Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1909-12-31

1 tOQhNh his ESSll AOIliiilNNN SiitocAhA
ly. 1T is one thing to own a house
and another re kick the logs on the
hearth; one thing TO have the deeds
of another-in the west-to pass the
punch bowl! More, by token, 1T is q
hospitable country this, colonel, and II
there is one thing would annoy The
McMurrough and the young lady. his
sister, more than another, it would be
to turn a guest from the door-that Is
thought to be theirs!"
You mean that you will not take my
bidding" the colonel said.
Not the least taste in life," AsgilI
answered gayly, unless it is backed by
the gentleman or the lady
Yet | believe, sir, that l have a
means to persuade YOU" Colonel John
replied. TT is no more than a week
ago, Mr.. Asgill, since a number of per
sons in my presence assumed a badge
so notoricuslv reasonable that a child
could not doubt it's meaning"
I'm the west of Ireland" Asgill said
with Il twinkle in his eye, that is a
trihe my dear sir. not worth naming
But If reported in the east%'
Asgill averted his face that its smile
might not be seen. Well" he said, lit
might be a serious matter there"
Il think you take me now" Colonel
John replied. Il wish to use no threats.
The least said the soonest mended."
Asgill looked at him with the amuse-
ment of a man watching the transpar-
ent scheming of a child. las you say,
the least said the soonest mended," he
reioined. 'So-who is to report it In
the east?"
Il will, if necessary"
IF you push me to it,"
Asgill raised his eyebrows imperti-
nently. An informer?" he said.
Colonel John did not finch. If nee
essary." he repeated.
That would be serious" Asgill re-
Joined. for many people. In the first
place, for the young lady, your ward,
Colonel. Then for your kinsman-and
Mr.. UliCk Sullivan. After that for quite
a number of honest gentlemen whose
only fault is a tendency to heroics after
dinner. 1t would be SO serious, and for
! so many. Colonel, that, for my part, I
should be glad to suffer i'm such good
company. Particularly" he continued,
with a droll look, the drolIer for his
appreciation of the COloners face of
discontinue, as being a Protestant
n a justice, l should, ten to one, be
the only person against whom the story
! would not pass. So that, ten to one,
l should go free and the others go to
Geordie's prison
Colonel join was fairly defeated, his
flank turned, his guns captured. He
had counted so surely on the man
whom ne knew to be a knave proving
( also a coward that even his anger
could not hide his discontinue. He
looked, indeed, so rueful, and at the
same time so wrathful, that Asgill
laughed aloud.
use to scowl at me. We know you
never call any one out. Let me just
hint that wits in ireland are not quite
so slow as in colder countries, and that
had l been here a week back you had
not found it SO easy to-
ITO what, sir?"
ITO send two old women to sea in a
cockboat,' Asgill replied. And he
laughed anew and loudly, But this
time there was no gayety in his laugh.
If the Colonel had not performed the
feat in question, in how different a
state things might have been at this
moment! Asgill felt murderous toward
him as he thought of that and the
weapon of the flesh being out of the
question-for he had no mind to face
the Coloners small sword-he sought
about for an arm of another kind.
More by token" he continued: eff you
are going TO turn informer, 1t was a
pity o did not send the young woman
to sea with the old ones. But I'm
thinking you'd not be liking to be
without her. Colonel?"
Colonel John turned surprisingly red.
I'VE will leave her out of the question,
sir" he said, haughtily. "Or-that re-
minds me-" he continued, with increas-
ing sternness. You question my right
to bid you begone."-
Il dol" Asgill cried, with zest. He
was beginning to enjoy himself.
But you forget, / think, another lit
tie matter in the past that is known
to me-and that you would not like
disclosed, / believe. sir"
You seem to have been raking
things up Colonel"
"One must deal with a rogue accord :
ing to his roguery," Colonel John re-
torted.
Asgilrs face grew dark. He made a
movement. but restrained himself,
You don't mince matters" he said.
Il do not"
You may be finding it an unfortu-
nate policy before long" Asgill said
between his teeth. He was moved at
last, angered, perhaps apprehensive of
what was coming.
MAY be, sir" CeleneI John returned
may be. But in the meantime let me
remind you that your tricks as a horse
dealer would not go far to recommend
you as a guest to my ~kinswoman."
"Ohi"
who shall assuredly hear who
seized her mare If you persist In fore
ing your company upon her"
Upon herr" Asgil repeated, in a
peculiar tone. II see"
Colonel John Redeemed. You know
how he said. And il you persist
"You will tell her." Asgill took him
up, chat I--shall. | say-abducted her
! mare?"
II shall tell her without hesitation
"Or scruple?"
Colonel Sullivan glowered at him
! but did not answer.
Asgiil laughed a laugh of honest con-
tempt. "And She" he said, Twill moi
believe 0 If you swear 1t a score
OF times. Try. siri You Will injurt
yourself. you will not injure me. why
man." he continued, in a tone o.
unmeasured scorn. you are duller thar
| thought you were. The ice is still IN
your wits and the fog in your brain
I thought. when l heard what you hao
done. hat you We're the man for Kerry
But
What Is 1t? What's this? ?"
The speaker was James McMurroush
He had approached unnoticed and hi.
churlish tone showed that what h,
had overheard was not to his liking
But Asgill supposed that James, II
humor was directed against his enemy
4 a md hn annaol0d 70 hsD.