Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1912-11-29

that you were his guest on your way
home from Harvard"
II certainly was!" He made the
statement, chin up and eyes blazing.
Il was his guest at the Kahoka We'd
nesday night, and he knows it."
Billings looked at me and shrugged
his shoulders.
Don't bother denying 1t, old man"
he said. Its all right"
"Oh, but I say-it isn't!" ex-
claimed in disguised amaze Dashed
impertinence you know-never saw
this fellow before the morning at the
-er-boat, and day before yesterday
when l." l halted, remembering.
But the fellow was shaking his
finger at me.
H.A-a-a!" he jeered like a school
boy. why don't you finish? Bet you
don't know, Jack, that this paragon
friend OF yours was up here on the
train day before yesterday" Billings
| stared, for he did not know.
The chap grew more impudent.
yah, see him turn red!"
by Jove!" l exclaimed, warming
up, you know. Say. Billings, who
the devil Is this fellow?" And l ad-
vanced angrily-dashed annoyed, you
know.
Billings ~interposed. MY brother"
he said quietly.
.Yes, his brother" almost shouted
the other. Then ne lowered his voice
at Billings command: And | say.
you didn't tell Jack you were on the
train yesterday. posing as a Mr..
Smith, and that you insuIted Fran
ces." He shook OF his brothers hand
angriiy. "Oh. yes he did-sister told
me about it! knew it was you when
got to thinking about it this morn
ing!" He painted for breath. Il can't
call o a liar, Lightnut. when you
| say l wasn't at your rooms. because
| you're a quicker hitter than l am.
and" He looked around and shrug-
ged. and because we are In this
house. But you're an Internal hypo-
critic. and | want Jack to know 1t"
He laughed mockingly and faced his
brother. Ask your friend. Mr.. Light
nut, about hat girl in black pajamas
in his rooms!"
And he flung himself from h room
with a Parthian shot: ASK him to
tell you about her as he did me. Ask
him who it was!"
Billings seemed to groan. More
black pajamas!" he muttered.
| faced him eagerly. Il never told
him about her-Il swear l didn't"
/ pleaded miserably. You know all
there Is to know. Jack. ! wouldn't
tell anybody in the world a thing like
that. love her too well. Much less
would | go and tell her own brother"
"Wha-a-a-at?" Billings fat body al
most leaped into the air. VIVA the
devil-say, old chap, what arr you
talking about?"
And. besides, she's forgiven me-" l
persisted gloomily. And l love her
and-and we're going to be married.
or l hope so. dash it,"
Billings stared at ne With popping
eyes for an instant. Then he lifted
my chin and looked at me anxiously.
Are you quite well. old MANI" ne
asked. Headache, or anything ike
that? By George. it's from sitting out
in the sun without a hat. Marry Ey
sister," He wagged his head lugu-
briously. "What-Elizabeth? Oh.
good heavens!"
"NorFrances." l explained anx-
iously.
He stared. "Francis?" Then his
arm led me out. Come along. old
chap he said with an air OF concern.
Wen get a little Ice"
There vas a hustle near the hall
entrance. and | heard a commanding
voice / recognized as that OF Judge
Billings:
Come right In. Colonel. and we will
try to make you forget that little ex-
asperation-do you know l just cant
get over the Idea that I've seen you
somewhere and recently Hello.
Jack! Colonel Kirkland. my eldest
boy, Jack-named after his mother.
Johanna. Look here. Jack. has every
body on the blithering police force
gone crazy about pajamasl Most tn
fernal outrage-pardon me, Colonel
Kirkland-three policemen wanted 70