The Mobridge news. [volume] (Mobridge, Walworth Co., S.D.) 190?-1917, 1913-08-15

! exclaimed, ENTHUSIASTICALLY TeIleFeu
bpt indignant, as well. He led me
across the turf.
"Oh, I've had an awful tire, Dicky!
Awful!"-he lifted his hands-"Oh,
don't want TO tell you about it! don't
want even TO think about 1t myself"
murmured something sympathetic
for | felt sympathetic with anything;
besides. there still fingered a bit OF
headache from the Heidelberg punch
and l could imagine from that what
his feelings must have been
by George. Dicky," he burst out
again, the way I've been shut up and
treated just seems Ike some internal
conspiracy. Good thing Jack ELS
worth's dad had a pull with the mayor
tell you all the whole rotten bust
ness when | can talk about 1t quietly. -
That's right! that's right" | said
soothingly. wouldn't think about it at
all now, old chap" No use remind
Ing him, you know. that he had shut
himself up. Besides, the wandering
OF his mind to Jack Ellsworth and his
father showed me hat even yet he
was not quite himself.
Billings mopped his forehead. My,
but 1t was hot In that nole!" he *
claimed. And that reminds me-
have you seen the governor this morn
ing? No? Well. talk about hot!
George, but the old man was hot un'
der the collar when | saw him just
nowl And he looks like he had been
dropped from a shot tower! It's this
case he's working on, | guess. or else
It's about Francis. He's found out
what knew"
"Do-do you think SOL" | questioned
n%ervously.
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 owe the phone was
glad he didn't look at me az he rat
tied on-"and, by the way. the gov
ernor told me to tell you not to say
a word to Francis-I suppose you'll
understand"
Understand? Oh, yes, l 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, you know. On his
way to London via San Francisco
arrived at Washington q few days
ago"
Oh, the frump's father! Much l
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 grew jolly red, for | re-
membered that she had told me that
about her friend as she sat on the
arm OF the Morris chair and in the
black pajamas.
Hanged n | know" said Billings
carelessly. Il don't know what her
name is-don't remember hat | ever
heard" He whistled. Say. but did
o ever see anything as stunningly
pretty I'm your life?"
baked. BY Joye. l had been do
ing some mild lying within the past
twenty-four hours, but this vas ask
ing too much. Dash me IL | just could
go 1t, 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 that was 1t, | reflected gloomily.
The trump now was to be worked on
on me. and | was expected to stand
for ii. | was to be b 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. | tell you it would be hard on
Francis-a regular knockout. by
George!"
Devilish brutal for him TO say So. |
thought.
do you think so?" l questioned
dismally. Would Frances really
carer"
"Oh. yes" he said lightly. soon
get owe 1t. though-puppy love. you
know"
Puppy love. indeed! BY Jove. how
l hated Billings!
He went on: suppose you never
heard anything OF the professor and
the pajamas?"
| had not, and | was devilish sick
of pajarnas, anyway.
And say. Dicky, l don't remember
that / ever thanked you properly. ole
man, for putting up my kid brother
the other night. He says you treated
him like a brick and that you and he
got to be great pals. So much obliged
old chap, because he wanted to &C
running around. you know"
Your brotner?" / questioned. aston
ished, and l guess my face must have
showed 1t.
Didn't he stay with your" he snap
ped.
stared blankly. why. Billings
I didn't know didn't remember you
had a brother. l V have seer
\ htp,