The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1910-02-18
CHAPTER xII-continued.

an open window, "am cursed with
rugged health. have quite recovered
from those unkind cuts at the nunnery
thanks to your ministrations-and
am willing to put on the gloves with
You at any time"
You do me great honor; but the
affair must wait for lower tempera-
ture."
LAS you will! 1t is not like my
great and gracious ways to force a
fight. Pardon me, but may l inquire
for the health of the ladies' at Saint
What
They are quite we'll, thank you"
ri am glad. to know it;"-and his
tone lost for the moment it's jaun.t-
ness. Henry Holbrook has gone to
New York"
Good riddance!" exclaimed, hear
tily. "And now"
And now if I would only follow
suit, everything would be JOY plus for
you'll"
He laughed and slapped his knees
at my discontinue. for he had read
my thoughts exactly.
You certainly are the only blot on
the landscape!"
Quite so. And if l would only go
hence the pretty little idyl that is be.
ing enacted in the delightful garden,
under the eye of friendly chaperon,
would 60 forward without Interrupt
ton"
He spoke soberly, and 1 had OBJ
served that when he dropped his chat
note of melancholy crept into his
talk. He folded his arms and went
on: She's wonderful girl. Donovan.
There's no other girl like her in all
the wide world. l tell you it's hard
for girl like that to be in her posi-.
tion-the whole family broken up, and
that contemplate father of hers hang
ing about with his schemes of plumber.
It's pitiful, Donovan; it's pitiful!"
ITS cherries mess. 1t all came
after the bank failure, l suppose"
Practically, though the brothers
never got on. You see my governor
was bit by their bank failure: and
Miss Pat resented the fact that he
backed off when stung. But the Gil.
| lespies take their medicine; father
never squealed, which makes me sore
| that your Aunt Pat gives me the icy
eye."
| Their affairs are certainly mixed, y
I replied, non-committally.
''They are indeed; and have studied
the whole business until my near
mind is mussed up, like scrambled
eggs. Your own pretty idyl of the
nunnery garden adds the note pi
quante. Cross my palm with gold and
I'll tell you of strange things that lie
in the future. l have an idea, Dono
van; singular though it seem, I've q
notion in my head"
Keep it," retorted, ITO prevent a
sranial vacuum"
"Crushed!f Absolutely crushed" he
replied, gloomily. Kick me. I'm only
the host"
We were silent while the few sounds
Of the village street droned in. He
rose and paced the floor to shake of
his mood, and when he sat down he
seemed in better spirits.
"Holbrook will undoubtedly return,
I said.
Yes; there's no manner of doub,
about that"
And then there will be more trou
ble."
"Of course"
But suppose there's no guessing
when he will come back"
He will come back as soon as he's
spent his money"
I felt delicacy about referring tt
that transaction on the pier. 1t was
a wretched business, and l now
realized that the shame of it was moi
lost on Gillespie.
How does Henry come to have that
italian scoundrel with him?" l asked
after pause.
He's the skipper of the stiletto.'
Gillespie replied. readily.
He's long way from tide.water,'
I remarked. "a Backyard of Just his
sort once sailed me around the Italian
peninsula in felucca, and saved me
from drowning on the way. His hero
ism was not, however, wholly disinter
ested When we got back to Naples
he robbed me Of my watch and money
belt and prof1ted by the transaction
having intended to give him double
their value. But there are plenty o.
farm boys around the lake who coult
handle the Stiletto. Henry didz't neet
a dago expert"