Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1911-05-18
HALF A ROGUE
BY HAROLD MAC GRATH
Author Of The Man OF the Box, Tho Puppet Grown, Hearts and Masks, Etc.
Copyright BobbsMerrtn Co. Indianapolis

MS plaLs. IAe! lIllIfK lne p"pil" wiil
prise is what the public needs. I'll
tell you something else. Morris. who
died last week. had just sold out his
interest In the Telegraph to McQuade.
This means that McQuade has the
controlling interest in every ncwspa-
per in town. l never heard of such Il
cratic and republican. owned by a
democratic boss
Warrington smoked th%oughtful!y.
This man McQuade was something out
of the ordinary. And nc had defled
him.
81 am very much obliged to you, Os-
borne. If / win out. ON my word OF
honor. I'll do something for YOU"
You aren' afraid of McQuadc ?"
anxiously.
My dear Mr.. Osborne. I am not
afraid OF the Old Nick himself. I'll
give this man McQuade the biggest
fight he has ever had. Bol!es will have
his pains for nothing. Amy scandal he
can rake up about my past VIII be
pure blackmail; and 1 know how to
deal With that breed
"McQuadc will try something else,
then. He's sworn to stop you. I'm glad
you aren't afraid of him."
II ant think. you enough"
Il wander about town a good deal;
nobody pays much attention to me;
so lots OF things fall under my notice.
III; let You know what 1 hear. You'll
find all h decent people on your side,
surprise or no surprise. They're tired
of McQuade and Donnelly. Some OF
these paving deals smell. Well. I'm
keeping you from your work" Bill!
rose.
Help yourself to these CIGARS said
Warrington gratefully, passing the
box.
Bill took three.
Good night, Rlchard.'
Good night, MI. Osborne. If Dy any
good lucS. l become mayor OF Hercu-
laneum, I'll not forget your service
tonight"
That's all that's necessary for me-"
and Bill bowed himself out. He layed
his course for his familiar haunts.
Warrington picked up the letter
the fascination it held for him. He
would never meet the writer, and yet
not u day passed that lie did no strive
TO conjure up an imaginative likeness.
And he had nearly lost II. The creases
were beginning to show. He studied it
thoroughly. He held 1t toward the
light. All, here was something that had
hitherto escaped his notice. 1t was a
peculiar water wark. He examined the
folds. The sheet a not been folded
originally. letter-wise, but had been
fiat. as II torn from a tablet. He
scrutinized the edges and found signs
or muc1lage. Here was something, but
1t led him to no solution. The post
office mark had been made in New
York. To trace a letter In New York
would be as impracticable as subtract
Ing gold from sea-water. 1t was a tan
talizing mystery. and it bothered him
more than he liked to confess. He
put the letter in his wallet, and went
into h sewlng-room, where his aunt
was knitting. The dear old lady smiled
at him.
YOU"
What is It. Richard?"
I'm Gcing to run for mayor.
The old lady dropped her work and
held up her hands in horror.
You are fooling. Richard!"
Il am very serious. aunty."
But politicians are such scamps,
Richard
"s s,, got to reform them"
their kind. You don't mean it!'
Yes. I do. I've promised. and I
can't back down row."
good will come Of It," said the
old lady. prophetically, reaching down
for her work. But II you are determ-
med, I suppose It's no use for me to
~ SnS oCIl1llllkvOuS say <
They rather approve the idea. I'm
going up there early tomorrow. I'll be
up before you're down. Good night"
He lightly kissed the wrinkled face.
Have 9 good time, Richard; and
God bless my boy"
He paused on the threshold and came
back. Why. he did not know. But hay-
a come back, he kissed her once
again. his hands on her cheeks. There
were tears in her eyes.
You're so kind and good { an old
woman, Richard,
"Pshaw! there's nobody your equal
In all the world. Good night. M he
stepped into the hall.
The next morning he left town for
bennlngton's bungalow In the Adlron-
dAcks. He arrived at 2 In IA at.
ernoon. and found John, Kate and
Patty at the village station. It was
nearly = two hours drive to the lake.
Wnlcn wa circled by lordly noun
Isn't Il beautiful?" asked patty.
with = kind Of proprietary pride.
1t u - 1n a. ANYTHING r. tha
Alps" werrington admitted. .shsll
We 80 a-nshtng IL the morning?'
.. N you , ssn GO. ap early enough"
How the poiIticianfs Whispered
kate, saagerly.
About to ma hlmself in II. he.r,
q 2 great scandal. The enemy has Ia.
Gated ~. and this saft@rnoon the Tfme1
y g come out with : broadside.
nnven.s sne least q Whist e win say,
.Thet:s the proper way q talk.. =.
piled Kete1approvinrly.
1c NV xnss.s this tax about politics7.
Wslrtnston looked 8 Patty ana Kat.
afSlt een ~ M0aaSf t81N1 EfEVc -.