Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1912-11-22
Be GLOWE||| S.
0EMe DIJBIES
bu FRANCIS PERRY ELLIOTT
= ILLUSTRATIONS ~ /Wdlzzus
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Billings mopped his forehead. my,
but 1t was hot In that hole!" he ex
claimed. And that reminds me-
have you seen the governor this morn
ing? No? Well. talk about hot!
George, but the old nan was hot un'
der the collar when l saw him just
now! And he looks like he had been
dropped from q shot tower! It's this
case he's working on, l guess, or else
it's about Francis. He's found out
what I knew"
"Do-do you think so!" 1 %questioned
nervously.
Pretty sure" said Billings care
lessly. Fact Is, he's already fixing
up to send Francis to some kind OF
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS him making the
arrangements over the 'phone"-I was
glad he didn't look at me as he rat
tied on-"and, by the way, the gov
n told me to tell you not to say
a word to Francis-I suppose you'll
understand"
Understand? Oh, yes, I understood!
And he said he wanted to see YOU
Isis he here?" l stammered, pull
ing back.
Thank goodness, no. Gone to meet
Colonel Francis Kirkland-say, don't
say anything about it-wants to sur,
prise his daughter. o know. On his
way to London via San Francisco
arrived at Washington a few days
ago"
Oh, the frump's father! Much |
cared! But knowing how interested
he was in her. l tried to show an in
terest.
Colonel Francis-er isn't his
daughter named after him?" And
felt myself grow jolly red, for l re-
membered that she had told me that
about her friend as she sat on tSs
arm Of the Morris chair and in the
black pajamas.
Hanged If I know" said Billings
carelessly. Il don't know what her
name is-don't remember that l ever
heard" He whistled. Say. but did
you ever see anything as stunningly
pretty in your life?"
baked. BY Jove, I had been do
ing some mild lying within the past
twenty-four hours, but this was ask
ing too much. Dash me II l just could
go it, that's all. But he didn't seem
to notice.
He slapped me on the back. by
George, Dicky, there's just the girl
cut out for you, old chap-take my
tip. think she likes you. too
could see 1t just now when l was
talking about you"
So hat was it, I reflected gloomily.
The trump now was to be worked on
on me, and l vas expected to stand
for it. / was to be d sort Of what-you-
call-it Offering on the altar OF friend
ship. That was the condition upon
which he was patching up things!
Billings laughed suddenly. But,
oh, l tell you It would be hard on
Francis regular knockout, by
George!"
Devilish brutal for him to say 80. l
thought.
do you think SOL" 1 questioned
dismally. Would Frances really
carer"
"Oh, yes" he said lightly. soon
get ove 1t, though-puppy love. you
know"
Puppy love, indeed! BY Jove. how
1 hated Billings!
He went IN: Suppose you never
heard anything Of the professor and
the pajamas?"
had not, and l was devilish sick
Of pajamas, anyway.
And say. Dicky, l don't remember
that l ever thanked you properly, old
man, for putting up my kid brother
the other night. He says you treated
HIN like a brick and that you and he
got to be great pals. So much obliged,
old chap, because he wanted to go
running around, you know"
Your brother?" / questioned, aston
ished, and l guess my face must have
showed it.
Didn't he stay with you?" he snap
ped.
1 stared blankly. why, Billings
I didn't know didn't remember you
had a brother. never have seen
him"
Billings face swelled redder, and he
struck his fist down with an oath. He
looked angrily toward the house. Then
he stepped hurriedly in advance ct
me.
Excuse me. old chap, will your
he said, his voice hardened. "WilI
see you at luncheon-make yourself
at home. won't yOu?"