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
your"
1T would, Mr.. Gillespie; but may
ask you to cut out this rot"
My dear Mr.. Donovan, it's .ndeli-
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
don't propose to stand any nonsense
from you, Mr.. Gillespie. You seem
to be at least half sane"
Reginald Gillespie raised himself on
the couch and grinned joyously. =.
Thank you-thank you for that
word! That's Just twice as high as
anybody ever rated me before"
Il was trying to be generous"
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. have sometimes thought, my
intellectual parts are most intelligent
| ly employed"
Il may we'll believe you," declared
with asperity. Nov l hone | 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 III 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.
Il Think he said, that on the
whole that's fair proposition. But
you seem to have the impression that
!. l 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
make himself comfortable and began:
"The trouble with Miss Pat is"
There is no trouble with Miss Pat"
I snapped.
THE trouble between Miss Pat and
me Is the same old trouble of the
buttons" he remarked, dolorously
Buttons, you idiot?"
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 1t 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
I'm doing. I'm sutton for the hand
of Miss Patricia's niece. Miss Patricia
scorns me; she says I'm mere child
of the Philistine rich and declines an
alliance without thanks, if you must
know the truth. And it's all on &C
count of the fact, shameful enough, I
admit, that my father died and left me
a large and prosperous button fac
tory"
why don't you give tina Internal
thing away-sell it out to trust
"Ah! ah!"-and he raised himself
again and pointed bandaged hand at
me. Il see that you are man Of
penetration! You have a keen notion
of business! You anticipate me! I
did sell the Internal thing to a trust,
but there was no shaking it! They
made me president of the combina-
ton, and control more buttons than
any other living man! My dear sir, 1
dictate the button prices of the world.
can tell you to nicely how many
| buttons are swallowed annually by
the babies of the universe But I
hope, sir, that 1 use my power wisely
and without expressing the people,"
(To BE coNTINUED.)
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