPTER xIx-continued.
Author of
The Black VOLTS Breed" Etc
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Copyright. 1905. by D. Appleton q Co.


All through the dinner pretty little
Miss Derosset at the far end of the
table could scarcely take her eyes
away from him for fear she might
miss something that he said.
While old Ben was clearing away
the salad plates something reminded
Duke, and he began to tell very in
teresting story of the Argentine revo-
Iutions-the story of an American
hardware drummer and a fussy gov
eminent official, burdened with re-
sponsibility and gold lace. Pretty
Miss Derosset faced him, scarcely
breathing. it was so romantic
In the midst of his story the door
bell rang. He dropped his fork with
a clatter; his voice wavered, and
stopped. Involuntarily he looked over
his shoulder into the hall.
Anita caught her breath in one
quick gasp and pushed back her
chair.
Never mind, dear said Mrs. Chau-
sdron; Celeste will CO."
The color went and came in Anita's
face; she stared out into the hall.
Then she heard Celeste talking with
messenger boy who had brought
note for Mrs. Chaudron. She laughed
and looked at Duke.
We'll, what did the governor do
them" asked Miss Derosset, with one
little fist lying clenched on the table.
Everything was safe; Duke STUN
bled through with his story. After
that he sat quietly and listened. But
he knew he was listening for the bell,
the sound of the latch, step on the
walk, and not at what was said across
the table.
In every lull of the conversation
'Chaudron reverted to the subject
which irritated him most-the treach-
cry of Baker.
Coffee had been served, and dallied
over. Old Ben began handing round
the cigars. and the ladies arose to
leave
But I'll make them suffer for it
see if 1 don't" Chaudron declared
vehemently to Joe.
What are you talking about. my
SOM" asked Mrs. Chaudron. laying
her hand on his head as she passed.
Those miserable police especially
Baker, I'm going to settle with them
just as soon as Carnival is over. 1
get madden and madden every time 1
think about it,
Joe laughed as he struck a match.
Now, Felix, I'd quit worrying over
that; it has turned out so well that
we ought to be thankful. Just think,
at this time yesterday how glad we
would have been to know that Mrs.
Ashton was safe He leaned across
the table with a queer little smile
upon his lips and remarked: Il knew
another tragedy once that turned out
even better than this
Wait a minute, Mrs. Chaudron;
please wait a minute" Miss Derosset
begged; 'let us hear this one story"
The ladies stopped. Anita paused
with her hand on the back of a chair
the chair next to Dukes. Joe looked
straight at his friend as he began:
1t happened to Harry Robb. the
best friend 1 ever had in the world.
at the University of Virginia. He was
high-spirited boy, without a petty
bone in his body; but rash, impulsive,
and always getting into trouble. One
day he quarreled with his sweetheart
and went downtown that night to
forget about it-started out to make
himself generally disagreeable so she
would hear of it and be sorry.
Il thought when he left my room
that he had Old Nick in him bigger
than a mule; but couldn't keep him,
he would go.
The next morning, about daylight,
Iudn Comc tapping OA LILY WAuuOW
At first I thought he must be bur-
sglar and was considering whether to
.shoot him or not Then he called
out Joe. Joe, let me in. quick, it's
Harry"
Duke had paused in the act of light
ing a cigar. The match burned down
to his fingers. and dropped: he did
mot observe it. He Nscowled at Joe;
what q fool Joe was; he wished he
could climb over the table and choke
him.
Joe smiled maddeningly, and went
on:
81 let Harry in the window; he was
pale and haggard. My God, joel he
said, it has happened; you always said
1t would happen l got to drinking
and killed a man last night-fght in
saloon
1T sickened me so that / could not
inquire how the thing occurred Har-
~ told all about it, what little he
knew, which was not much. From
what he said 1 gathered that he had
wandered into the saloon and sat
down at table in the rear, opposite
a stranger. They were alone. both
in an ugly humor, and words passed
between them. about nothing The
stranger was eating oysters and had
fork in his hand
He got up, with the fork, and
cursed Harry. Harry snatched the
first thing he could lay hands upon