Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1910-09-29

| PARTNERS WHAT DO YOU MEAN2"
with that Of the other white people
at Kalvik"
! Marsh allowed his eyes TO waver at
! this. but 10 Mildred he apologlzed.
"She Is not the sort one cares to dis
cuss"
How do you knowi" demanded
Cherry's champion. do you know
anything against her character"
II know she is disturbing element
In Kalvik and has caused us a great
deal OF trouble"
II was Boyd's turn TO laugh. "But
surely that has nothing to do with her
character"
my dear fellow"-Marsh shrugged
his shoulders apologetically-"'if I had
dreamed she was friend OF yours
never would have spoken"
The dinner was finished. and Mr.
Wayland bad asked for his favorite
cigars. so Mildred rose. and Boyd ac-
companied her, leaving the others to
smoke But. strangely enough. Marsh
remained In such state of preoccupa-
ton. even after their departure. that
Mr. Wayland's attempts at CONVERSE
ton elected only the vaguest and
shortest Of answers.
In the music room Mildred turned
upon Boyd. why didn't you tell me
about this woman before?"
Il didn't think Of her."
"And yet she Is young. beautiful. re-
fined, lives a romantic sort Of exist
ence and entertained you She
tossed her head. seated herself at the
piano and struck a few idle notes,
inquiring casually, "Kalvik il the
name of the place you are going. isn't
itY
ut is"
II suppose you win see great deal
of this-Cherry MalotteT'
Undoubtedly. inasmuch as we are
partners"
"Partners" Mildred ceased playing
and swung about. what do you
mean?'
"She is interested in this enterprise.
The cannery site Is hers"
II seer After a moment. Does this
new affair OF fathers have any par
ticular effect on your plansy"
"yes and no." he answered. feeling
again the weight Of this last compli-
cation. forgotten for the moment
What do you wish me to dor"
Nothing. only for the present please
don't mention my scheme either to
him or 10 MIR. Marsh I am bit IN
certain as to my course. You see, it
means so much to me that can't bear
TO give II up. and yet 1t may lead to
great-unpieasantness."
She nodded comprehendingly.
On that very night. In little snow
smothered cabin crouching close
against the Kalvik bluffs. another girl
was seated at piano. Her slim. white
fingers bad strayed upon the notes OF
a song which Boyd Emerson had sung.
In her dream filled eyes was the pic
ture of rough CARRIED. silent man at
her shoulder. and In her ears was the
sound Of his voice. Clear to the last
melting note she played the air. and
then pitiful sob shook her. She
bowed her golden head and hid her
face In her arms. for a memory was
upon her. a forgotten kiss was hot
upon her lips. and she was very lonely.
At the hotel Emerson found Clyde
and Fraser In Balt's room awaiting
him. They were noisy and excited at
the success OF the enterprise aud at
the prospect Of immediate action.
Boyd told them little Of the news
that had startled him earlier In the
evening beyond the bare fact that
Marsh had fioated packersf trust and
that secrecy for the present was now
doubly necessary to the success Of
their undertaking. The full signifl-
canoe OF the merger. therefore, did not
strike bis associates, even when on the
train the next day they read the an
nouncement of its formation In the
newspapers. Bait alone took notice OF
It and fell into a furious rage at his
enemy's success.