Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1909-12-01
CHAPTER III.-continued.


in my dressing gown, his knees raised,
his bandaged arms folded across his
chest. Since bringing him into the
house had studied him carefully and,
/ must confess, with increasing myS-
LITIGATION. He was splendidly put up,
the best-muScled man l had ever seen
who was not a professional athlete.
His forearms and clean-shaven face
were brown from prolonged tanning
by the sun, but otherwise his skin was
the pink and white of healthy baby.
His short light hair was combed
smoothly away from broad fore
head; his blue eyes were perfectly
steady-they even invited and held
scrutiny; when he was not speaking
he closed his lips tightly.
l half believed the fellow to be
amusing himself at my expense; but
he met my eyes calmly. If had not
caught lunatic 1 had certainly cap
tured an odd specimen of humanity.
He was the picture of wholesome liv-
ing and sound health; but he talked
Ikea fool. The idea of young woman
like Helen Holbrook giving two
thoughts to silly youngster like this
was preposterous, and my heart hard
ened against him.
you are fiippant, Mr.. Gillespie, and
my errand with you is serious. There
are places in this house where could
lock you up and you would never see
your button factory again. You seem
to have had some education"
'The word does me great honor,
Donovan. They chucked me from
Yale in my junior year. Why, you
may ask? Well, it happened this way:
You know Rooney, the Beflefontaine
Cyclone? He struck New Haven
with a vaudeville outfit, giving exhi-
billions, poking the bag and that sort
of fake. At every town they invited
the local sports to dig up their bright
est amateur middle-weight and put
him against the Cyclone for five
rounds. 1 brushed my hair the wrong
way for a disguise and went against
him."
And got smashed for your trouble,
1 hope" 1 interrupted.
mo. The boys in the gallery
cheered so that they fused him, and
he thought l was fruit. We shook
hands, and he turned his head to snarl
at the applause, and, seeing an open
ing, 1 smashed him a hot clip in the
chin, and he tumbled backward and
broke the ring rope. 1 vaulted the
orchestra and bolted, and when the
boys finally found me 1 was over near
Waterbury under barn. Eli wouldn't
stand for it, and back l went to the
button factory; and here I am, sir, by
the grace of God, an ignorant man..
How did you find your way here
Gillespie?" l demanded.
81 suppose l ought to explain that
he replied. 1 waited while he re-
flected for moment. He seemed to
be quite serious, and his brows wrin
killed. as he pondered.
81 guessed it about half and for the
rest, 1 followed the heaven-kissing
stack of trunks"
He glanced at me quickly, az
though anxious to see how l received
his words.
Have you seen anything of Henry
Holbrook in your travels? Be careful
now; l want the truth
II certainly have not. l hope yol
don't think" Gillespie hesitated.
ITS not a matter for thinking o.
guessing; I've got to know"
"On my honor 1 have not seen him
and 1 have no idea where he is"
l had thrown myself into a chat
beside the couch and lighted my pipe
My captive troubled me. 1t seemet
odd that he had found the abiding
place of the two women; and if h
had succeeded so quickly, why Nigh
not Henry Holbrook have equal luck
You probably know this trouble
some brother WELL" / ventured.
Yes; as well as a man of my ag
can know an older man. My father
brook estate. Henry and Arthur Ho
brook married sisters; both wome
died long ago, l believe; but tn
brothers had business row and wen
to smash. Arthur embezzled, forged
and so on, and took to the altitudinou
timber. and Henry has been bus
ever since trying to pluck his siste
He's wild on the subject of his wrong
ruined by his own brother, deprive
of his inheritance by his sister an
abandoned by his only child. Their
wasn't much to Arthur Holbrooh
Henry was the genius. but after til
bank went to the bad he sought ii
consultations of rum. He and Hem
married the Hartridge twins who wei
the reigning Baltimore bellies in II
early $3.50 runneth the chronicl
, But gossip, my dear. sir; gossi
which is against my principles. Eve
, the humble button king of Strawberl
Hin must draw the line"