The Mobridge news. [volume] (Mobridge, Walworth Co., S.D.) 190?-1917, 1909-05-21
CHAPTER Iv.-(continued

people to arrive, and he had rather a
long talk with Mr.. Isaacs, who was
waiting in her drawing room for the
rest OF tha people who were coming
o what she called "a small and early"
but which always ~degenerated or ex-
banded into quite a smart and crowd
ed ball.
At eleven the admiral appeared,
trOtting round among the guests with
a word for every one and a smile of
congratulatiOn for his son.
Basil was feted. He had been so
was quite a rarity. Everybody was
glad to see him, he renewed a thou
sand friendships; and, as the hours
wore on and his father had long since
made his bow and departed, the
young sailor experienced that COM
plete joy and satisfaction of a young
man whose place in society is as
sured, who has been absent from it
for a long time, and who comes back
to be welcomed with smiles and open
arms.
Everybody was simply delighted,
and the brilliant evening, the flowers,
the music of the dance, the charming
girls who waltzed with him and asked
him of the great ship which ploughed
the northern waves, and which he d..
rected and ordered, finally robbed his
mind Of the strenuous and sad sound
CT the North Pacific waves which for
three years had been the only music
In his ears.
In short, he was quite a success. 1t
was like coming homecoming home
indeed. Everybody welcomed him,
important people came up and said
how glad they we're that he had re-
turned: he felt a sense of well being
with all the world, and he blessed his
old father. whose celebrity in London
life had secured such a fine welcome
for the sailor home from the sea.
1t was quite 2 o'clock when he left
Mrs. lsaacs' house to walk home. II
was a fine night; there was a moon,
and the outside air was gratefully
cool after the hot rooms where he
had been. He walked down Half
Moon street into Piccadilly. Most of
the carriages which were leaving the
Tail drove the other way, and at this
moment London seemed swept, clean,
and empty. The air was pure, the
neon shone and the soft pad. pad
of his pumps made almost the only
immediate sound as he turned into
the great empty ~thoroughfare bound
ed by the green park.
He came into Piccadilly and turned
to the left on his short progress to
Jermyn street. Piccadilly lay straight
and empty TO his right and left, brill
Iantly lit. and without a moving soul
upon the silver ribbon that the lamps
made of IL at his late hour of the
night. He had almost come to the
great blank facade of 1O0a-which he
remembered was the house of the
duchess of London-when, far away
him, at Hyde Park corner, he
heard a muffied chorus of shouting.
He turned and looked down to the
street.
The shouting grew louder, and then
he heard whistles being blown-those
xeeen-sounding, and yet mufied, whis-
lies which the police use to summon
help. AS he stood there-his opera
hat on the back of his head, and his
light black cloak thrown back-a huge
who seemed TO spring sud
ienly from nowhere, came running
past him and crashed down towards
he gates of Hyde park.
What can 1t be-" ne wondered.
There was obviously some big row
|ust outside st. Georges hospital.
Wei, It's no business of mine" he
concluded. and turned eastwards
.ovards st. James street.
Yet the distant noise. which seemed
grow in valume, attracted him still,
ind once more he hesitated and halt
I'd. looking westwards. He was now
about ten yards beyond the house of
he duke OF London. He could see far
iown Piccadilly, and nothing OBJ
scured his view save only a great
wagon OF produce, drawn By two
aorses, and with a sleepy driver high
IN above them, which was making It's
slow way towards Covent Garden mar
xet. The huge, sturdy animals plod-
led on; the man upon his high seat
held the reins loosely In one hand
while his head nodded In sleep.
Suddenly Basil Marriott stopped, as
he was about to turn and go home.
He stopped and remained still, not
down the long length OF emp
Ey Piecadilly from where the sounds
of the miniature riot reached him, but
directly above his head In
Wild establishment.
The great wagon had halted exactly
front Of the duke OF London's
house.
What was this huge black thing that
seemed swinging IN the middle ssrf-
swinging. floating, falling. while the
honey-colored sickle Of the moo was
behind tia vast. black. falling,
swinging thing?
II all went away from him In a mo-
He san d sudden constellation
OF brir 1t yellow lIehts-an incredi.
bic spsaAdor og EgA~eyEsz cG thea.
he fell back unconscious. while TIC
A