Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1912-11-08

"N2th-nothing. sir!"-hastily-"l
was just a-thinking of the-h'm-may
l say scrimmage, sir?"
1 waited till l had taken from his
hand the second glass OF ice-water
and swallowed 1t, thinking maybe l
would get hold of 1.-THE dashed idea,
l mean.
l batted at him perplexedly.
What was that? Scrimmage! !
don't remember hearing anything
what's that?"
And / reached for another glass.
Pardon. sir" Jenkins eye shifted
unhappily; but may I ask. sir. what
is the ast thing you do remember
"Eh?"
sat up a bit straighter. rubbing my
head and devilish annoyed at being
made to try to think at all. Then l
remembered: We were in a jolly blue
aeroplane drawn by golden humming-
birds and she was just telling me-
no., dash it, that was a dream-just a
dashed dream! groaned, dropping
my head upon my knees. why, the
last thing l remember was the punch
punch"
punches. sir!" And Jenkins
sighed.
Your punch to put out the light" l
finished. Then + looked at him,
startled. "Oh, 1 say, now, 1t wasn't
burglars, was tt?"
You see, l thought at once Of Foxy
Grandpa n my darling's pajamas.
Not precisely, SIR" jenkins hesi-
tated; then moved a little nearer. Il
1 hope you'll pardon me, Mr.. Light
nut, sir; but I can't help a feeling that
you ought to know everything before
him was going to say, sir, before
you see the family. l hope you'll par
don me, sir!"-he heaved desperate
ly-"I mean about all that happened
last night"
1 stared. "Oh, l say, Jenkins" l
said, with al anxious thought, you
didn't-er-you know mean you
and Wilkes didn't drink the rest OF
the punch-after he took it away, you
know-eh?"
"Me?" Jenkins hand clutched the
heavy brass curve at the foot OF the
bed. mo, str!"-and he added sadly:
Besides, sir, there wasn't any rest
of it! Mr.. Will mean Wilkes, was
recommending On it. That was how l
come to find l didn't have any more
of the blank pledges. So l just walked
across the park to get some extra
ones I had given the gardener, and
he said l could have 'em all, If I'd
just let him get a little sleep; and he
chucked EN- all out of his window.
Seemed irritated like because l woke
him up. And then. sir, l DOM know
whether it was because of the splash.
ing of the fountains, but l had an
idea"
That's nothing" ! said contemptu-
ously. II often do at night when
hear water splashing. l often get up
and get something"
jenkins face sobered. Il know it,
sir-pardon. sir, l mean ! frequently
know you have-h'm-know by the
glasses-you understand, sir!" Then
he went on: The idea that came to
me was a great liberty know that,
sir. and I'm sorry-but guess l was
thinking hat about the end justities-
you know it, sir"
didn't know, but ! did wish he
would make an end!
1.-THE library windows was open on
the loggia, sir. and when l looked in,
l didn't see anybody and l thought
Jenkins coughed and looked devilish
rattled-"thought l would just slip in
and lay a few of the temperance
pledges between III papers the judge
had been working on" Jenkins red.
dened. looking at me in an appealing
way.
"Jove!" I calculated. staring. "On,
l say. now!"
"Yes, sir.'-faintly-"I knew how
you would feel amt excusing my
self, sir; and when card your voice
l tried to get out, at there wasn't
time, so -" Jenkins touched his
hands in front. then behind him. and
shifted ~distressfully. IL hid behind
the alcove curtains-h'm-and Just
then"
"Here!" 1 broke IN. Wait. dash It'll
Whose voice did you hear7"
jenkins eyes ducked.
Yours, SIR. he said family. "And
then you came in"
l stared, trying to take 1t in.
Couldn't chirp a word. don't you know.
for to think l had taken to sleep
walking-and here!
(ro BE coNTINuED.)