The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1909-12-10

above it. Now, wouldn't that doddle
you?"
ut would, Mr.. Gillespie; but may I
ask you to cut out this rot"
MY dear Mr.. Donovan, it's indeli.
cate of you to speak Of cutting any.
thing-and me with my legs. But I'm
at your service. You have tended my
grieyous wounds like gentleman and
now do you wish me to unfold my
past, present and future?"
II want you to get out Of this and
be quick about it. Your biography
doesn't amuse me; caught you
prowling disgracefully about st. Aga
tha's. Two ladies are domiciled there
who came here to escape your annoy
ing attentions. Those ladies were put
in my charge by an old friend. and I
don't propose to stand any nonsense
from you, Mr.. Gillespie. You seem
to be at least half sane"
Reginald Gillespie raised himself on
Hhe couch and grinned joyously. :.
Thank you-thanlz you for that
word! That's just twice as high as
anybody ever rated me before"
II was trying to be generous" I
said. There's point at which be-
gin to be bored, and when that's
reached I'm likely to grow quarrel
some. Are there any moments of the
day or night when you are less fool
than others?"
We'll, Donovan, I've often specu-
lated about that, and my conclusion
is that my mind is at its best when
I'm asleep and enjoying nightmare.
Then, l have sometimes thought, my
intellectual parts are most intelligent
ly employed"
Il may well believe you," declared
| with asperity Now l hope l can
pound it into you in some way that
your presence in this neighborhood is
offensive-to me-personally."
He stared at the ceiling, silent, i'm
perturbable.
And I'm going to give you safe con-
duct through the lines-or if neces.
sary I'll buy your ticket and start you
for New York. And if there's an atom
of honor in you, you'll go peaceably
and not publish the fact that you
know the whereabouts of these la
dies
He reflected gravely for moment.
81 think" he said, that on the
whole that's a fair proposition. But
you seem to have the impression that
wish to annoy these ladies'"
You don't for a moment imagine
that you are likely to entertain them.
do you? You haven't got the idea
that you are necessary to their happi-
ness, have you?"
He raised himself on his elbow with
some difficulty; flinched as he tried to
4 make himself comfortable and began:
. The trouble with Miss Pat is
There is no trouble with Miss Pat, .
Il snapped.
The trouble between Miss Pat and
me is the same old trouble of the
buttons he remarked, dolorously.
Buttons, you idiot?"
4 quite SO. Buttons, just plain.
everyday buttons; buttons for button.
ing purposes"
The fellow was undoubtedly mad.
looked about for weapon; but he
went on gravely:
What does the name Gillespie
mean? OF what is it the sign and
symbol wherever man hides his
nakedness? Button, button, who'll
buy my buttons? 1t can't be possible
that you never heard of the Gillespie
buttons? Where have you lived, my
dear sir?"
"Will you please stop talking ROT
and explain what you want here?"
demanded, with growing heat.
THAT, my dear sir, is exactly what
8 I'm doing. I'm sutton for the hand
OF Miss Patricia's niece. Miss Patricis
scorns me; she says I'm mere chile
of the Philistine rich and declines az
alliance without thanks, if you mus
know the truth. And it's all on &C
Z count of the fact, shameful enough,
admit, that my father died and left nj
a large and prosperous button fac
tory
why don't you give tho inferna
thing away-sell 1t out to trust
"Ah! ali! he raised himsel
again and pointed a bandaged hand a
!. me. Il see that you are, a man o
!, penetration! You have keen notion
Of business! You anticipate me!
did sell the internal thing to trust
|, but there was no shaking it! The.
I made me president of the combina
ton, and l control more buttons thai
J any other living man! My dear sir,
) dictate the button prices of the world
can tell you to nicely how man!
t buttons are swallowed annually b.
: the babies of the universe. But
t hope, sir, that 4 use my power wiael;
8 and without depressing the people,"
t (To BE CoNTINUED)
49, Sc