The Rich Hill tribune. (Rich Hill, Mo.) 1903-1911, 1907-02-07
By R DICKSON
hutsor Of
rhs Black Wolfs Breed IA
cHAPTER XIX-contlnued.

CHAPTER XlX=continued.
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 a very IN
teresting story Of the Argentine revo-
lutions-the story of an American
hardware drummer and a fussy gov
ernment 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. lie dropped his fork with
a c~latter; his voice wavered. and
stopped. Involuntary he looked over
his shoulder into the hall.
Anita caught her breath in n
quick gasp and pushed back her
chair.
Never mind, dear" said Mrs. Chau.
dron; Celeste will 60"
The color went and came IN Anita's
face she stared out into the hall.
Then she heard Celeste talking with a
messenger boy who had brought a
note for Mrs. ChaudFon. She laughed
and looked at Duke.
Well, what did the governor do
then9" asked Miss Derosset. with one
little FIST lying olencned 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 III make them suffer for it
see IL I don't Chaudroni declared
Tehemently to Joe.
What are you talking about, my
SOM? asked Mrs Chaudron, laying
her hand on HIS head as she passed.
Those miserable police-espeeially
Baker; I'm going to settle with them
just as soon as Carnival Is over. /
get madden and madden every time
think about II"
Joe laughed as he struck a match
Nov, Felix, ia 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
wOnld have been TO know that Mrs.
Ashton was safe He leaned across
the table with a queer little smile
upon his lips and remarked: II knew
another tragedy once that turned out
even better than this"
wait a minute. Mrs. c~haudron;
please wait a minute Miss Derosset
begged; "let US bear this one story"
The ladies' stopped, Anita paused
with her hand on the back Of a chair
-the chair next 20 Dukes. Joe looked
straight AZ his friend as ne began:
1T happened 10 Harry Robb. the
best friend I ever had IN the world.
AZ the University OF Virginia. lie was
a high spirited boy. without a petty
bone In hls body; but rash. impulsiye.
and always getting into trouble. One
day be quarreled with his sweetheart
and wea down-town that night 10
forget about it-started out 10 make
himself generally disagreeable so she
would hear Of Il and be sorry.
Il thought when he left my room
that he had Old Nick IN him bigger
than a mule; but I couldn't keep him,
he would go.
THE next morning about daylight,
a man anne tapping OF my window.
Al hrst thought he must be a bur
glar and was considering whether 20
shoot him or not. Then he called
out Joel Joe! let me IN. quick. It's
Harry"
Duke had paused IN the act Of light
ing a cigar. che match burned down
to his fingers, and dropped; he did
not observe It. He seowled at Joe;
what a fool Joe was: he wished he
could climb over the table aud choke
him.
Joe smiled maddeningly, and went
on:
Il let Harry in the window; he was
pale aud haggard. My God. joel he
said, sc has happened; you always said
Il would happen. / got TO drinking
and killed a man last nlght-hght 10
\ saloon.
IL slckened me 10 that I could not
inquire how the thing occurred. Hnr-
~ told an about e. what little he
knew, which was not much. From.
what he said -hered that he had
wandered into tAe saloon and nai
down al a table In the rear, opposite
4 stranger. They were alone, both
ia an ugly humor and words passed
between them. about nothing. The
stranger was eating oysters and had
a fork On his hand.
"He got up. with the fork. and
cftr.aa Harry Harry snatched the
az ttinr ne conld iag hands uDou