Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1908-07-02

went Into the smoker. where ne scate
himself and lighted a short black pim
the pet aversion of his refined b"oti
er-in-law. Jacob Renwyck, who Wis tel
most Of his disgust upon his unfortu
nate wife His business TRANSACTION.
In the city evidently pleased Uncle Nj
chael vastly, for that gentleman kept
chuckllng to himself and rubbing his
plump white hands In the manner o.
one upon whom good fortune has de
scended suddenly.
After a time his attention was ar
rested by two men on the seat oppo.
site him. They were engaged In
whispered conversation while they ate
their lunch from brown paper parcel.
To a casual observer there was moth.
ing unusual In the appearance of the
two passengers. They were roughly
clad. unshaven and apparently poor.
having the air Of workingmen out OF
a job. Mr. Corrigan would probably
have not noticed them at all except
that one OF them-the better looking
who IL he had been shaved and well
clad might have been called good look.
ing-had a slight cast In his eye, q
physical blemish which the old gentle
man had ever regarded as a sort OF
name plate on the front door of a scala
wag. He saw the man only a moment
or two before getting out Of the train.
and In the stress Of far more impor-
tant matters the incident passed out
OF his mind. 1t was recalled later on.
He was sitting on the front porch OF
Restmore. where he had Just taken
luncheon. when a tramp entered the
place and came timidly to the house.
begging for food In the usual profess
sional whine.
tramps and was about to order him
Off the place when something changed
his mind. The fellow had cast In his
eye. He recognized him instantly. II
struck the old gentleman at once as
being singular that this man should
claim to be starving when not two
hours before he had been eating heart
fly from brown paper parcel in the
train. Tramps did not usually travel
by train-not inside Of them. at any
rate--which was an additional cause
for suspicion. Uncle Michael deter
mined to investigate the matter fur
ther, so he led the tramp to the back
Of the house, where a plate of bread
and meat was set before him. He ate
sparingly for hungry man. but took
In the premises with seemingly care
less eye, while the account he gave OF
himself was far from satisfactory. He
claimed TO have come from Albany on
foot, as was shown by the travel stain
ed condition of his shoes. which WAS
clearly lie. for Mr. Corrigan had
seen him travelling in an entirely oppo
site direction and was more convinced
than ever that a cast In the eye was
the brand of a scoundrel. He declined
to give the fellow money and watched
him suspiciously until he left the
place, feeling instinctively that some
thing would bring him back again.
Richard, who was sitting on the
lawn with Miss Harriet, had also seer
the tramp as he limped through the
open carriage gate into the road Bills
had ridden over to Tarrytown in quest
Of pipe tobacco for his master anc
was stopped by the vagrant at the en-
trance of the drive. Richard saw hin
bend In his saddle, confer with the
man for moment or two. then turf
into the stable yard. Presently he re
appeared and crossed to his master
with the tobacco which he had Sc
cured.
"Navy Capstan. m lord" he STATED
triumphantly, "the kind wot you
smokes at 'ome, sir"
Thanks" said Richard. by the
way, Bills, what was that queer look.
Ing beggar saying to you just now?''
Bills started slightly, as one ashamed
of being seen in such evil company.
ooh, i'm? Yes, sir WY. e was
awskin' his way to the station. IN lord
A rum sort, l calls i'm. sir, begin
your pardon for
"Yes. yes, Bills" Richard reproved
with show of impatience "That will
do. You may 60"
The valet bowed respectfully and
departed, while Miss Harriet looked
at her companion in polite surprise.
"Why are you so short with himT
she asked. ITO me he is perfectly de
licious. | don't believe he ever laugh
ed in all his life, did hep
Don't know, I'm sure" drawed
Richard lazily. II curb his tongue
from necessity. The fellow is inclined
to be loquacious. AT times l am forced
to-ah-sit on him."
Miss Renwyck laughed.
do you know" she said, .you are
becoming an American very rapidly
Really, l am beginning to be quite
vain Of my success with first pupil"
my dear young lady," the Texan
answered In tone half banter, half
In earnest, which was deeper than she
dreamed, "if you should wish 1t I'd
gladly become-er--a kangaroo"
Again Miss Renwyck laughed till
the silvery echoes reached the ears of
Michael Corrigan, who lounged on the
front veranda.
"By George" he chuckled to him
self as he rubbed his hands In the
manner characteristic of him, that
young man Is making progress!"
In the evening when Mr.. Renwyck
came up from the city Mr.. Corrigan
took him aside and related the day.
experience with the tramp, suggesting
that detective be employed while the
valuable lot Of diamonds was In the
house. The two gentlemen, as has al