The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1907-04-04

THE SECOND
DANDY CHATTER

BY Tom Gallon.

about losses than bluebottle!"
"'Old ard, my dear-'old ard" re
monstrated the captain, surveying Ms
boots with very proper pride; I'm
merely Twin up to me character
Wy, a get-up like this ere III ever
make the 'osses ave a proper respect
for me-" Then, observing suddenly
that Clara stood with clasped hands
looking from him to his wife appeal
ingly, and with tears in his eyes, he
checked himself and came slowly to
ward her.
why, my lass" he said, in a tone OF
sympathy; "wot's wrong with yer!
You look as If you'd 'ad fright OF
some knd-don't she, missus?"
Il want your help" said Clara,
glancing behind her toward the door.
my friend-the unfortunate man OF
whom I spoke-Mr Chatter
The captain Immediately began TO
back away, in some perturbation. Mrs.
| Quist, on the other hand, really diyin-
ing that something was wrong, nodded
to Clara quickly to continue what she
had to say.
'Mr. Chatter has-has escaped-and
is here at this moment"
Mrs. Quist darted after Clara into
| the little passage; the captain scarce
! ly knowing what he did, took off his
hat, and held it pointed toward the
door as though it were a weapon, and
he might defend himself with it.
When, a moment later, Mrs. Quist and
| the girl came in, and the captain, look
ing past them, saw Philip Chatter enter
the room, he Immediately dived down
behind the table on his knees, keeping
only his eyes above the level OF 1T.
Take i'm away! Don't let i'm
come near me-" he begged, in hoarse
and trembling whisper Then, ad-
dressing Philip in conciliatory tone,
he added: Il never done nothing TO
you, ole pal, wen you was in the flesh,
an all | asks is that you'll go back
Were you come from, w'erever 1t Is,
an sleep sound. Go back, my lad; go
back!"
Philip, despite his own danger, burst
into a roar of laughter. There's moth
ing of the ghost about me, Quist,' he
said. Il think can understand what
you mean-and presently I'll explain
everything. But, for the moment, am
In desperate peril; I've broken out OF
! the goal here, and may be searched for
| at any moment / want you to hide
| me-"
The captain rose from his knees,
still somewhat doubtfully, and came
slowly round the table, approached
Philip in gingerly fashion, and finally
ventured to take one OF his hands;
squeezed it-squeezed it little more.
Then his face broke up into smiles,
and he clapped Philip jovially on the
shoulder. Remembering, however, the
more serious part of the business. he
darted to the window and drew the
curtain across it.; then sat down,
breathing hard, and staring at Philip
with all his might. Finally, he got up
and came to Philip again, and, and
shook hands with him, as though to as.
sure himself that he was solid flesh
and blood.
"This comes Of keepin bad com
| pany," calculated the captain, at last
.'You gifts yerself in the river-an' very
bloated you looks, do assure you
you gifts into goal, an you likewise gifts
out of 1t; an you frightens honest
! sailor-man Qeastwise, sailor-man re
, tired-circus-man now)-you frightens
his nearly out of is wits. But still
it's good to see you again; an, If the
missis can find us drain O. somethiR
-jist a toothful apiece-we can talk
over things comfortable-like."
at was just at this moment, as Mrs
Quist turned smilingiy TO get out bot
ties and glasses, that Philip discover
ed, to his CONSERVATION. that little
Clara Siggs, who had sat down on q
sofa near him, was swaying to anc
fro, with very white face, although
she bravely tried to smile. He had just
time to step forward and catch her IN
his arms, when she gave sort of gasI
and tainted dead away. Overwrough'
for 90 long, she had given way nov
that the danger seemed over and the
tension relaxed.
Bitterly blaming himself for having
exposed her to such trials, he picked
her up tenderly in his arms, and, guild
ed by Mrs. Quist. carried her upstairs
to her room. There. being assured oI
that good woman that 1t was nothing
| more serious than a sudden attack o
faintness, Philip left her in charge o
| the girl, and rejoined the captain II
the room below.
zone thing must ask you, captain
he said, when he was seated with tina
gentleman at the table, "and that Il
in regard to your taking me for
ghost. What induced you to imagine
was anything but the Philip CrowdI
whom you knew on the voyage from
Australian"
On this the captain, with much de
tail. entered into full account OF tho
finding of the body Of the unfortunate
Dandy Chatter by himself and Cripps
and although he did not know. o.
course. the name of the latter, the de
! scription he gave. and his statement
that he had seen the little man on the
night of his invasion of the uppel
room at The Three Watermen." en-
abled philip to identify tho man WHIT