The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1907-01-24
%nM@ Copyright 1905. by the BobhtMerrn Coz GA
III ODE Deluge
w. BY DAVID GRAHAM PHILLIPS "a

I saw that his effcsive friendliness
confirmed Tom Langdon's fear that I
had escaped from his brothers tolls.
He stared sullenly at the carpet until
no caught me looking at him with
twinkling eyes. He made a altar eff
fort to return my smile and succeeded
fn twisting his face. into a knot that
ssSeZned TO hurt him as much as 1t
@ruused me.
We'll, goodby, Tom said L. Give
,sfly regards to your brother when he
lands. and tell him his going away
was a mistake. A man can't afford 10
trust his important business to under
.@trappers.'' This with a face free from
any suggestion of intending a shot at
htsn. Then to Sam: See you
tonight. old man. and / went
away, leaving Lewis looking from one
to the other as If he felt that there
was dynamite about but ouldn locate
Ct L stopped with Melville to talk Coal
for a few minutes-at my ease, and the
East man on earth to be suspected OF
hanging by the crook of one finger
from the edge of the precipice.
L rang the Ellersly's bell at half past
nine that evening. The butler faced me
with eyes not down, as they should
have been, but on mine, and full of the
Gervile insolence to which he had been
prompted by what he had overheard in
the family.
mot at home, sir he said, though
4 had not spoken.
I was preoccupied and not expecting
et1is statement; neither had j skill nor
desire to acquire skill, in reading family
barometers In the faces of servants.
SO, I was for brushing past him and
entering where I felt / had as much
right as in my own places. He barred
h way.
BEG pardon, sid. Mrs. Ellersly in
Fl AfrJfrt0d mo tn ga no one was at
home"
I halted, but only like an oncom-
eng bear at the prick Of an arrow.
What the hell does this mean?" l
exclaimed, waving him aside. At that
instant Anita appeared from the little
reception room a few feet away.
"Oh-come I'M, she said cordially. II
was expecting you. Burroughs, please
cake Mr.. Blacklock's hat"
I followed her into the reception
thinking the butler had made
come sort of mistake.
How did you come out?' she asked
eagerly. facing me. You look your
natural self-not tired or worried-so 1t
rsust have been not SO bad as you
feared.
EFF our friend Langdon hadn't slipped
9waw I might not look and feel SO
comfortable" said I. His brother
~Aluudered, and there was no one to
checkmate my moves" She seemed
NeATeF TO me, more IN sympathy with
me than aver before.
III cam tell you how glad I ami
Hex eyes were wide and bright, as
o some great excitement, and her
color was high. Once my attention was
On 1t, ! knew instantly that only some
hold could Lave produced the fever that
was blazing In her, Never had ! seen
her in any such mood as this.
What is it'll asked. What has
h~sppened?"
.'If anything disagreeable should be
uAtd or done this evening here" she
sald, II want you to promise me that
you'll restrain yourself, and not say or
DO any of those things that make me
that jar on me. You understand
II am always myself" replied I. II
can be anybody else"
But you are-several different kinds
81 self" h insisted. And please
this evening don't be that kind. It's
.contng into your eyes and chin now.
rad lifted my head and looked
reund probably much like the leader Of
- hornet herd at scent OF danger.
-Is this better" said I, trying to
s5ook the thoughts I had no difficulty i n
.4etting to The fore whenever my eyes
NWere on her.
Her smile rewarded me. But 1t dis
appeared, gave nlace to a look Of ner-
vvous alarm, of terror even, at the rust
taing. or, rather. bustling OF skirts / n
the hall-there was war in the very
SCUM n / felt 1t. Mrs. Ellersly ap-
peared. bearing her husband as a de-
1ected trailer invisibly but firmly COUP
tled. She acknowledged my s~aIutation
with q stiff necked nod, ignored my ex-
tended hand. / saw that she wished to
rtnlnress unon me that she was a very
sgrard lady indeed; but, Will my ideas
81 what constitutes a lady were at
time somewhat befogged by my snob-
Mfshness, she failed dismally. She
roked just what she was-a mean. bad
tempered woman in a towering rage.
You have forced me, Mr.. Blackjack"
naid she, n then I knew for just what
purpose that voice OF hers was best
E~dapted-Nto say to you what I should
have preferred to write. MI. Ellersly
ina had brought to his ears matters
IN connection with your private life
that make it imperative that you dis
continue YOU calls here,
My private life. ma'am?"I repeated.
nfe.
-Anita. leave US alone with Mr..
Blackjack commanded her mother.
The girl hesitated, bent her head. and
with Acowed look went slowly toward
che door. There she paused, and. with
NEaaat seemed a greater effort, lifted her
MenA n ga.ed at me. How I ever
CAME rightly to Interpret her look /
don't know, but / said: Miss Ellersly,
g right to insist that you stay
saw she was going to obey me,
md before Mrs. Ellersly, could Re.
peat her order said. NOW
MADAM, If any one accuses
- Of having done anything that would
fscsaase yon to exclude a man from your
Muusc, = am ready for the liar and his lie..,
AZ I spoke il was searching the weak,
had old face Of her husband for an ex.
an x1aarraGaon. Their pretense OF outraged
insanity + rejected at once-it was absurd,