Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1907-04-04
BY Tom Gallon.

circus; wy, e don't know no more
about 'osses than bluebottle!"
cold ard, my dear-'old ard" re
monstrated the captain, surveying his
boots with very proper pride: I'm
merely liyin' up to me character
wy, a get-up like this ere ii even
make the losses ave proper respect
for me-" Then, observing suddenly
that Clara stood with clasped hands
looking from him to his wife appeal.
ingly, and with tears in his eyes, he
checked himself and came slowly to,
ward her
"Why, my lass" he said, in tone OF
sympathy; "wot's wrong with yer?
You lcok as if you'd 'ad a fright OF
some Mnd-don't she, MISUSE
II want your help said Clara,
glancing behind her toward the door.
"My friend-the unfortunate man of
whom I spoke-Mr. Chatter"
The captain Immediately began to
back away. in some perturbation. Mrs.
Quist, on the other hand, really divin-
ing that something was wrong, nodded
to Clara quickly to continue what She
had to say.
Mr.. Chatter has-has escaped-and
is here at this moment"
| Mrs. Quist darted after Clara into
| the little passage; the captain scarce
| ly knowing what he did, took off his
| hat, and held it pointed toward the
door as though it were weapon, and
he might defend himself with it.
| When, a moment later, Mrs. Quist and
| the girl came in, and the captain, look
ing past them, saw Philip Chatter enter
the room, he Immediately dived down
/ behind the table on his knees, keeping
| only his eyes above the level of it..
Take i'm away! Don't let i'm
come near me-" he begged, in a hoarse
and trembling whisper. Then, adj
dressing Philip in conciliatory tone,
| he added: 81 never done nothing TO
| you, ole pal, Wen you was in the flesh,
an all asks is that you'll go back
Were you come from, Wherever 1t is,
an sleep sound. Go back, my lad; go
| back!"
Philip, despite his own danger, burst
into roar of laughter. There's moth
| ing of the ghost about me, Quist," he
said. 81 think can understand what
you mean-and presently I'll explain
everything. But, for the moment, am
in desperate peril; I've broken out of
| the goal here, and may be searched for
at any moment. l want you to hide
me-
The captain rose from his knees,
still somewhat doubtfully, and came
| slowly round the table, approached
Philip in gingerly fashion, and finally
| ventured TO take one of his hands; ;.
| squeezed it-squeezed it little more.
/ Then his face broke up into smiles,
and he clapped Philip jovially on the
| shoulder, Remembering, however, the
| more serious part of the business, he
| darted to the window and drew the
curtain across it; then sat down,
breathing hard, and staring at Philip
| with all his might. Finally. he got up
! and came to Philip again, and, and
| shook hands with him, as though To as
sure himself that he was solid flesh
and blood.
"'This comes of keepin' bad COM
! pany," calculated the captain, at last.
| you gifts yerself in the river--an' very
bloated you looks, do assure you
| you gifts into goal an you likewise gifts
| out of it; an you frightens honest
! sailor-man Qeastwise, sailor-mam re-
i tired--circus-man now)-you frightens
| his nearly out Of is wits. But still,
| it's good to see you again; an, if8the
missis can find us drain O somethtn'
| --jist a toothful apiece-we can talk
over things comfortable-like.'
1T was just at this moment, as Mrs.
Quist turned smilingly to get out bot
| ties and glasses, that Philip discover
| ed, to his CONSERVATION, that little
| sofa near him, was swaying to and
| fro, with a very White face, although
she bravely tried to smile. He had just
| time to step forward and catch her in
his arms, when she gave sort of gasp
and tainted dead away. Overwrought
for so long, she had given way now
that the danger seemed over and the
1 tension relaxed.
/ Bitterly blaming himself for having
exposed her to such trials, he picked
her up tenderly in his arms, and, guild
ed by Mrs. Quist, carried her upstairs
4 to her room. There, being assured by
that good woman that it was nothing
more serious than sudden attack OF
faintness, Philip left her in charge OF
4 the girl, and rejoined the captain in
/ the room below.
One thing must ask you, captain =
! he said, when he was seated with that
l gentleman at the table, "and that is
in regard to your taking me for a
ghost. What induced you to imagine
4 / was anything but the Philip Crowdy
i knew on the voyage rom
4 Australian"
On this the captain, with much de-
tail, entered into a full account Of the
finding Of the body Of the unfortunate
Dandy Chatter by himself and Cripps;
and although he. did not know, Of
course. the name Of the latter, the de
Il anrfnt{f,ns ho arovo nn5 hio utofnr a NJ