The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1907-01-17
Xxx L.
MOST rNLADYLIKE.

When 1 saw ] was to have a respite
OF q month Oh so, / went over TO the
| National Industrial bank with Healey's
roll, which my tellerS had counted and
prepared for deposit, l finished my
business with the receiving teller of the
! National Industrial, n dropped in on
my friend Lewis, the first vice presi-
| dent. L did not need to pretend cool
| ness and confidence; my nerves We're
still in that curious state of tranquil
e~xhllaration, and L felt master Of my
self and of the situation. Just as 1
was leaving, in came Tom L.angdon
with Sam EllerSly.
Toms face was a laughable exhibit
of embarrassment. Sam-really, l felt
sorry for him. There was no reason
on earth why he shouldn't be with Tom
Langdon; yet he acted as ii L had
caught him with the goods on him."
He stamnered and suffered, clasped
my hand eagerly, dropped It as if it had
stung him: he ierked out a string OF
hysterical nonsense, ending with a
laugh so crazy that the sound Of 1t dis
concerted him. Drink IA the expla-
nation that drifted through my mind;
but ii fact | thought little about it.
so full vas I of other matters.
when is your brother r~eturning?"
said 1 to Tom.
ION the next steamer, L believe" he
ISpilSu. I1G went OiiIy Iol bI4S lS5t di4o
the bath of sea air." With an effort
he collected himself, drew me aside and
said: II W you an apology, Mr..
Blackjack. [ went to the steamer with
Mowbray to see him off and he asked
me to tell you about our new dividend
r~ate-though it was not to be made
public for some time. Anyhow, he told
me to go straight to you-and frank
ly, l forgot it," Then. with the win
ming, candid Langdon smile, he added,
i~ngenuously: THE best excuse in the
World-yet the one nobody ever ac-
cepts."
mo apology necessary" said l with
the tnos good nature. i've no per-
sonal interest in Textile. My house
deals on commission only, you know
never on margins for myself. I'm a
banker and broker, not a gambler.
Some of our customers We're alarmed
by the news of the big increase, and in
sisted on bringing suit to stop it. But
I'm going to urge them now to let the
matter drop"
Tom tried to look natural, and as he
is an apt pupil of his brothers, he sue
ceeded fairly well. His glance, how
ever, wouldn't fix steadily on my gaze,
but circled round and round it like a
bat at an electric light. ITO tell you
the TRUTH aid he, Tn extremely
nervous as to what my brother will say
and do-to me, when / tell him. I
hope no harm amt to YOU through my
fo~r@etfulness.'
None in the world" I assured him.
Then l turned IN Sam. What are you
doing down town today?" said I. Ara
you on your way to see me?"
He flushed with angry shame, read
ing an i~nsinuation into my careless re-
mark. when l had not the remotest in
tention of reminding him that his GUS
tomary object in coming down town
to play the parasite and the sponge
at my expense. / ought to have guessed
at once that there was some good rea-
son for his recovery of his refined, high
bred, gentlemanly Representatives,;
but | was not IN the mood to analyze
trifies, though my nerves We're taking
careful record of them.
ooh, | was just calling on Tom." he
replied rather haughtily.
hen Melville himself came in, BRUSH
ing back his White tufted burnsides and
licking his lips and blinking his eyes
looking for all the world like a cat at
its toilet.
ooh! ah! Blackjack" he exclaimed,
with purring cordiality-and l knew he
had heard of the big deposit 1 was max
ing. Come into my office on your way
out-nothing especial-only because it's
always a pleasure to talk with you"
Continued Next Week.)
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