The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1907-02-07
CHAPTER xIl.--(continued.

err" he came back the next day, sir
Saturday.
The expression on Ogledon's face
ly. He recovered his composure some
what, and was about to start again to
question her on that disquieting mat.
ter, when the two servants entered the
room with the materials for supper.
DR.. Grips had, long before this, dis
covered a decanter of spirits, and had
been helping himself rather literally
to the contents. He came up to the la
BILE now, still carrying the decanter,
and moaning out a song in a wheezy
and cracked voice; sat down, with the
decanter at his elbow, and, utterly OBJ
livious to every one else, began his
supper; taking a great deal to drink
and very little to eat.
Ogledon being in no mood, with that
question still unanswered, for any
meal, waited until the men had with
drawn, and then once more approach
ed Mrs. Dolman. White-faced and in
deadly anxiety though he was, his
smile was soft and kindly, and his
voice-albeit q trihe impatient at
times of what he supposed to be the
good woman's perversity-as soft and
kindly as his smile.
Now, my dear Mrs. Dolman-pray
excuse my Fostering you with ques-
tions at such an hour. | beg-I am
desperately anxious about my cousin,
Mr.. Chatter. You say you saw him on
Saturday; are you sure you are not
confusing dates?"
1t was the ~housekeeper's turn to
stare now; after doing so FOR a mo-
ment, in evident p%erplexity, she shook
her head vigorously. mo, Mr.. Ogle-
don-certainly not" she said; Master
Dandy came down on Saturday, dr'v-
ing from the station in a fly. | sent
down to ask II you were expected, sir,
and he said he did not know"
Here a remarkable and ghostly in
terruption came, in the form Of a long,
wailing chant from DR.. Cripps, who
suddenly broke forth, in a quivering
treble, with a stave OF Down Among
the Dead Men" Ogledon, turning furi-
ously, fell upon his friend, and shook
him so vigorously hat the little man
seemed for a few moments in danger
of being shaken out of existence.
When, however, 0giedon desisted
Cripps merely looked round about him
dizzily; smiled, quite as though it were
an exercise to which he was accustom-
ed; and set to work drinking harder
than ever.
Meantime, Ogledon had turned
again to the housekeeper-and began
once more to peg away at that subject
of the dead man, as though he could
never leave II alone.
"Did-did Mr.. Chatter seem-seem
WELL" he asked, with some assumption
of ~carelessness.
II never saw him looking better, Mr..
Ogledon," replied the housekeeper,
TRANQUILITY. "And now, gentlemen"
she added, seeing that you have all
you require, l will take the liberty OF
going to bed"
"By all means" responded Ogledon,
appearing to wake suddenly from a
heavy musing fit which had been upon
him. by all means, Mrs. Dolman.
You are quite sure, Mrs. Dolman;
quite sure that you have made no mis-
take about the date?"
'Quite certain. Mr.. Ogledon," she re-
piled, a little coldly. Il am not likely
to make such mistakes as that. sir; II
was impressed upon me the more, pei
haps, because Master Dandy got up
very early the next morning-Sunday
that was-and afterward went
church."
Dandy Chatter went to church'" eS
claimed Ogledon; and at the mere sug-
gestion Of such a thing he smiled In
good earnest, despite the seriousness
of the matter to him. His face cleared
a little; he seemed to see an easy so
luton of the business. My good soul,
you have certainly been dreaming;
Dandy Chatter would never have gone
to church!"
Mrs. Dolman looked at him for a
moment In majestic silence. drew ner-
self UP to her full height, as though
about to make a whitening speech. re-
membered her position. babe him
Goodnight" and walked in a stately
fashion from the room.
For a long time Ogledcn paced the
room restlessly, stopping every now
and then on the opposite side of the
table to Cripps (who had fallen asleep
with an arm thrown lovingly around
the decanter) to look at that gentle
man doubtfuiiy, as though haifinciined
to wake him and endeavor to get some
thing out of him. But at last, a new
thought struck him. he rang the lIeli,
and waited near the door until ono OF
the sleepy m%an-servants am fSred
the summons.
"Simms." he said, not looking at the
man, but keeping his eyes fixed on the
uoor. has Harry Routley gone to
bed?"
Hours ago" replied the man
wake him up at once; tell him l
want to see him"
Some ten minutes later Harry
knocked at the aoor and came in, hav-
ing dressed hurriedly, and having all
the annearance of one reused unex