Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1909-10-22

me down upon the top! Here 1t is;
judge for yourselves. That is a bad
man! Beware of him!"
The bold ~effrontery of the Guack ST.
fenced the timid customer, who could
only blush and look confused. His
bushes and confusion condemned him
and the crowd hustled him away from
the wagon. They believed him guilty
n he half believed it of himself.
David. h had seen the bill and
knew the victims innocence but not
the doctors fraud, pressed forward to
defend aim. The quack stopped and
silenced him with an inimitable wink,
n then instantly and with consum-
mate art diverted his audience with a
series of droll stories which he always
reserved for emergencies like this.
They were old and thread-bare, but
this was the reason he chose them.
He had one for every circumstance
and occasion.
There was a man standing in an
outer circle Of the crowd around whose
forehead was a bandage. Come herA,
my friend" said the quack. How did
you get this wound? Don't want to
tell? Oh! well, that is natural. A
horse kicked him, no doubt; never got
in a row! No! No! Couldn't any
one hit him.! Reminds me Of the man
who saw a big biack-and-blue spot on
his boys forehead. My son. said he,
I thought I told you not to fight? How
did you get this wound?' I bit 1t,
father replied h boy.
".Bit it, exclaimed the old man In
establishment, how could you bite
yourself upon the forehead?'
81 climbed onto a chair says he.
And You have been climbing on a
chair to bite your forehead, too, my
friend7" he asked with humorous grav-
ity, while a loud guffaw went up from
tho crowd.
"Well." he continued, soothingly.
whether O did 1t or not, just let
me rub a little Of this b-b-balm upon
1t, and by Tomorrow morning it will
be well. There! That's right. One
dollar is all it costs. You don't want
1t? What the d-d-deuce did you let
mo open the bottle for? I'll leave it
to the crowd If that is fair? There.
that is right. Pay for it like a man.
It's worth double its price. Thank you.
BY tomorrow noon you will b-b-be
sending me a testimonial to it's value"
The novelty of the scene. the skill
of the principal actor, the rapid growth
Of the piles Of coin and bills, the fran
tic desire of the people to be gulled,
| all served to obscure those elements
which were calculated to appeal to the
Qualer's conscience. He felt like one
awakened from a dream. While he
was still in the half dozed condition
of such an awakening, the quack gave
him a sign that his part Of his lesson
was ended. and following the direction
of the thumb which he threw over his
shoulder towards Fspeeta's tent. he
eagerly tool his way thither.
Before the door stood several groups
OF young men and maidens, talking
under their breath. Now and then a
couple disentangled itself from the
crowd. and with visible trepidation en-
| tered. AS they reappeared, their
| friends gathered about them and be-
sought them to disclose the secrets
they had discovered.
Some of them giggled and simpered.
| others laughed b~oisterously and skep-
| tically, while others still, looked scared
| and anxious. 1t was evident that even
! those who tried to make light of what
they had seen n heard were moved
by something awe-inspiring.
David listened to their silly talk, OBJ
| served their bold demeanor and their
vulgar while. the impression
Of weakness, OF stupidity, Of the low
ness and bestiality of humanity made
upon his mind by the aged and the
mature. was intensified by his obser-
walton Of the young and callow.
From the outside of the gypsy's tent
| he could make but few discoveries OF
her method; and he waited impatient
ly until tho last curious couple had de-
parted. When they had disappeared,
he entered.
At the opposite side Of the tent and
reclining upon a low divan was the
gypsy. Above her head a tallow can
die wa burning dimly. Before her
was . rough table covered with a
shawl. upon which were scattered cups
Of tea with floating grounds. ivory.
dice, cards. coins and other implements
Of the BLACK Art"
Pepeeta sprang to her feet when
she saw who her visitor was, and ex-
hibited the clearest signs Of agitation.
David's own emotions were not less
violent, for although the gypsy's sur
roundings were pool and neal they
served rather to enhance than to d.
minish her exquisite beauty. Her
shoulders and arms were bare. and on
her wrists were gold bracelets of
writing serpents in whose yes
cleaned diamonds. On her fingers and
in her ears were other costly tones
Her dress was silk, and rustled when
she moved, with soft nj sibilant
sounds.
The doctor has sent me here to
study the methods by which you do
your work. said David. approaching
the table and gazing at her with un-
disguised admiration.
You should have come before. How
can you study my methods when ! am
not p%racticing them? md any a
you have no faith in them. Have you:
I always had until I heard your SER
mon in tho little meeting house."
And AVE you lost 1t now?"
cit has been sadly shaken"
You can at least show me how you
practice the art. rel IL you have lost
your faith in It I too have lost a
faith: but we must live. What are
these cards for?"
.If you wish me to show you. You
may shuttle and cut them, but / would
rather tell your fortune by your hand,
for l have more faith In palmistry
than in cards.
He extended his hand: h took It.
and with her right forefinger began 20
| trace the lines. Fer 1axe had that In.