Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1911-07-07
HALF A ROGUE
BY HAROLD MAC GRATH
Author Of The Man m the Boz, The Puppet Crown, Hearts and Maska Etc
Copyright Bobbs Merrill Co. Indianapolis
CHAPTER xIx-(continued)

The reporter and the semi-outcast
smiled at ach other. They say their
appetites appeased to safety.
Does a bottle go with the order,
asked Jordan.
Hall a doZen!" laughed Warrington.
I've put YOU in the city hall, Dick"
said Osborne. And don't forget me
when you're there"
WIFI there be a story for me ?" Jor-
dan asked.
You'll have a page, Ben"
That's enough. Well, come on, Bill;
We'll show the new mayor that we can
order like gentlemen"
Il remember" But Osborne
never completed his Renaissance. Jor-
dan was already propelling him toward
the door.
Once the door had closed upon them,
Warrington capered around the room
like a school boy. The publication of
this ~confederacy between Morissy and
McQuade would swing the doubling
element over to his side and split the
ranks Of the labor party.
Patty, Patty Bennington! He must
see her. 1t was impossible to wait an
other day. When was it he had seen
her last? Patty, dark-eyed, elfish,
winsome, merry! oh, yes, he must see
her at once, this very afternoon.
Patty is not feeling we'll" said Mrs.
Bennington, as she welcomed Warning
ton at the door, an hour later. II will
call her. l am sure she will be glad
to see you"
Warrington went into the music
room. When she finally appeared she
was pale, her eyes were red, but her
head was erect and her lips firm.
Patty, are you ill?" Fastening to-
ward her.
81 have a very bad headache" coldly.
You wished to see me?'
You have been crying. What has
happened?" anxiously.
1T can not interest you," YEARLY.
Men! She would have a horror of them
for the rest of her days.
Not interest me? Don't you know,
haven't you seen by this time, that you
interest me more than any other living
being or any angel in heaven2"
Patty caught at the p~ortiere to steady
herself. She had not expected declara-
tons of this kind.
Don't o know" he hurried on, his
voice gaining in passion and tender
ness, don't you know that a pain to
you means triple pain to me? Don't
you know that I love you? Patty, what
Is the trouble?
do you wish to know, them" bit
terly. She hated him! How could he
stand there telling her hat he loved
her? Read this" presenting the let
TEL. l uSSpiSc Sou.
"Despise me? What in Gods name is
the matter?
Once the letter was in his hand, her
arms dropped TO her sides, tense. 1t
was beet SO, TO have it over with at
once. She watched him. His hand fell
slowly. 1t would have been difficult
to say which of the two was the whittier.
YOU speak of Lowell" Her wrath
seemed to scorch her lips. My poor
brother!"
Warrington Strengthened. DO you
believe this?"
rs 1t true?"
AN anonymous letter." he replied,
contemptuously.
II know who wrote It."
"Who?"
II decline to answer"
80 you give me not even the benefit
Of a doubt! You believe it,"
Patty was less observant than usual.
will you please go now? l do not
think there is anything more to be
said"
NO. l will 60" He spoke quietly,
but like a man who has received his
death stroke. "One question more. Did
McQuade write that letter."
NO"
He picked UP his hat, he was gone.
Warrington stumbled rather than
walked home. When he reached the OPP
posite curb he slipped and fell, bruising
his hands. . Deny It? Deny 1t when
convicted without trial? There are
never any proofs to refute. a letter
written by an unknown enemy. There
Is never any guard against the stab
In the back. He and Kate! 1t
was monstrous. And John? Did John
know? Did John see that letter? No,
Patty surely had not shown it to John.
He knew John Cor he believed he did;
not all the proofs or explanations
Heaven or earth could give would con-
vince John. II that letter fell into his
mass meeting that night! God! He
stumbled up the steps to the door. He
vas like a drunken man. Patty
believed It; Patty, just and merciful,
believed It. If she believed, what
would John, the jealous husband, be-
lever There were SO many tr1fling
things that now In Johns eyes would
assume immense proportions. In
less than half an hour the world had
stopped, turned about, and gone an
other way He opened the door. AS
he did so q women rushed into the
hall.
Richard, Richard. thought you
would never comet"
You, and IN this house alone?" His
shoulders dropped.
Mrs. Jack did not observe how white
he was, how dull his eye, how abject
his whole attitude. n aught him by
h sleeve and dragged him into the
ivfng-room.
Richard. I am dying" she cried.
She loosened the collaret at her throat.
What shall / do, what shall / do?"
He realized then that he was not
alone In misery.
"What is 1t, girl2" stirring himself.
Listen Dick She dropped into the
old name unconsciously. She had but
one clear thought; his man could save
her. Some time ago-the night you
and John went down town together
1 received a telephone cal from that
vile wretch, McQuade."
"McQuade? Warrington's interest
was thoroughly aroused by that name,
nothing else could have aroused II.
He said that If I did not persuade
you to Withdraw your name before the
convention met he would not oppose
the publication of a certain story con-
corning my past and yours. Horrible!
What could / do? ! remained silent
II was Patty's advice. We were afraid
xlaf TAhn xyo,,lI lii No0roaa 70 -