Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1915-10-20

Az WV 1911 I SAAAklNlAtA Vi
meadow larks.
Eric. a trifle dazed and bewildered,
topped just inside the rail, while the
others went forward-that is to say,
with the single exception OF the sheriff,
VINO, after several leisurely strides, be-
thought himself of his prisoner and
matted IN some conflict between his
duty as a custodian and a certain in
born tendency to avoid anything that
might give offense to Mr.. Horace Blag-
den. He managed to console himself
with the thought that, figuratively, he
had hailed his prisoner into court. Still.
he halted and motioned for Eric to draw
nearer and sit down.
The prisoner-for he was a prisoner
IN the strict sense Of the word-did
not sit down, but stood there staring at
the tall. thin figure of his uncle. who
a risen n was facing him. The
domineering look had come back into
the face of Horace Blagden. 1t was the
20 of the man who takes things in
his own hands n has his own way, no
matter what the issue. He had quite
overlooked the fact that this was
Eric's affair, to be handled as he saw
fit. and had taken the initiative with
out consulting his nephew's wishes-a
very characteristic Blagden trait that
had not been completely overcome, it
would appear.
Suddenly q smile crept into his face,
an appealing, wistful smile that was
more of an apology than all the words
he could have uttered. A moment be-
fore he would have commanded Eric to
approach; now he hesitatingly motioned
with his hand.
Iogether they stood before h court
while Mr.. Collins, read the affidavit.
The two bailiffs. aroused from their
lethargy, drew near. and the deputy
clerk emerged from the inner room In
IN n A--- 49,
Mr.. Blagden had shaken hands with his
nephew, and had stroked his shoulder
kindly.
The puzzled editor, taking note Of
this. blinked his yes dizzily. 1t was
most extraordinarily! A minute later
he was drinking in the most s~tupendous
news story that ever had come to him
luton Of the great Blagden mystery.
Say moi guilty." whispered Mr..
Blagden in Eric's ear.
Not guilty." said Eric. taking his
eyes from the prosecutors face to stare
blankly at his uncle.
He heard the III speaking. He
was being bound over in the sum of
$4,000 to h next term. unless the case
could be moved forward by mutual IN
sent and in the convenience Of the
court.
Mr.. Cakes and Mr.. Elston will sign
Tic OOlu, MT. SNerlII, SalO horace
Il daresay they are waiting in your Of
flee now. Shall we go doWn?"
But I don't know either of these
gentlemen" protested Eric. Besides,
I mean to have John Payson attend to
the bond for"
Nonsense" said Mr.. Blagden, ut is
all attended to. There can't. be any
hitch. I've telephoned to Mr.. Cakes
and Mr.. Elston, asking them to come
here at once. / shall tell them what it
Is all about when l see them. They will
be very happy to go on the bond, I am
sure. Some sort Of ridiculous law pro-
hibits my signing the bond. my boy, or
at least, so your attorney informs me-
In the corridor. Eric came out Of the
daze that had held him in a sort of
stupor during all of the proceedings.
He drew his uncle aside.
"Uncle Horace" he said simply,
II don't know what to say to
you. / don't know how to express my
self. Will you give me time to think
1t all out and let me tell o. later how
much Il"
Eric" interrupted the older man. 81
am doing all this to please your aunt
and myself. We r very selfish peo-
pie. We are covetous. We have discov-
cred there IL something that we have
always wanted and never really had.
/ We want to be loved"