Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1907-02-07
THE SECOND
DANDY CHATTER

By Tom Gallon.

| AT the mention or that name the lad
suddenly became rigid, and set his
lips as though with the determination
to say nothing. Ogledon, after pause,
went on again, evidently Disconnected
"We-Mr. Chatter and have some
how-somehow missed each other.
with him Enthusiastically. Coming
back tonight, hear from Mrs. Dolman
that he-that he has gone away
again"
Eyes, sir. Last Wednesday,"
II Harry had suddenly dealt Ogle-
| don heavy blow he could not have
! staggered or surprised him more. Re-
covering instantly, however, he came
at the other with rush, and caught
him by the throat; his dark face al
most livid with passion.
"You hound!" he said in a sort OF
hoarse whisper; "this is a trick; ly-
ing tale, Matched up amongst you here.
Do you want to drive me mad?" Then,
seeing the look of blank amazement
and growing wrath in the others eyes,
his mood changed swiftly, and he
uIODDCu LIS Hduuo anu pdoSCu INV
over his forehead, in the same nervous
fashion as before. "Y-I beg your par
don, Harry; I had no right to speak to
you in such a way. But Ii have
been ill-and am faint-faint and
weak, from 8. long journey, and but lit
tie food. Take-take a glass of wine,
Harry, and then answer me clearly
He turned to the table, and poured
out wine with shaking hand; carried
it-spilling little as he did SOTO the
lad But Harry shook his head, and
seemed to put away the glass with his
hand. He was suspicious of every one
and everything at that time.
81 can answer quite clearly, sir" he
said, brusquely.
"Mr. Chatter went with me to Lon
don-not with me, but on the same
day: we met in London-a week ago.
have not seen him since. Have your
He seemed to listen for the answer or
the other as though his life hung upon
it.
Eyes, sir Master Dandy came down
the next day, quite unexpectedly;
went to church"
Ogledon signed to him with his hand
to go away. "That will do" he said.
"You can go to bed"
When he was left alone in the room
with the sleeping Cripps he went al
most mechanically, as it seemed, to
the table, and unsteadily poured out
some brandy and drank it. Then, with
an awful eager hurry upon him, he
ran round the table and caught Grips
by the shoulders and dragged him to
his feet.
'sWake up, you drunken fool-wake
up!' he cried, in a voice but little
greater than a whisper. 81 shall go
mad, if I stop here alone, with this
thing weighing upon me. Come-open
your eyes; listen to what l have to
say!"
DR.. Cripps, striving hard to go to
sleep again, even while held upright
by his friend, tried a line or two of his
former lugubrious ditty and smiled
feebly. Ogledon, all impatient, howev-
er, brought him rapidly to something
of sobriety, by unceremoniously emp
tying the remains Of a glass of spirits
over him: whereupon he shuddered,
and shivered, and opened his eyes
fully, and stood upright without assis-
lance.
Now, Cripps-just attend to me
for | mean business. If you deceive
me, by so much as word, it'll be the
worse for you. You tell me you took
this body from the river? What day
was that?"
The doctor blinked his eyelids.
moistened his lips with his tongue,
and ooked extraordinarily grave.
"Thish' afternoon-no--thish is to-mor-
row mornin', amt it? Yesterday af-
ternoon, mean"
Il know what you mean; you mean
few hours since-say ten or dozen,
eh?" cried Ogledon, impatiently, yet al
ways in that low, cautious tone.
"Thash it, replied the doctor, fast
merging into sleep again.
Very well, then. You understand
your business, I suppose; how long
had this man-this body-been in the
water?"
"Five-shix days-p'r'aps a week.
said the other. Then, suddenly be-
coming more sober, at the recollection
of what had so recently happened, the
little man waved his arms wildly, and
exclaimed. in his thin, piping voice,
But that's nothing-nothing t ali.
Dandy Chatter came to meeting; took
bank-notes -his-yours, too"
What on earth are you talking
about?' cried Ogledon, almost as
wildly as the other. What meeting
what notes %
Tuesday. The boys divided up
share and share alike Dandy took
yours and his own. And tonight
ugh!-he was in that cursed garden,
md took the necklace. He takes ev-
erything.''
Ogledon wiped his face, and even
his hands, and poured out more
brandy. Drinking 1t. he looked over
the top Of the glass at Cripps; set the
glass down, and stood nervously beat
Ing his hands together and biting his
lips.
cripps,. he said ;. last 4: : w-. wis
i