The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1907-04-11
CHAPTER XII.

Mr.. Villiers walked in a leisurely man
ner along the lower part of the town,
with the intent of going up to his desti-
nation through an old mining gully. Az
irving on the plateau of earth just in
front Of the gully, he tramped along in
deep thought. The way being narrow, and
Villiers being preoccupied, 1t was not
surprising that as a man was coming
down in the opposite direction, also pre-
occupied, they should run against one an
other.
Really, SIR" said the stranger, in a
rich, rolling voice, and in a dignifed tone,
II think you might look where you are
going. From what l saw Of you, your
eyes were not fixed on the stars, and thus
to cause your unmatched feet to stumble !;
in fact" said the speaker, looking up to
the sky, II see no stars whereon you
could fix your gaze"
This somewhat strange mode of remon-
STRANGE was delivered in a solemn manner,
with appropriate gestures, and tickled Mr..
Villiers 50 much that he leaned up against
great rock abutting on the path, and
laughed long and loudly. q
That's right, sir" said the stranger,
approvingly; Laughter is to the soul what
food Is to the body. l think, sir, the
thought is happy one"
Villiers assented with nod and ex-
amined the speaker attentively. He was
man of medium height, rather portly
than otherwise, with a clean-shaven face,
clearly cut features, and two merry gray
eyes, which twinkled like stars as they
rested on Villiers. He had small, we'll
shaped hands, one of which grasped a
light cane, and the other white silk
pocket handkerchief, with which he fire.
quently wiped his brow. He seemed very
hot and, leaning on the opposite side of
the path against rock, famed himself
with his hat, all the time looking at Mr..
Villiers with a beaming smile.
whats your name?" asked Mr.. Viii
liers, wondering whether the portly gen.
tleman was mad.
For reply the stranger dived into an
other pocket and, bringing to light a
long billposter, held 1t up before Mr.. vii
liers.
Read mark and inwardly digest! !" he
said in a mufled tone behind the bill.
This document set forth in red, black
and blue letters that the celebrated Wop-
pies Family, consisting of twelve star
artistes, were now in Ballarat. and would
that night appear at the Academy of Mu-
sic In their new and original comedy,
called 1.-THE Cruet- Stand" Act. l.: Pep
per! Act H.: Mustard. Act. I'LL: Vim
egar.
"You, then," said Villiers, after he had
perused this document, 'are Mr.. Wop-
ples?"
Theodore Wopples, at your service
said that gentleman, and rolling up the
bill, thSn putting it into his pocket, he
produced therefrom a batch of tickets
"One of these" handing a ticket to Viii
liers, will admit you to the stalls to-
night, where you will see myself and the
children In The Cruet-Stand.'
Rather peculiar title, isn't it?" said
Villiers, taking the ticket.
''The play is still more peculiar, sir"
replied Mr.. Wopples, restoring the bulky
packet of tickets to his pocket, dealing
as it does with the adventures of a youth
who hides his fathers will In the cruet
stand, which is afterward annexed by a
comic bailiff."
Its very kind Of you to give me this
ticket" said Villiers, in whom the gen
tlemanly instinct still survived.
"Not at all; not at ALL" retorted Mr..
Wopples, with q wink. Business, my
boy business. Always have a good house
FIRST night, so must go into the highways
and byways for an audience" and with a
gracious wave of his hand he skipped
lightly down the path and disappeared
from sight.
1t was now getting dark so Mr.. VII
lers went on his way, and having select
ed a mining shaft where he could hide the
nugget, ne climbed up to the top OF the
hill, and lying down under the shadow