Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1908-08-06


~ still oozed through the chinks
Of his bedroom door, while at
the farther end Of the hall another
closed on the sleepless Mr.. Richard
williams
The young man had heard the clock
strike and was still pursuing his
train OF tangled thought when II oc-
CURED to him that perhaps II he read
for half an hour his mind might be-
come composed enough for sleep. de
remembered q partly finished book
which be had left In the billiard room
and started downstairs to get H. With
q natural Discrimination 10 disturb the
household, he tipped very cautiously
through the hall, down the flight Of
carpeted steps and approached the
billiard room, which, Ike the library.
was separated from the lower ball by
heavy curtains. These he was about
TO draw aside when his outstretched
hand was suddenly arrested by the
sound Of voice within. II was mas
culine and belonged to nc inmate Of
the house that he could recognize;
also II was subdued. as one who fear
cd TO be overheard What he beard
assured him that some rascality was
afoot.
ITS money I'm Ia need off, the
voice was saying. ''and that's why I
took the risk Of coming here alone In
the middle OF the night"
Richards hand slid instinctively to
his hip before he remembered the alb
Surdity Of fashionable clothes. Clear
~ there was some one In the room
who had no business there. Yet to
whom was he talking7 II member
Of the household. why this secrecy
He must investigate, Of course. But
FIRST he had better arm himself. as he
did not know who or how many he
might have to deal with.
His mind once made up, the Texan
removed his slippers, crept softly up
the stairs 10 bis room, then down
again, pausing once more outside the
billiard room, but this time listening
deliberately.
'sMr Fitzgeorge," woman's voice
was saying. my patience IL exhaust
ed why all this talkf Your scheme
N notwithstanding else. Give me
the letters. take your pay and GO"
with stab Of pain the Texan recog-
nized the voice as Miss Renwyck's,
and II came with double pang at
the thought that she was meeting
some unknown rascal I'm the dead OF
night-that she was bnying letters
from him.
what lettercY' his heart questioned
jealously. He longed 10 rush In and
hin the miscreant In his tracks, yet
wisdom held his mad design In abey-
ance for the present He peeped
through the heavy portisres and spied
two female figures on one side Of the
billiard table, while that Of a man was
On the other side, with his back to
ward the library door, but with his
face half turned toward the spot where
the Texan waited.
"very well" whispered the man
again. II guess you ara playing fair.
al right" He took package from
his inner pocket s'sf1ere are your let
tsrs. Have you got the money! sAi
Yes" said Harriet softly: II have.
mt wait. must see that the letters
are all here. Imogene, look over them
o quickly AZ you can. I am afraid to
turn on the light but perhaps Mr..
Eiugeorgs win be kind enough to lend
q his lantern"
ssWeil. say" chuckled the visitor
quietly. you've got your nerve with
y0u. all right I'm sorry I didn't meet
you before" Again he laughed noise.
lsssiy, produced his bullseye and threw
\ blaze OF light on the pile Of letters
which he laid upon the table, Look
I'm over, Imogene. my dear" be con-
t1nued, with unblushing familiarity.
That's every one you ever wrote me-"
With thrill Of pleasure the Texan
cnught this last remark The letters.
tAen, were not Harriees, after all, and
- bravo girl. had dared 70 face this
ocoundr0l n order 10 shield friend.
- eqnld wing the fellow a. be stood.
Ut ~ That would alarm the houss
- undo everything which thin splan-
- woman had strivsn 10 hide. He
ooui1 WHIT and n the fellow oRered no
onnppo1 ~ would ~ him % Yother
1hen mowt1fy NJ RenVyck bv ~
owp eppeo1ane "a Ne 6tns. Who1
~ nsn - sSSsay goDS the Tsxan
eopld 1>en Nip quietly to bis room.
on1 (1ne I've courageous girls would
orrer &pow f1ata r6ntifal had stood
lard oc11ido the door,
1ffno lmoeens opened each letter to