Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1911-05-19
HALF A ROGUE
By HAROLD MAC GRATH
Author of The Man OF the Box, The Puppet Crown, Hearts and Masks, Etc,
Copyright Bobbs Merrill Co. indianapolis
By HAROLD MAC A
CHAPTER vIII--(Continued.)

Mr. warrington rs I'M answered tnf
Falet, with chilling dignity. What Is
your business"
"Mine!" thundcred Bill, who had 8
democratic contempt for "a gentleman:
gentleman. II have important bust
mes to transact with your master. Take
this card in to him. He'll see me-
Il will take the card to Mr.. Warning
ton, the valet promised reluctantly
There was. however, a barely percepi-
Die grin struggling at the corners OF
his mouth. He was not wholly devoid
OF the sense OF humor, as a gentleman'S
gentleman should at times be.
William Osborne? What the deuce
does he want here ?" asked Warrington
impatiently
He said his business was important
sir. II it Is half as important as he
acts"
mo comments, please. Show Mr.
Osborne in"
Warrington turned all his mail face
downward. He knew Bill of aforetime,
IN the old newspaper days. Bill had
marvelously keen eyes, for all that they
were watery. The valet ushered him
into the study. He wore his usua
blase expression. He sat down and
drew up his chair to the desk.
We'll. MI. Osborne, what's on your
mind tonight?" Warrington leaned
back.
"The truth Is, Richard" began Will
lam, Il found this letter on the pave
ment this afternoon. Guess you'd been
down to the hotel this afternoon, and
dropped IL. l found 1t out in front.
There was no envelope. SO / couldn't
help reading it."
Warrington seized the letter eagerly.
1t was the only letter OF its kind In the
world. 1t was enchanted.
M Osborne. you've done me a real
service. would not take a small for
| ..:sa 60 tats letter. dou;e recoiiect
how l came to lose 1t. Must have taken
Il out and dropped it accidentally.
Thanks"
Don't mention 1t, my boy" Very
few called him Mr.. Osborne.
1T Is worth a good deal to me.
Would you be offended IL I gave you
ten as q reward?"
I'D feel hurt. Richard, but not Of
iended," a twinkle In the watery eyes.
Warrington laughed, drew out his
wallet and handed William a crisp.
craek!y bank note. 1t went, neatly
pocket.
Have a cigaret?' asked Warning
ION.
Richard, there's one thing / never
did, and that's smoke one OF those cof-
fin nails. Whisky and tobacco are all
right. but l draw the line at cigarets."
Warrington passed him a cigar. Will
lam bit off the end me lighted IL. He
shifted with evident relish.
Seems impossible, Richard, that only
n few years & you were a reporter at
the police station. But l always said
hat you'd get there some day. You
saw the dramatic side of the simplest
1 knew your father. He was
me OF the best farmers i'm the county.
puf hn di1nft lyf,axxr bnxrr 20 fnx,aef Ia,
savings. He ought to have left you
Nieh.'
"But he didn't. After all, it's a fine
thing 10 make for the good things In
and win them yourself"
That's true. You're a different breed
from some OF these people who are your
neighbors, We're all mighty proud OF
yeu, here in H~erculaneum. What you
want 70 do Is 10 get into politics. Here
S1ll winked mysteriously. You've
money and influence. and that's what
cunts
I'm seriously thinking the thing
over" returned Warrington. not quite
understanding the wink.
"Everything's ON the bum in the
town; il wants a clean bill. McQuade
must go. The man never keeps a
promise. Told me in the presence of
witnesses. last election. that he'd give
me q job on the new police board: and
ret after election he put in pne OF those
Hhipper-snappcrs who know nothing. |
Of course you've been in town long
enough to know that Donnelly is sim
ply McQuade's creature. l never had
any luck
'tQh, il may change by and by"
Warrington, at that moment felt gSn-
timely sorry for the outcast.
Bill twirlcd his hat. you've never
laughed at me, Richard: you've always
me like a gentleman, which /
vas once. l didn't mail that letter be-
cause / wanted to see il you had
any. IL YOU had become a
snob, why. YOU could fight your blamed
yourself: no help from me.
But you're just the same" He became
very earnest. I've brought some
thing thatll be OF more use to you than |
that letter, and don't YOU forget it,
CHAPTER TX,
Bill leaned toward Warrington.
a go -. - 4