Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1910-03-23
CHAPTER XIV,
Undertake a Commission.

CHAPTER XIV.
| Undertake Commission.
Gillespie availed himself of my
wardrobe to replace his rags, and ap-
peared in the library clothed and in
his usual state of mind on the stroke
of seven.
You should have had the doctor
out, Donovan. Being stuck isn't so
funny, and you will undoubtedly die Of
blood-poisoning. Every one does now
adays."
II shall disappoint you. lima and
I between us have stuck me together
like a cracked plate. And it is not
we'll to publish our troubles to the
world. If called the village doctor
he would kill his horse circulating the
mysterious tidings. Are you salts
fed?"
"Quite so. You're man after my
own heart, Donovan"
We had reached the dining room and
stood by our chairs.
II should like" he said, taking up
his cocktail glass, Ito propose truce
between us"
In the matter of a certain lady?'
Even so! On the honor of foo"
he said, and touched his glass to his
lips. And may the best man win
he added, putting down the glass un-
enlptied.
He was one of those comfortable
people with whom it is possible to sit
in silence; but after intervals in
which we found nothing to say he
would, with exaggerated gravity, make
some utterly inane remark. Tonight
his mind was more agile than ever, his
thoughts leaping nimbly from crag to
crag, like a mountain goat. He had
Travelled widely and knew the ways of
many cities; and of American political
characters, whose names were but
vaguely known to me, he discoursed
with delightful intimacy; then his
mind danced away to tour he had
once made With company of acrobats
whose baggage he had released from
the grasping hands of rural sheriff.
What" he asked, presently, lis as
sad as being deceived in a person you
have admired and trusted? I knew a
fellow who was professor of something
in blooming college, and who was so
poor that he had to coach delinquent
props in summer time instead of get
ting vacation. I had every conf
dence in that fellow. I thought he
was all right, and so I took him up
into Maine with me-just the two OF
us-and hired an Indian to run our
camp, and everything pointed to plus.
Well, always get stung when I try
80 be good"
He placed his knife and fork care.
fully across his plate and sighed
deeply.
What was the matter? Did he
bore you with philosophy"
mo such luck. That man was weak.
minded on the subject of domesticat
ing prairie dogs. You may shoot me
If that isn't the fact. There he was, a
prize-winner and fellow Of his uni
versity, and fine scholar who edited
Greek textbooks, with that thing on
his mind. He held that the daily ex
ample of the happy home life of the
prairie dog would tend to ennoble all
mankind and brighten up our family
affairs. Think Of being lost in the
woods with a man with such an idea
and Of having to sleep under the same
blanket with him! It rained most Of
the time, so we had to sit in the tent
and he never let up. He got so ba6
that he would wake me up in the night
to talk prairie dog"
1T must have been trying"
agreed. What was your solution, But
tons?"
II moved outdoors and slept with
the Indian. Your salad dressing is ex
.cellent, Donovan, though personally
Jean to more of the paprika. But lei
us go back a bit to the Holbrooks
|Omitting the lady, there are certain
points about which we may as wei
agree. I am not so great a fool bu1
that can see that this state of things
cannot last forever. Henry is broker
down from drink and brooding ove1
his troubles, and about ready for close
confinement in brick building with
barred windows
"Then I'm for capturing him an6
sticking him away in a safe place."
'That's the Irish of it,, if you will
pardon me; but it's not the Holbrool
of it. A father tucked away in a pri
yate madhouse would not sound vel
to the daughter. I advise you not tt
suggest that to Helen. I generously
aid your suit to that extent. We arc
both playing for Helen's gratitude
that's the fiat of the matter
II was brought into this bushes.
to help Miss Pat" declared, though
trife lamely. Gillespie grinned sar
donically. s"
BE it far from me to interfere will
your plans, methods or hopes. W.