The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1910-04-28
CHAPTER vl11-(Continued.)

Let him talk in his own way" he
said.
This admirable person." the old man
went on, happily striking on the sub
ject again, desired Information that I
was not disposed to give, Mr.. Conner,
remembering your many kindnesses,
particularly in respect to one Mr.. Vim
mis-"
Yes, go on" urged Conner, and the
face of Ninnis was tense.
II fear there are times when my usu-
ally active MIND takes on a sluggish
ness which is foreign to my character
my normal character"-old George was
again the pedant-'when the unobser-
want stranger might be deceived into
regarding me as a negligible quantity.
The admirable young mar so far treat
ed me as such as to remark to his com
panion that there was a rope-yes, dis
tinctly a rope-for the said Mr.. Vim
mis-"
The face of vinnis was livid.
And" asked Conner, what happen
ed next? There were two Of them, were
there?"
The old man nodded %gravely; he nod
ded q number of times, as though the
exercise pleased him.
"The other young nm the anna
BILE one, but another-upon finding that
l could not rent or hire the rooms-as
indeed / could not, Mr.. Conner, with
out your permission-engaged me IN
oIl-NeT louuIS lie SpohC, Ivy
on the relative values of cabbage and
carrot as food for herbaceous mann
mails. Where the amiable gentleman
was at that moment | cannot say
II can guess" thought Connor.
IT can remember the occasion we'll"
old George continued, because that
night l was alarmed and startled by
strange noises from the empty rooms
upstairs. which l very naturally and
properly concluded We're caused
He stopped, and glanctng fearfully
about the room, went on in a lower
tone.
by certain spirits he whispered
mysteriously and pointed n leered
first at one and then another of the
occupants of the room.
There was something very eerie in
the performance of the strange old
!, man with the queerly working face,
and more than one hardened criminal
present shivered a little.
Conner broke the silence hat fell on
the room.
so that's how it was done, eh? One
held you in conversation While the
other got upstairs and hid himself?
Well. boys, you've heard the old man.
What dye say?"
Vinnis shifted in his seat and turned
his great International face to where
the old man stood, still fumbling with
his hat and muttering to himself be-
meath his breath; in some strange re-
|gion whittier his poor wandering mind
had taken him he was holding q con-
versation with an imaginary person.
IConnor could see his eyebrows work.
now in some strange lea tongue. o
In the stilted English Of the school
master.
1t was Vinnis who spoke for the as
sembled company.
1.-The old man knows a darned sight
too r,,1chp no Soi1 in hic 1eva1 fnoo
I'm for"
He did not finish mis- sentence. Con-
nor took a swift survey of the men.
IF there is any man here" he said
slowly. who wants to wake up at Z
O'Clock in the morning and meet 4 gen.
tleman who will strap his hands be-
hind him and a person who will pray
Over him-if there's any man here tina,
wants a short walk after breakfast be-
tween two lines of warders to a littli
she'd where a brand new rope is hang
ing from the roof. he's at liberty te
do what he likes with old George, bu,
not in this house"
He fixed his eyes on Vinnis.
And if there's any man here" he
went on. who's already in the shadow
of the ope, so that one or two muir.
ders more won't make much differ
ence one way or the other. he can dt
as he likes-outside this house,
Ninni shrank back.
There's nothing against me-" HI
growled.
THE rope" muttered the old man
'Ninnis for the rope" he chuckled t.
himself. II fear they counted too i'm.
plicitly upon the fact that I am not al,
ways quite myself-Vinnis-"
The man he spoke of sprang to hi:
feet with a snarl like a trapped beast
Sit down-you."
Bat Sands, with his red head clos,
-. cropped, thrust his chair in the direc.
. ton of the Infatuated Vinnis.
What Conner says is true-we'r,
!" not going to croak the old man, ant
were not going to croak ourselves. l
n we hang, it will be something wortl
y hanging for. AS to the old man, he
= soft, an that's all you can say. He
= got to be kept Gloss"
A rap at the door cut him short.
Who that?" he whispered.
Como tiptoed to the locked door.
who's there?" he demanded.
A familiar voice reassured him, an,
n ne opened the door and held a CONVEX
sation in a low voice with somebod,
outside.
There's a man who wants to Sc
me" he said in explanation. Loci
the door after 1 leace, Bat" and h
e went out quickly.
No a word was spoken, but eacl
after his own fashion of %reasonin,
e drew some conclusion from Conner
hasty departure.
"A full meetin'," croaked a voic
from the back Of the room. We're al
= asked here by Conner. Is it a plant?
= That was Bats thought too.
= No he said; there's nothir
against us. Why, Angel let US off las
week because there wasn't evidence
: an Connor's straight"
, II don't trust him, by God" sal
Q Vinnis.
II trust nobody" said Bat doggedl,
but Connor's straight
There was a rap on the door.
"Who's there?"
n A right" said the muffed voice.
v Bat unlocked the door. and Como
: came in.
What he had seen or what he ha
e heard had brought about a marvelou
e change in his apprenticeship cheek
d were a dull red, and his eyes blaze
: with triumph.
s Boys he said, and they caught tn
: infectious thrill in his voice, I've &c