The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1907-02-08
XNIIG
A HOUSEwARMING.

Dawn Hill. was chief lieutenant, If llol
principal, in my conspiracy to drift
Anita day by day further and further
into the routine of the new life. YET
neither of us had shown by word OIL
look that a thorough understanding eN-
listed between us. My part was to be
unobtruslve, friendly. neither indiffer-
ent nor eager. and l held to 1t by talk
ing care. never to be left alone with
Anita; Alva's part was To be herself
simple and natural and sensible. full of
life and laughter. knocking at those
moods that betray lis into the absurd
tty OF taking ourselves 10 seriously.
/ was getting ready a new Gus in
town as a surprise to Anita. and | took
Alva into my plot. II wish Anita's
part OF the house to be exactly to her
liking" said j. Can you set her to
dreaming aloud what kind of place She
would like to live in. what she would
like to open her eyes on in the morn
Ing, what surroundings she'd like to
dress in and read in. and all that"
Alva had no difficulty in carrying out
the suggestions. And By harassing
McStlake necessarily. l succeeded in
realizing her report of Anita's dream to
the exact shade of the draperies and
the silk that covered the wallis. BY
pushing the work, l got the house done
just us Alva was warning me that She
could not remain longer at Dawn Hin,
but must go home and get ready for
her wedding. When | went down to
arrange with her the last details of
he surprise, who should meet me at
the station but Anita herself? | took
u glance at her serious face and.
much disquieted. seated myself beside
he.' in the little trap. Instead of fol-
lowing the usual route to the house.
she turned her horse into the bay shore
read.
several days ago she began. as the
head hid the station, II got a letter
from some lawyers saying -that an
unc.e of mine nae given me a large
suln OF money-a very large sum. l
have Eeen inquiring about IT, and find
1t is mine absolutely"
j braced myself against the worst.
She is about to tell me that she is
leaving" thought l. But | managed
though l fear my tone was not espe-
cial!y joyous.
So she went on. Il am IN & position
to pay back to gu, ] think. what my
father and Sam took from you. 1t
won't be enough I'm afraid to pay what
you lost indirectly. But l ave told
the lawyers to make it all over to
you"
L could ave laughed aloud. 1t was
too ridiculous, this situation into which
lad got myself. l did not know What
to say.
initial" 1 said unsteadily. Anita"
The color famed In her cheeks; we
were silent for a long time.
"~You-your people W me nothing"
at length found voice to say. Even
II they did, l couldn't and wouldn't take.
your money. But. believe me. they owe
me nothing"
You cannot mislesd me-" she an
awered. When they asked me to be-
conc engaged to you. they told me
about it"
had forgotten. The aholo repulsive,
rotten business came back TO me. And.
hanged man that l had become i'm
The last six months. | saw myself as
mad been. I felt that she was looking
At me. was reading the degrading con-
tession in my telltale features.
Bnt with all my love making and
trouble at home, my financial plans
matured. In fact, they We're ripened to
r~otienness by the urgency of my enem-
Yes. open and hidden. However skill
gully they plotted, my plans outran
ihe1rs. The suspicious that had been
fo"ii. the natural conditions of trade.
the secret springs in currency. led to
a great financial cataclysm.
lhere was q week of stress and
storm, but with my sails reefed I ran
before the wind. my assets all secure
and clewed down like the sails of the
good ship Luck in which I was running.
ne millions of others melted before
their eyes, absorbing all that lay about,
but nothing of mine run down.
However. it seemed advisable that l
should leave New York. 1t was told
co the chief of police that my presence
might cause Il riot. Personally, l had
no feeling of fear. ! was serene with
my conscience. But as the storm beat
about there was nothing Tor me to 90,
| went off on my yacht to rest and
think and give the skies time to clear.
NV enemies caused III to no u-iIaJ,-
believed that Wild Week was my de
tberlte CONTINUANCE for the sole pur-
pos. of cnrichi.S myself. Thus they
got RE d reputation fcr almost super
human daring, for satanic astuteness
at eold-blooded calculation. | do not
deserve the admiration and respect that
my success-worshipping fellow country
men lay at my feet. True, | did greatly
enrich myself; but not until the Mon
day after Wild Week.
Not until l had pondered on men and
events with the assistance of the news
paper and my detective protectors and
jailers permitted to be brought aboard
NOT until the last hope of turning
Wild Week TO immediate public adj
vantage had sputtered out like Il lost
mans last match, did | think of bene-
fitting myself, OF Selling the opportun-
ttS TO strengthen myself for the future.
On Monday morning | said to Sergeant
Mulholland: Il want to so ashore at
once and send some telegrams."
Inc sergeant is one OF the detective
bureaus "dress-suit men" He is by
nature p~hleglna1ic and cynical. His ex-
peTieace has put over that "A veneer OF
weary politeness. We had become
great friends during our enforced in
scparable companionship. For Joe. who
looked on me somewhat as a mothe,
looks on a brilliant but erratic son. had
as ! soon discovered. elaborated Il won.
derful program ior me-. 1T included a
watch on me day and light, lest
through rage or dependency. l should
try 20 do violence to myself. a fine
character. that Joe. l'ut. to return
Mulholland answered my request TO,
shore leave With Il soothing smile
Can't do It, Nr. Blackjack" he said
our orders are positive. But wller
we put in at New London and SEND
ashore for further Instructions, and fol
the papers. you can send in you mes
sa-es."
~ you please" said !. M i gave
him a cipher telegram to Joe-an order
to invest my store Of cash. which mean,
practically my whole fortune. in the
git edged securities that were to be
had for cash al a slnal fraction of theil
value.