Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1912-10-04
CHAPTER xxIH. (continued.)

Wasn't sure, you know, but some
how 1t seemed to me a rum thing TO
say-almost offensive, dash 1t! But
then. for that matter. everything was
RIM of late-so that counted for notn-
ing. Fact was, it Just seemed TO me
like there was something IN the air
everybody seemed so queer-Well, Of
ly muddled, l should call It! Idea
had been gradually coming to me ina
I was the only n who appeared TO
have any clear understanding OF
things. and somehow the realization
inst made me devilish neryous-the
responsibility, don't you know!
And lust then the judge looked sud
denly at his watch, muttered some
thing, and hitched up to the table
strewn with papers. He pent over
these with a frown, coughed oddly,
danced at me-and bent again with a
mutter. OF course, I saw he was an
noved over sudden consciousness OF
the break he had made, and was strlV-
ing to cover his embarrassment.
And, by Jove, it seemed to me ne
ought to feel embarrassed. for the
very FUNNIEST thing yet was this
crazy fnfatuation for this internal
ch.nffeur. It was pitiful-oh, dis
gushing, II you ask me-and the o
ca because it was something she did
not share. ] knew h didn't, you
know! No, it was plain enough dash
q that between her father n this
mucker of a chauffeur. my poor dar-
ling was being crowded to b what's
,ts.name. This was what she had
meant-had limited at-and, by Jove.
was ready to wager anything on IT;
eager to put up all l was worth. Q
know! !.
D,dn,t know, dash it, how much l
was worth. Went down in Wal street
one day and asked old Morley, my
nan of affairs, but forgot what he
said. Never could remember after
ward whether it was one million or
ten and always hated to ask again.
Tr,,th was he had stared at me so
and seemed so oddly surprised, l Just
worked of some jolly apologize rub
h;sh and got out Pugsiey thought l
,n,,st have violated some rotten, silly
law of commercial ethics-that sort or
thing. you know; declared that his at
tornev had a the dashed imperti-
nence once to ask him about some in
yestments, SO he got another man and
gave him a power of what's-its-name.
Never was bothered now. he said. by
checks or reports or any boring dis
fractions of that sort, this man just
kept him supplied with money, and
once in a while he scrawled his name
.H'm!" coughed the judge. "Er-
h,m!" And l stopped swapping the
cover of my cigarette case,~thinktng
he was about to say something, but
he did not look up. BY Jove. how l
wished that he were really busy. so
1 might slip out without danger OF
offending him! But l was afraid to
chance ibid SO want to u him
right, don't you know. on account Of
Frances. Knew he was still feeling a
bit plucked over his slip of the tongue
showed plainly he was bothered,
o know; you could tell by his puck
cred brows and the way he kept
clearing his throat. So meantime.
knowing that the best thing was to
appear unconscious-iust give him
time. you know fell carelessly to
dinEling some coins In my pocket and
tapping my loot upon the hardwood.
as l hummed q devilish a little air
from La Juive that l almost knew by
heart:
Quill, rapprenne de vous?
Helas. je vous impIore. benissez mon
epoux-
By Jove. ] han irst sos that Tar.