El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1910-03-26

The way OF putting the question
staggered the Shrimp. He struck q
pose and bowed low.
ITO who was / alludin', Mr.. Per
kins, sir?' he mimicked. Who'd be
| alludin' to if not to yer fr'en' what
! jiggles her crutch sticks an beetle
crushers at that dime museum in Moo
York;"
The Duke remained silent, and the
Shrimp went away whistling.
Say, Dook," he said, retracing his
steps and stopping in front Of him,
"scuse me fer bein' alive, but on de
level, is it true she's run OF wild a
ash can white wing?'
You're booboo, amt yer? HI
dunno what you're talkin' abaout," re-
piled the Duke, whose heart sank
within him at the thought that behind
the Shrimp's raillery there might be
bad news concerning Nora.
mo, OF chap, I'm not dotty," contin-
ued the Shrimp. 81 keeps half Mel
son an a double damon cinch on
me sense, SOS not to let it git away
from me. But l seen the old CONAN
a-tearin' her hair just now an cryin'
like she'd been peelin' onions cause
de boss came back from de village
widout any mail L know somethin's
wrong wild me baby she was holler-
in. They never write any more. I
amt had a letter from her an Patsy
for week, an there was a owl boot
IN, n In nj ~,
stockin' on inside out dis mornin''
Fancy calm dat peep show stall a
babyI She's a infant fermuminum-
don't think
AN d'you know what I thinkY'
commented the Duke 'T think you're
low daown NUT to talk like that of
any gal. specially such a nice. respect
able gal as Miss O'Brien."
Jaw, g'wan," said the Shrimp. de-
lighted at having achieved his object
of taking a rise" out of the boy.
What d'you know about her? Let's
have decko at yer pome"
He snatched the paper from the
Dukes hand and started away with it.
This was the last straw The Duke
bounded up from the pail and dealt his
tormentor q blow on the jaw with such
force that it sent him to the ground.
Then, before the Shrimp had recovered
his senses sufficiently to realize just
what had happened. the Duke had Sc
cured the paper, thrust It In his pocket
and was standing over him, quivering
with rage and inviting him to get up
and be "spiflicated." The Shrimp was
not slow to respond. He was on his
feet in a twinkling and rushing at his
adversary. The boys were fighting all
over the stable, and the Duke was
having the life pounded out of him,
when Mallory, attracted by the noise
of the scuffie appeared upon the scene
and took a hand. He kicked the Duke
through the stable door and then kick
ed the Shrimp after him. administering
a sound cutting to each as he did So
This ended the last duel the boys
were ever to engage in. for the same
evening there came telegram for the
Duke. 1t was from his mother in New
York and read:
for London on Saturday"
An hour later the Duke. marveling
greatly. had hidden goodby to every
body, including the Shrimp. for be was
not a boy OF grudges and was on his
way to the railroad station.
The .Shrimp's account Of Mrs. O'Bri-
ems outburst was faithful narration
Of what had occurred. Her mothers
heart. pining for Nora. had led her to
worry and into a frame of mind in
which 1t needed only such a com bina-
ton Of dire omens as the hooting owl
and the stocking turned inside out TO
cause her to harbor forebodings of a
most alarming and depressing charac-
ter. Mayhnp also that intuition, which
III some natures at times attains the
degree of psychological phenomenon.
especially In the case OF loved one
absent upon whom thought is constant
~ concentrated. warned her that dan
ger Of some kind menaced the girl
There was nothing in the letters from
New York calculated TO occasion the
slightest uneasiness. and the sisters
mad assured her repeatedly in answer
to her inquiries that all was very well
with them Yet her mind was not
tranquil. and her moping and fears
gave both O'Brien and Mallory serious
concern.
1t was about three months after the
departure of the Duke that an offer TO
purchase Lady Belle came to Mallory.
His partner. Crawford. had not re-
turned to Maple Grove after his first
visit Mallory was not exactly an
adept in the art OF letter writing. He
decided that 1t would be advisable for
him to continue the negotiations with
McGovern in New York. where also he |
could have the benefit OF ready counsel
with Crawford This course seemed |
the more advantageous I'm that II would |
afford him the yearned for opportunity |
Of spending a few hours with Patsy. |
He argued, further. that if he gave the |
old people treat by taking them with |
him Mrs. O'Brien. being able to see
with her own eyes and hear with her