The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1912-08-23

around like you had u pam ~
he went right on:
Say. did you ever see anything &c
| corking finer" lie looked up. holding
the ruby In the light. And to think
| how little I dreamed OF scooping any
thing like that when ! came In mere
! tonight"
BY Jove, this was a little too mucn.
even for an easy-going chap like MY
self! The jolly worm will turn. you
know.
Dash me, before l knew what ] was
| doing even, | had moved to his s,de
and jerked the ruby from his hand
| My face felt like a hot-water bottle Az
| did II.
You haven't got II yet" I said.
land I'll take devilish good care you
don't get It."
lie fell back as though from a blow.
"Why-why, old chap! Why. Light
! nut" he gasped. What's the mat
ter-what makes you look at me like
that"
Your liberties have gone just a bit
too far. don't you know l said. look
ing steadily In his fishy old eye. I've
had enough of you. by Joye, that's
all"
He stared at me. and | could hea.
him breathing like "A blacksmith's bel
lows. I would never have thought he
had such lungs.
Slowly his hand came out, and dash
me If II wasn't shaking like he Ind
the delirium what s-its-name. But for
his tan, his face would have been as
white as his hypocritical old whiskers.
rs this some Internal joker" His
face summoned a sickly smile that al
most instantly faded. His hand fell
back 10 his side. Why, old fellow,
you don't think that way about me. do
you? AS for the ruby. IL don't wan,
IL now just want you to accept my
apology for anything I've done. and
and let NE get away"
There was a short laugh from the
doorway.
Likely enough" said Officer
O'Keefe. his big figure swinging for
ward with long strides. Keep him
covered. Tint"
He planted himself between us with
O grin.
You're It again. Foxy. Jig's up
VIII you go quietly?"
II did me good to see how complete
ly the old scoundrel was taken back
His wide distended bleary eyes shit
ed from O'Keefe TO me and back again
II was a perfect surprise.
/ motioned TO Jenkins to close IN,
door OF my friends bedroom, So far
he had evidently slept serenel,
through all the trouble. and. II pos
sible, | wanted to avoid arousing hin
now. For a fat man, Billings had IN,
deuce OF a temper when stirred III
over anything like an imposition Dol
him. and II would only add to the con
fusion for him 10 appear on the seen,
and learn about his wallet and hi.
treasured ruby that | had rescued.
Foxy Grandpa's face had been ran
idly undergoing a change. From pal
Tor to pink II went: and then from
pink to red. Now II was becomin,
scarlet. He threw his head back an,
faced me angrily.
"Lightnut, will YOU tell me what IN,
hell this means?" And his heavy yoic,
Numbered.
Here! Here! ThatIl be enough
o that cried Officer O'Keefe aharp
ly. None OF your grandstand pla,
here. or It'll be the worse for you
And no tricks, Braxton, Or"
He clutched his stick menac.ngly.
"Braxton." snorted the old fellow
why. you born fool. my names no
Braxton!"
Not now" grinned O'Keelo. Say
what is your name now, Foxy"
MY name" roared Foxy GRANDMA
and paused abruptly. He looked rath
er blankly from one officer to tn,
other.
See here; do ! understand I'm nm
der arrest" he inquired.
You certainly are talking, Foxy.
chuckled O'Keefe.
Then my names Doe-John Doe
and thought the fellows quick glanc,
at me held an appeal. or what sor,
I had no idea.
And what. may I ask. is IN,
charger" he asked again, with WIN
was apparently a great effort at calm
ness.