Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1908-01-09
CHAPTER XVII.

Lynn Yeames had the sagacity to leave
Coneyford, and keep out of sight, know
ing that he could do nothing to re-estab-
lish his character until he had got into
the farm where he was to work such
wonders, or finding the bad weather that
succeeded the frost intolerable or society
dull, or for some other reason that may
be clearer later on.
He had made himself very popular at
Coneyford with his charities, his reckless
riding, his agreeable manners, and his as
sumption of bluff, outspoken honesty.
People were inclined to think even better
of him in his absence than when he was
amongst them, remembering the pleasant
side of his character and forgetting the
little slips which occasionally awakened
suspicion He was spoken of as a fine
type of muscular Christianity. Miss Dali
rymple was constantly with these people,
and as it was generally understood that
tacit engagement existed between her
and Yeames, they thought to please her by
talking about him, and sounding his
praises, Then that dear, stupid old doc
tor, whenever he got letter from Lynn,
must needs show it to her and dilate on
the fine prospect extending before young
fellow with such manly feeling and high
aim.
1t was the end of the second week in
March, and people were specializing on
the day when Lynn Yeames would make
his appearance, when something occurred
which upset everything; it was nothing
less than moral cataclysm altering the
entire aspect of affairs.
Coming home that particular afternoon,
l found a visitor in my Office who had
been waiting there three parts of an hour
to see me- He was a little pudgy man,
with a short throat, puffy face, and
eyes as like a pigs as ever | saw. He
breathed with difficulty, and gasped be-
fore each sentence, and in the middle also
if it was a long one. He had not much
hair; what there was of it had a dirty,
sandy tint; his whiskers were hardly
distinguiShable, they were so thinly
planted, and like his complexion. He
was dressed in a tightly-buttoned frock
coat that formed deep ridges in HIS waist,
and seemed to increase the difficulty of
breathing. In one hand he held his hat,
in the other a pair of gloves, and both
| their shortneSs and pudginess, were wide
| ly separated.
"Afterneen, Mr.. Keene; afternoon,
sir" he gasped, turning his little blue
eyes in the corner before he could screw
| himself up on his legs to face me- Gene
to talk with you on a matter of bust
ness. My names Bax-Smithson Bax;
with this he sank down on his chair and
gasped again.
Not the pleasure of knowing you, Mr.
Bax," said l, sitting down in front OF
him.
Thought you might have heard of me
from Lynn Yeames or Mrs. Yeames-
am-friend of the family"
"A professional friend?" | asked, for
| detected the look of a petifogger in
him.
You may call professional friend
| if you like-not a lawyer exactly-know
something about it" He gave me glance
that was not to be mistaken, and contin'
ued ITO begin with, you must under
stand that I-acting on behalf of the fam
ily-Lynn Yeames nothing at all TO dc
| With it-better keep out of it"
"He does not wish to take the respon
sibsity of anything you do?"
That's it. Too fenerous-too careless
of his own interests-altogether too
he gasped and filled up the break with 6
wave of his gloves.
Il understand his character perfect
~, Mr.. Bax; let US come to the point"
We'll so straight at it-begin in the
middls-save breath. DR.. Audrey is &
scoundrsl-bissest hyp lerite and rasca