Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1909-04-08

10 KNOW the truth. Sne mas Salu SO.
at won't matter sir. SO far as l am
concerned. She
'She has come back, my boy, de
termined to go on with her plans.
am sorry, Graydon, but l am at last
convinced that she means to give her
life TO the work"
"By heaven, Mr.. Gable, she shall not
do it! l can't live without herr cried
Graydon miserably. Cable smiled sad
ly as he shook his head.
At half past Z o'clock Jane Cable and
Graydon met broom at Sherry's. She
was paler than usual, and there was a
queer chill in her heart. Bansemer
was more nervous than he had ever
been before In his life.
Elias broom, the strangest creature
In the big restaurant, arose to greet
them as they entered the doors. He
had been waiting inside and out for
half an hour, and his welcome was
quite In keeping with his character.
He uttered a few gruff words of greet
tory smile that gave out no warmth:
then he started with rude haste to-
ward the table he had reserved. Not
word concerning her welfare, her
health, her return to the home land
no sign of interest or consideration.
They followed him silently, anxiously.
The old man was conspicuously re-
pulsive In his finery. 1t is unnecessary
to say that his clothes did not at his
lank figure; tailors cannot perform
miracles. His long chin was carefully
shaven, but the razor could not re-
| move the ruts and creases that hid
the thick stubble of gray and black.
Not one, but hundred diners, looked
with curiosity upon the nervous, I'M
couth old man. There was a buzz Of
interest and a craning of necks when
the crowd saw the handsome couple
Join him at the table in the corner.
II wish you'd order the dinner for
me, Graydon," he said rather plain
lively. II can pay for it. Miss Gable, :"
he added. with an attempt at joviality,
"but Pm no good at ordering. These
young swells know all about it. Get
champagne. Graydon. Order some
thing nice for Miss Cable. Anywhere
up to $40. I'm not millionaire, Miss
Gable. Tell the waiter I'll pay for it,
Graydon. This is swell place, isn't
1t, Miss Cable? I've never been in
Europe, but they say they can't touch
our restaurants over there. Get oys-
tiers. Graydon."
"By Jove. Elias, you are giving us
treat" laughed Graydon. The old
mans mood had changed suddenly.
He was beaming in his effort to be
agreeable. A glance around the room
had convinced him that the prettiest
woman there was sitting at his table.
He felt new sense Of pride.
II am proud Of myself" said broom,
and he meant It.
ITS very good of you to ask me to
come, Mr.. Droom," said Jane, her
bright eyes meeting his before they
could lift themselves into the custo.
! mary stare above her head.
I'm not so sure about that" said
uneasily toward table at his left. 1t
was set for six persons, none of whom
had arrived. II trust 1t will not be
the last time you Will honor me, Miss
Gable. l am getting very hospitable
In my old age. If you don't mind.
Graydon, l won't drink this cocktail.
| l may take the champagne. I'm quite
a teetotaler. you see. Milk, always.
| BY the way. Graydon," he said, turn
ing suddenly to the young man, 81
suppose you've led her to believe that
l had motive in asking her to dine
| tonight mean other than the pleas
ure it would give to me-"
I'll rather thought something OF
the Sort" stammered Graydon.
well, there is a motive. I've decid-
ed at last to tell all l knew. Don't
look like that, Miss Cable. You'll at.
tract attention. Calm yourself. 1t
will be some time before the story Is
Forthcoming. Besides, doubt very
much whether you'll get any great
satisfaction out of 1t, although 1t may
clear things up bit for you. If you've
been hoping that your father and
mother-well, well take our time.
Here are the oysters. Oysters make
me think Of your father, Graydon.
Don't choke my boy" he chuckled as
Graydon stiffened quickly. HE had a
woman arrested at her own dinner
party one night-right over there In
Fifth avenue too. Search warrant and
all that The oysters were being
served when the papers were served.
All, he was great man for eff
fective revenge. She had dared him,
you see. Did you ever hear of the
other time when he permitted an ig-
norant host to invite two deadly enc
mics to the same dinner? One fellow
wife. Terrible scandal. Your father
knew that they expected to kill one
another on sight. And yet when the
host told him whom he expected to
invite he let him ask the two men. He
told me about 1t afterward. 1t amused
him. Everybody but the host knew Of
the row, and there was a panic in the
drawing room"
"Good Lord" gasped Graydon. help
lessly pushing the oysters away. why
are you telling me this?'
"Oh, II was great joke. It's good
dinner story. The joke comes In at the
end. Both those fellows got tight and
went home with their arms about one
another. BY the way, Graydon, what
do you hear from your father"
Graydon looked uncomfortably at