The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1912-12-26


Chanae on Brotherson's Part.
the very man he was thinking of ap4
peared at his door.
"pve come to see how you are,
said Brotherson. II noticed that you
didn't look well last night. Won't you
come in and share my pot Of coffee?"
Il can't eat" mumbled Sweet
water, for once in his life thrown
completely off his balance. You're
very kind, but I'll manage all right.
I'd rather I'm not quite dressed, you
see, and must get to the shop;
Then he thought-"What an oppor-
tunity I'm losing. Have any right
to turn tail because he plays his game
from the outset with trumps? No,
I've a small trump somewhere about
me to lay on this trick. 1t isn't an
ace, but it'll show I'm not chicane."
And smiling, though not with his
usual cheerfulness, Sweetwater added,
"Is the coffee all made? I might take
drop of that. But you mustn't ask
me to eat-I just couldn't"
Eyes, the coffee is made and 1t isn't
bad either. You'd better put on your
coat; the halls draughty." And wait
Ing till Sweetwater did so, he led the
way back to his own room. Brother
sons manner expressed perfect ease,
Sweetwater's not. He knew himself
changed in looks, in bearing, in feel
ing, even; but was he changed enough
to deceive this man on the very spot
where they had confronted each other
q few days before in keen moral
struggle?
"I'm going out myself today, SO
we'll have to hurry Bit" was Broth.
erson's first remark as they seated
themselves at table. ''Do you like your
coffee plain or with milk in it,"
plain. Gosh! what pictures!
Where do you get 'em? You must
have a lot of coin" Sweetwater was
staring at the row of photographs,
mostly of very high order, tackled
along the wall separating the two
rooms. They were unframed, but they
were mostly copies of great pictures.
and the effect was rather imposing in
contrast to the shabby furniture and
the otherwise homely fittings.
Eyes, I've enough for that kind of
thing" was his hosts reply. But the
tone was reserved, and Sweetwater
did not presume again along this line.
Instead, he looked well at the books
piled upon the shelves under these
photographs. and wondered aloud at
their number and at the man who
could waste such lot OF time In read
ing them. But he made no more al
rect remarks.
Yet there was one cheerful moment.
It was when he noticed the careless
way in which those books were ar
ranged upon their shelves An idea
had come to him.. He hid Ais relief
In his cup, az he drained the last
drops of the coffee. which really
tasted better than he expected.
When he returned from work that
afternoon It was with an suger under
his coat and q conviction which led
him to empty out the contents Of a
small phial which he took down from
shelf He had told Mr.. Gryce that
he was eager for the business because
Of IT, difficulties. but that was when
he was feeling fine and up to any
game which might come his way. Now
he felt weak and easily discouraged
This would not do. He must regain
his health at all hazards. so he poured
out the mixture which had given him
such sigkly air. This done and q
rude supper eaten, he took up his
anger. He had heard Mr.. Brother.
sons step 90 by. But next minute
he Mid 1t down again In great haste
and hnng newspaper oxar IT. Mr.
n6t6ers0n wa. coming back, had