The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1907-01-24


had escaped from his brothers tolls.
He stared suIlenly at the carpet until
ne caught me looking nj him WIZ
twinkllng eyes. lie made valiant ei.
fort Ia return my smile and succeeded
an twisting hts face into knot that
seemed TO hurt him Hs much AZ IL
amused me.
well. goodby. Tom" said I. Give
my regnfviz to your brother when ne
lands. and tell him his going away
was a mistake. A man can't anord To
trust his important business To under
strapperr." This with a face Tree from
any suggestion OF intending Il shot nj
him. Then To sam: See you
tonight. old man" akd went
away. leaving Lewis looking from one
60 the other ssslf he felt that there
was dynamite about hut couidn locate
10. stopped with Melville To talk Soal
for few minutes my ease. ana the
last man on earth 20 be suspected o,
hanging by the crook of one ringer
from the edge OF the precipice.
rang the Eilers'y's bell at half past
nine that evening 'rhe butler faced me
with eyes not down. AS they shouId
have been. but on mine. ana fulI OF inc
.seryile Insolence to which he had been
prompted by what he hnd overheard In
the family.
mot at home. sir" h. said. though
4 had not spoken.
was preocrupled and not expecting
this statement: neither had | skill nor
desire TO acquire skill. In reading family
barometers IN the faces OF servants.
SO. I was for brushing past him ana
entering where I felt I had as much
right ms In my own places. Tie barred
the way.
beg pardon. sid Mrs. E:llersly In
structed me To say no one was al
home"
halted. but only like an oucom-
tng bear at the prick OF an arrow.
"what the hell does this mean
exclaimed, waving him aside ~ that
instant Anita appeared from the little
reception room IA few feet away.
"oh--come In" Ehe said cordially. Il
was expecting you. Burroughs please
take Mr.. Blacklock's hat
followed her into the reception
room. thinking the butler had made
some sort OF mistake
How did you come out1' she asked
eagerly. facing me. You lock your
natural sclf-not tired or worried--so IL
must have been not 80 bad as you
feared"
''If our friend I.angdon hadn't slipped
AVA I might not look and feel so
comfortable" said 1. His brother
blundered, and there was no one To
checkmate my moves. She seemed
nearer To me. more w SShlpaNug WIN
me than ever before.
"I can't tell you how glad \ am"
Her eyes were wide and bright, N
from some great excitement. and her
color was high. Once my attention was
an n. l knew instantly that only some
extraordinary upheayal In that house
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
hhppenedr'
ar anything dlsagreeablc should he
said or done this evening here" she
said. 81 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. Il
can't be anybody else"
but you are-severni different kinds
OF self" she insisted. And please
this evening don't he that kind. It's
coming into !our eyes and chin now.
had lifted my head and looked
round probably much like the leader of
hornet herd Mt scent Of danger
els this better" snid I. TRYING 10
look the thoughts had no difficulty In
getting Co the fore whenever my eyes
were on her.
Her smile rewarded me. But It dis
appeared gave place to "a look OF ncr-
vous alarm. OF terror even. at the rust
ling. or. rather. busting OF skirts la
the hall-there was war IN the very
SCUM and felt u. Mrs. Ellersly au-
peared. bearing her husband as "a de-
tected trailer invisibly but firmly coup
led. She acknowledged my salutation
with n stifr necked nod. ignored my ex-
tended hand. saw that she wished to
impress upon me that she was n very
grand lady indeed: but. white my IDEAS
OF what constitutes n lady were at that
time somewhat befogged by my snob-
bishness. she failed disInally she
loked just what she was-a mean. bad
tempered woman la towering rage.
You have forced me. Mr.. Blackjack. %
said she. and then knew for Just what
purpose that voice OF hers was best
adapted-'to say to you what should
have preferred to write. Mr.. Ellersly
has had brought Co his ears matters
Ia connection with your private life
that make u imperative that you dis
continue your calls here"
MY private life. InR'am?''I repeated.
II was not aware that I had private
life"
Anita, leave, us alone with Mr..
Blackjack" commanded her mother.
The girl hesitated. bent her head. aud
with "A cowed look went slowly toward
the door. There she paused. and. with
what seemed agrcater effort. lifted her
head and Razed at me. How 4 ever
came rightly to- Interpret her look I
don't know. but I said: Miss Ellersly.
I've the right To insist that you stay"
saw she was going to obey me,
and before Mrs. Ellcrsly. could re-
peat her order said: Now.
madam. II any one accuses
me OF having done anything that would
cause you TO exclude a man from your
house. ! am ready for the liar and his lie -
A. I spoke I was searching the weak.
had old face OF her husband for an ex-
PLANTATION. Their prctcnse OF outraged
morality rejected at oncc-it was absurd
Neither up town nor down. nor anywhere
else. had 1 done anything that any one
could regard az "A breach ot the code 81 a
man OF the woric Then. reasoned I, they
must have found some ono else 10 h.Ir
them out OF their financial troublesome
one who. perhaps. has made this insult "a
me the price. or part OF the price. OF his
generosity. Who Who hates me? In
instant answer. up before my mind flashed
picture OF Tom LangdOn and Sam Ellora.
~ arm IN arm entering Lewis office. Ton
IAngdon wishes 20 marry her: aud hci
parents wish IL. too. he Is the man che
was confcSAlng To me about--thcse were
my swift conclusions.
I'VE do not care 20 discuss the matter
sir" MrH Elierxly wua FpplyinR her ION,