The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1915-05-27

I shouldn't want them 20 know. Dyoy
s'pose l could?"
Their eyes met doubtfully. TT
would be a week." Shelby was less
jubilant. But see here, Bill" sum-
moning all his own b~uoyancy and en-
thusiasm, you can, and you must, and
you SHALL"
Ripton caught up the air of unsuc-
cess that had partially slipped from
him. "a weeks a long time-for me"
A thought loosed again the drab dra-
perry. shelby, dispose" lowering his
voice, shed be there? She married
! one Of the boys"
r"Who? Oh the belle? She of the
slim waist.and the simmer ankles?'
George" said Ripton, in his voice
a touch of gentle dignity new to his
friend, we'll just not m~ention-her
! ankles. They don't among my
kind"
Shelby buried his amusement and
his smart, to follow eagerly in the
wake of this chance straw. She'll be
there. The women are great on re-
unions. Bet you'll find her on the
train" He rose. "Oh, you're going
all right, old man. See you tomorrow
about fixing you OUT
/
AS they walked the platform, wait.
ing for the train to pull in, his quiet
suit and plain tie according we'll with
his iron-gray hair, Ripton looked the
part of a prosperous country gentle
man, albeit one with a touch Of sport
ing blood, as was evidenced in the gay
border Of his handkerchief. Not his
the and the uncertainty.
His bearing was dignifed, his tread
firm, and more noticeably accented on
the right foot, as became one who was
going back to keep step with the
boys Back farther yet, to things in
herited and conventional.
Shelby, who, for the last few weeks,
had in turn steadied him, sooered him,
cajoled, flattered, browbeat and in
spired him, poured every ounce of his
own vigorous will into the others
vacillating temperament, found him.
self undistanced, unable to approach
this quiet, self-contained man by
whose side he trotted, and was dimly
aware that The change was inward as
we'll as outward. His last words Of
counsel and pleading Glove to his
tongue as he gazed helplessly at his
own handiwork. Perplexity wrote,
her beady sign across his forehead
He could only rasp out, as he helped
his friend mount the steps: mot a
drop, not a drop, mind"
Understanding what the other would
do for him, Ripton wrung his fat
clammy hand and, as the train pulled
out, carefully replaced the gay hand,
kerchief with a white one, its r. fas.
tidiously arranged to view.
Three days passed. Thursday Shelby
surreptitiously hung around the sta
ton. Friday he met the trains openly
and took the barroom crowd into his
confidence. Bet Bills full" they
sniggered, "of the spirit of 'G1."
Martial sounds hurried him to the
main street. There they cam0-a big
flag leading, another down the line
the beginning and the end of all Me-
mortal days. Two rode in front, the
horse of one refractorily impatient OF
the bands big, booming drum; the
little girls, clad in white and bearing
wreathes; the local boys brigade; the
long line of carriages, noticeably few
er than last May, with their precious,
Spanish war; the bands; and, in the
rear, as in the van, the flag whose
stars had been kept intact.
Shelby scanned the faces in the car
riages; once il sudden hope because
Of a ave Of the hand. 1t was an