Elk City mining news. (Elk City, Idaho) 1903-1913, 1908-01-04

lie str0lled down to the river side, and
there cast himself upon the grass. and
stared up at the soft motionless clouds
The stream ran through narrower banks
than common near where he lay, and kept
up pleasant drowsy gurgle. Listening
to this, he lay there enjoying all the de-
lights of leisure after labor in every
fiber of his body, until he fell into light
doze. From this he was awakened by. a
rustic and the sound of an execration
gently breathed. Sitting up he was aware
of a gentleman of British aspect, fiorid
sturdy and well set, who stood on the
other side of the river, rod in hand, per-
suasiyely pulling at fly which had lodg-
ed in one of the branches of bush. Ly-
ing down he had been hidden from the
angler, who, seeing him rise, gave some
thing of start.
Pardon me. SIR said the stranger,
in labored and very English sounding
French, "can you detach that fly for me?"
Major Butler" said O'Rourke to him
self. us this Major Butler, | wonder p
He answered, also speaking in French,
that he would do his best, and walked
to the bush. O'Rourke secured the branch
to which the fly was attached, and cut it
away, after which he disentangled the
hook, and the angler and he raised their
hats to each other.
Major Butler, for O'Rourke's not I'M
natural guess had hit the mark, express
ed his obligations with some little diff
Guilty, and O'Rourke, who was Paris bred,
responded that he was infinitely delighted
to be of service. If this were Major But
Ter, thought Ny. O'Rourke, it would be
good fun to conquer his prejudices, and
| apart from the amusement, it would be
agreeable to have country house to call
at during his stay. Then he thought of
that charming girl.
He began by asking after sport, and
the qualify of the stream and the fish,
and the major, who was an accessible and
friendly soul when once the ice was brok-
en- with him, displayed his take, and floun-
dered on with his French in very cour-
ageous and adventurous manner.
Presently he hooked a half-pounder,
who behaved in very lively manner. and
was finally grassed workman-like.
O'Rourke looked on with interest.
They give plenty of sport" he said.
Capital sport" replied Butler, heart
lily. They're not feeding we'll to-day,
though. Two or three days ago a young
friend Of mine, an American, who's stay
ing at my place, fetched out seven pounds
in half an hour. Used fly quite strange
to the water, too, a gaudy American thing,
but very killing"
There can't be any Americans over
here"
only one that I know Of" said the
major. "Maskelyne." He had time
enough to think that this was the novel
list, ten to one, and very different sort
of fellow. from the man he had expected.
PLEASED to meet you," he said. Shall
be glad If you'll look me up"
Thank you" said O'Rourke, sweetly.
Thank you very much indeed. Maske-
lyme and are very old friends"
Not the novelist" said the major, ST.
lently. "Of course not. Spoke much too
intimately from the first mention of him
only to have met him yesterday"
you are Major Butler?" asked
O'Rourke. There are ways and ways of
putting this sort of interrogatory. But
Ter bowed assent. ''Maskelyne told me
with whom he was staying. My name is
O'Rourke."
"Oh" said the major, blankly; you're
not the
I'm afraid l am" answered O'Rourke,
with 80 admirable good humor that But
Ter could not refrain from a smile. 1--WE
needn't talk politics If we differ, as l
dare say we do"
Honestly, if Major Butler could have
withdrawn his invitation~he would have
done SO, and he was a little annoyed
with himself for having given it. But
he bethought him, the man was friend
OF Maskelyne's, and Maskelyne spoke OF
him in the very highest terms. But then
again, there was something about-people
talked-they said the Irish members were
here to make terms with that infamous
old scoundrel Dobroski, a rascal who
thirsted for royal blood and wanted chaos
to come again.
DO you stay long?" asked Butler, with
a diplomatic purpose.
Yes, a week or two, perhaps more.
friend of mine-I dare say you know him
he's really very distinguished man
Farley, the novelist-is staying in the
same hotel with me at Janenne, and SC
long as he stays l shall stay"
Angela and Maskelyne were each goot
deal surprised half an hour later to see
Major Butler coming down the avenue
toward the chateau side by side witt
O'Rourke. Perhaps at bottom the major
himself was a little surprised, but he was
certainly vanquished. He confessed thai
he had never met pleasanter man in hi!
life than this Home Ruler, whom in ad
vance he had been prepared to detest.
CHAPTER vi.
Dobroski and O'Rourke sat together II
chamber Of the Cheval Blanc
You thought my scheme a madman'i