Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1908-09-10

1
rascal. That's what you've been laugh
Ing at for the past three days. is tt
you and your psalm singing Mr. Fish
call? You cheated me out of my land
ut Olivia! You've blackmailed the
Texan legislature! You-you-you"-
"Oh, Jacob. darlingr' sobbed Mrs
Renwyck, coming to his side as he
sank, exhausted, into his chair.
"It Is perfectly disgracefulr' shifted
Miss Schermerly. II am almost tempt
ed to go upstairsv However, she sue
cessfully resisted temptation.
1t seemed at this stage that poor lit
tie Mr.. Corrigan had not leg Of honor
to stand upon. and, to be correct, he
did not attempt to stand, but sank into
q seat and laughed until an apoplectic
stroke seemed imminent He was most
aggravating, too, when he laughed
Goodness" now observed the sol
emn Mr.. Van der Awe, Hes worse
than my poor Imosene"
But Mr.. Corrigan at last mastered
his emotions. arose and. dabbing his
eyes with his handkerchief, began to
explain his case.
Jacob" he said, upon my honor,
Richard never told me a single thing
that did not already know. Ny COM
pany was in the field long before he
came to New York. and here are nay
papers to prove it, knew every more
of both of you, and while you and Bill
were treating the legislature to whisky
and cigars | got into the game my
self Our brazen young friend here
had nothing to do with it whatever"
Richard heaved sigh Of deep re-
lief, and old Bill Williams laughed.
"Look here, Mike" he said. you've
got all the money you want. Why in
the name of common sense are you
wading about in deep water harbors"
Several reasons" chuckled Uncle
Michael. First. | wanted the fun of
the thing; second, l wanted rap at
Jacob. who is inclined to think he
knows everything in the world; third,
l wanted a joke on my friend. Bill
Williams; fourth. | wanted to prove to
you two old gray rats that your teeth
are getting dulled by age; fifth, ! had
at heart the real welfare of the great
state of Texas; sixth. | would not see
helpless legislature led astray;
seventh. the Peace and Good VIII
Realty company is bridal present
intend making to the son and daughter
Of two of my friends"
what friends?" asked the two
frenzied financiers together.
"Bill and jake" answered Mr.. Cor
rigan. bursting into another laugh.
Four people flushed. two In anger.
the other two for secret reasons of
their own.
"Now. listen. boys" continued Uncle
Michael earnestly. you two have
had very foolish quarrel, and it's
time to shake hands and make 1t up.
So far as your harbor schemes are
concerned. you are both out of the
running. own it-every share. will
turn my interest over to Richard, to
do with as he chooses, but If l know
him-and I'm inclined to think l do
have pretty fair idea as to how he
will act. What do you say. Dicky,
boyT'
Richard came forward and grasped
the lawyers hand
'Mr Corrigan." he said, forgive me
for what / said just now. take it all
back. You're the finest counsel on
EARTH"
"Ohor chuckled the little man
Changed your opinion, have your
Well. go on"
II couldn't begin to thank you for
what you have done for me-" con-
tinued Richard. land what that is
am now going to confess. have been
longing to do it for week. But first
let's settle this harbor tangle. l sug-
gest that dad and Mr.. Renwyck con-
solidate their interests with me and
wei. open up at olivia Olivia is the
best place for harbor, anyway"
"Bullyy chuckled Mr. Corrigan, rub,
bing his plump hands until the skin
was almost peeled. "WelL Jakef
Well, BnY"
"Um! Not bad idea" admitted the
cattle king. with a pickering smile.
What do you say, RenwyckT
II think" said the old financier SLOW
ly--'I think I'd rather wait for the
confession this young man has men
toned. From what I know of him
already 1t may lead to complications"
Richard smiled hopefully at Harriet
and stepped to the center of the hall.
he made clean breast Of 1t, begin
ming at his meeting with the real
Lord Croyland. the automobile acct
dent and the cool effrontery of the earl
In taking the name of Richard Will
liams for his personal convenience.
The Texan then told how he had been
met by his host at the railroad station
and how he had been mistaken for the
Englishman. At this point Mr. Rem
wyck interrupted him.
Excuse me-" he said. "but why did
you pose as some one elseY'
"weil. you see." confessed Richard.
blushing to the roots Of his hair, you
Informed me at the time that the VII
Hams family was a-well. generation
Of vipers. to Be exact. and, besides.
knew that dad would rave n be knew
I came
you scalawagl- laughed the cattle
king. what were You up to any.
| wayr'
~T'ui coming to that dad" answered
| the young man, shyly casting another
glance In Hariets direction. That
80.